WASTEWATER TREATMENT OPERATOR RISK & REVIEW – RISK ASSESSMENT & MANAGEMENT
Element of Competence:
Health and Safety
Context
Wastewater Treatment Plant operators work in an area with a number of high risks to their own, and to others, health and safety. They need to be able to work in a manner that mitigates the hazards and risks that they, and others, may be exposed to. The Water New Zealand Good Practice Guide for Occupational Health and Safety in the New Zealand Water Industry [4] provides guidance and model procedures for how mitigate common health and safety risks in the three waters industry in New Zealand.
Outcome
Wastewater Treatment Operators work in a safe manner that mitigates the hazards and risks that they, and others, may be exposed to.
To do this, Wastewater Treatment Operators need to be able to: ▪ Identify hazards, risk assessment and control measures. ▪ Safely undertake their work and look after the health and safety of any other workers that they direct. To do this Wastewater Treatment Operators need to be able to: - Conduct a health and safety induction for visitors to the site - Test for hazardous atmospheres to safely enter confined spaces - Work alone, and in isolated areas - Work with hazardous substances - Work at heights - Work in, and above, wastewater ▪ Control plant and equipment hazards by: - Safely operating machinery - Safely operating vehicles - Safely operating mobile plant ▪ Implement Incident and Emergency response plans for the site. To do this, Wastewater Treatment Operators need to know: ▪ That the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) [5] is New Zealand’s workplace health and safety legislation. Employers must look after the health and safety of their Wastewater Treatment Operators and any other workers that they influence or direct. ▪ That the Water New Zealand Good Practice Guide for Occupational Health and Safety in the New Zealand Water Industry [4] provides guidance and model procedures for how to comply with the HSWA. ▪ What “permits to work” and operational procedures are in place at the Wastewater Treatment Plant that control identified hazards. ▪ What Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required when operating and maintaining processes at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. ▪ The Hazardous Substances Management requirements at the WWTP.
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