The number of deaths resulting from sewerage utilities is on the rise. With the surge in residential buildings, the owners opt for a septic tank constructed within their premises rather than having it drained into the county sewerage system. Construction of onsite septic tanks requires the owner to engage exhauster services for emptying when filled up. Visit any urban town in Kenya and you will not fail to see the exhausters which have a designated parking area waiting for potential clients. Some of the providers will have mobile phone conspicuously written on the exhauster tank as an effort to have a wide reach of their services
Deaths have been reported of workers dying in such occupations due to failure to recognize hazards and risks. The deaths as reported mostly occur when the workers try to access the septic tanks or when a fellow worker attempts to rescue a colleague that got trapped in the tank. In order to safely execute an assignment, one has to be able to recognize the hazards and risks and ensure adequate controls are in place. This can be done by undertaking a hazard identification and risk assessment and a job safety analysis
A Job Safety Analysis is a procedure that allows a task to be broken down into various steps identifying hazards in each of the steps. This can only be achieved through adequate planning, competency, and commitment to health and safety from the team involved.
Complacency is a challenge that greatly affects workers who are used to routine work and thus fail to assess the work area on a case-by-case basis. Novice workers are also at risk due to a lack of information on how to execute the job safely. Septic tanks contain toxic gases including hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrous oxides which are capable of rendering one unconscious and may result in death. Slips and falls into the septic tanks may also occur which could result in drowning. Some gases are also highly flammable and may lead to fire and explosion, especially where ventilation is inadequate. Septic tank covers must not be used as a sitting, working, or playing platform due to the possibility of caving in due to poor construction, damage from rust, or exposure to environmental factors.
Septic pits are confined spaces and it is required for a safe working procedure to be developed, documented, and communicated to the concerned workers. Additional controls include the implementation of a permit-to-work system and the development of an emergency response plan.
The challenge of safely executing the work is the nature of the industry that is more of an informal setup where the workers lack even the basic personal protective equipment. For a formal workplace setup, the client will ensure the contractor brought on board is adequately prepared for the task and the contractor is subject to their health and safety system therefore the chances of errors that could result in death are considerably reduced.
More information needs to be disseminated to the community to protect the lives of the children who may not be aware of the hazards and risks as well as utility workers involved in emptying the sewers.
