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FEATURES
Safety always
comes first
Compiled by Cherry Ellis
Whether you are cleaning a clogged drain (and
exposed to all kinds of germs and bacteria),
installing a water heater, or soldering pipe on a
multistorey apartment complex, a plumber, installer,
or contractor needs to think: safety first.
An essential piece of safety
equipment: the hard hat.
Plumbing companies stress the importance of training
the workforce in safe practices and the use of personal
protection equipment as being key to getting the job
done right and, more importantly, protecting yourself.
Plumbing pros looking for guidance in personal protection
gear and safety practices can also avail themselves of
videos and other materials provided by the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration. OSHA lists occupation-
specific advisories on both potential health and safety
hazards and protective equipment and practices.
Protect your eyes at all times
by wearing safety goggles.
To prevent burns and cuts,
wear decent safety gloves.
KNOW THE HAZARDS
Slips and falls are a common hazard for plumbers
working in wet environments daily. Plumbers can also
be exposed to toxic or carcinogenic substances such as
mould, lead, asbestos, solder, adhesives, and solvents.
Then there is the possibility of coming into contact with
biohazards in raw sewage from septic tanks, sewage
pipes, or laying new pipes, or infection from bird or
rodent droppings. The trade also means working in
proximity to hot pipes, heating equipment, combustible
materials, noise, electricity, and extreme heat. Plumbers
work in tight space, often with poor ventilation, and can
work at heights on ladders and scaffolds.
It is no secret that some plumbing professionals think
the only safety gear they need is a pair of gloves and
some sturdy work boots. It is easy to fall into the habit of
viewing the work as routine, dirty, and often messy, but
not thinking of it as dangerous to life and limb.
All vehicles should be equipped
with a basic first aid kit.
What kinds of safety equipment are mandatory for the
plumbing professional? It is a relatively short list and
definitely dictated by what kind of work you do. For
example, the plumber who does mostly residential fixture
repair and drain cleaning may need less protective gear
September 2018 Volume 24 I Number 7
than the guy working on massive commercial boiler
systems. The key is to know what the potential hazards
are and the best ways to reduce exposure.
We’re not just talking wearable protective equipment. The
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