Operator Safety - Wastewater Operators - page 45

Before sending new employees to safety orientation training it must be
determined who needs what training. The plant safety person, in con-
junction with the personnel manager, work center supervisors, and
safety council, should determine specific safety training requirements
for each job classification. This can be accomplished by conducting a
needs assessment (sometimes called needs analysis ). The idea behind
the needs assessment is to ensure that job classifications requiring
confined space training, for example, receive this critical training. The
needs assessment also functions to ensure that the plant clerk who
needs hazard communication training but does not ever enter confined
spaces, for example, does not receive confined space training.

Depending on the organization's turnover rate, the frequency of
conducting new employee safety orientation training can vary from
presenting a session each week, every other week, once a month, or
as required. As stated previously, it is important that good records of
worker safety training are kept.

1.16 safeTy eQuiPMenT

As pointed out earlier, PPE basically is to be used as a last resort in
protecting workers. Worksites should be thoroughly evaluated for haz-
ards, and these hazards should be removed or engineered out prior to
workers being required to perform work in them. Obviously, not all haz-
ards can be eliminated or engineered out of the workplace. Wastewater
treatment and collection is one of those industries where hazards can-
not be completely eliminated; for example, confined space entry and
chemical handling activities are hazards inherent to the industry and
cannot be easily removed or done away with. However, performing work
in confined spaces and handling chemicals can be made safer if work-
ers have the proper safety equipment available to them for their use.
Moreover, safety equipment is only as good as the proficiency of the
workers who use the equipment. Here, again, the importance of proper
safety training cannot be overemphasized.

1.17 ChaPTer revieW QuesTions

1.1 What is the first item that should be incorporated into an organi-

zational safety program?

1.2 List the three steps in hazard control in their correct sequence.

1.3 What is the most important feature of any maintenance depart-

ment's safety program?

1.4 What is the primary reason for conducting an accident

investigation?

1.5 Lockout/tagout programs only apply to electrical systems (True

or False).

1.6 At the scene of an incident, which concern should be given the

highest priority?