HEALTH AND SANITATION 33
Protection and responsibilities of the Essential Trades Worker
By
Scott Hamilton
Civilisation has survived many pandemics . Looking back over the last 100 years , we have had the 1918 influenza pandemic ( Spanish flu 1918 – 1920 ), the 1957 influenza pandemic ( Asian flu 1957 – 1958 ), the seventh cholera pandemic ( 1961 – 1975 ), HIV / AIDS ( 1981 – present ), SARS ( 2002 – 2004 ), swine flu ( 2009 – 2010 ), MERS-CoV ( 2012 – present ), and finally , COVID-19 . Along with all of the pandemics , even more epidemics and outbreaks have occurred throughout the world . History tells us that they will continue in the future , and we need to be prepared . Organisations like the CDC ( Centers for Disease Control ) and WHO ( World Health Organization ) play important roles in the detection , isolation and testing of diseases and protecting society .
During this pandemic , the U . S . government named certain workers as essential . Essential workers continue to perform critical jobs and tasks through all types of adversity . Construction , maintenance and service of building mechanical systems are considered essential . With the important role that the pipe trades play , it is even more important that the workforce is trained on how to protect themselves and others within the building , during this pandemic .
Construction and maintenance inevitably take place within health care facilities or around individuals with immunocompromised conditions . Although great strides have been made through OSHA training and certification , additional training and certification must take place . COVID-19 has made all of us very aware of how this virus travels and affects individuals . Extra thought and care should be taken when working around individuals with weakened immune systems . One must consider the effects of moving a ceiling tile , cutting into a wall , disconnecting a pipe , or even carrying your tools to and from the job site .
To protect the workforce , we must first understand what we are protecting ourselves from . In the case of today ’ s essential workforce , it is the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 . The disease is spread by close person-toperson contact . It usually occurs from a cough , sneeze , or when someone exhales . This releases infected droplets that can get into another ’ s mouth , nose or lungs . Most of these droplets fall onto nearby surfaces and objects , like desks , tables or telephones . People could catch COVID-19 by touching contaminated surfaces or objects – and then touching their eyes , nose or mouth . According to the CDC , the virus can also survive in human faeces . How long it will survive and how contagious it remains is unclear . The Chinese government identified an outbreak in a sanitary drain and vent system in Hong Kong . The Hong Kong outbreak took place in a 30-story high-rise building . The sanitary drain and vent systems were “ altered ,” which resulted in open vent connections within the building . The building was evacuated after numerous COVID-19 cases were diagnosed . We also know that the disease is airborne and can travel through HVAC systems .
All plumbers and HVAC service technicians working on existing systems are strongly recommended to wear personal protective equipment ( PPE ), including a full-face shield worn over safety goggles , impermeable gloves , and protective clothing , because of the potential to come into contact with waste and aerosols that contain the coronavirus when working on sanitary systems , sewers or HVAC systems . Assume that everything inside of those systems is contagious .
Follow all requirements of OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926 , Safety and Health Regulations for Construction , and relevant requirements of CFR 1910 , Occupational Safety and Health Standards . The most relevant subsections to review are :
• 1910.1030 , Bloodborne Pathogens
• 1926.20 , General Safety and Health Provisions
• 1926.21 , Safety Training and Education
• 1926.22 , Recording and Reporting of Injuries
• 1926.23 , First Aid and Medical Attention
• 1926.28 , Personal Protective Equipment
• 1926.50 , Medical Services and First Aid
• 1926.95 , Criteria for Personal Protective Equipment
• 1926.102 , Eye and Face Protection
• 1926.103 , Respiratory Protection
Mechanical tradespeople working on sanitary drain and sewer systems should be provided proper PPE training on how to properly use the PPE and hand washing facilities . Immediately after removing PPE , workers should their wash hands , arms , and face ( in that order ) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds .
The following PPE is recommended for individuals working on waste , sewage or vent systems :
• Safety goggles : to protect eyes from splashes of human waste or sewage .
• Protective splash-proof face shield : to protect the nose and mouth from splashes of human waste or sewage .
David Viola , IAPMO CEO
In the spirit of the sharing of unique experiences that shape the plumbing industries in our respective nations , the following article looks at ways trades workers can protect themselves from threats to their health and safety while at job sites . Written by ASSE International Senior Director Scott Hamilton , it is the next in a regular series of similar articles that will run in this magazine .
“ All
David Viola IAPMO CEO
tradespeople should receive training on disease prevention .”
April 2024 Volume 30 I Number 2 www . plumbingafrica . co . za