Tool Box Talk: Biohazard Safety

Alberto’s Story

Alberto was repairing a sewer line. He was not wearing waterproof gloves and some of the sewage got on his hands. A few days later, he noticed a cut on his hand that was red and sore. He went to the doctor and learned that he had a serious infection probably caused by raw sewage.

•  What should Alberto have done to protect himself from the contaminants?
• Have you experienced an incident with raw sewage or potentially infectious material? If so, what happened?

Remember this:

• Avoid direct contact with sewage.
• Wash your hands well to prevent spreading contaminants.
•  Clean, treat, and report any cuts or wounds right away. They could be infected.
• Use liquid-proof gloves, boots, and face protection when you will have direct contact with sewage. Use a face shield if there might be splashing.
•  Keep contaminated gloves, boots, face protection, and other equipment away from areas where food is eaten or stored.
•  For pipeline and other inspections, use remote-controlled robotic cameras to minimize human exposure.
• Remove contaminated clothing at the site, if possible. A full decontamination process at the site may be necessary.
• Wash clothing at a high temperature (at least 160ºF) to destroy all germs.