GESPRE drafts the Occupational Risk Prevention Manual for drainage and sewer works, published by the Regional Institute for Safety and Health at Work – ASPOCAM, the Association of Drainage and Sewer Contractors of the Community of Madrid.
The manual is intended as a support guide for prevention managers, business owners and site supervisors when planning prevention in drainage and sewer works. It is a guide for training drainage and sewer operatives specifically in all the work phases covered by their trade, as well as the working environment. The work phases that will be given special emphasis are: cleaning and unblocking, inspections of shafts and galleries, construction of underground galleries (tunnel excavations and sewer networks) and sanitation shafts. They will be informed of the work procedures in environments such as homeowners’ associations or new-build projects.
Drainage and sewer works involve a number of specific risks whose control requires rigorous preventive planning, especially with regard to confined spaces.
This manual is intended as a support guide for prevention managers, business owners and site supervisors when planning prevention in this trade.
It will be a manual for training drainage and sewer operatives specifically in all the work phases covered by their trade, as well as the working environment.
The work phases that will be given special emphasis are: cleaning and unblocking, inspections of shafts and galleries, construction of underground galleries (tunnel excavations and sewer networks) and sanitation shafts.
They will be informed of the work procedures in environments such as homeowners’ associations or new-build projects.
The manual is supplemented with templates for confined space entry, and work procedures for the rescue and assistance of workers. An annex has also been included on biological agents in drainage and sewer works and the medical protocols to be followed.
They will be informed of the risks and preventive measures in each case, and the safe work procedure for carrying them out.
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- Measures to be adopted before work begins: confined space entry permit, measurement of oxygen, toxic and explosive gases, ventilation and measuring devices.
- During the work
- Soil accumulations
- Debris or materials
- Entry and exit routes
- Workers’ ascent and descent
- Ventilation
- Work in toxic or hazardous atmospheres
- Underground work
- Measures in the event of fire, water ingress and falling materials.
- Preventive measures for machinery, auxiliary equipment and hand tools.
Finally, it should be noted that although this text does not offer the ideal solution of defining a simple set of universally applicable preventive measures, it does aim to ensure that, by following the guidelines indicated in the various introductions and making use of the information provided, it can be a useful tool so that each company, taking into account its specific characteristics, the activity carried out, the human and material resources available, etc., can incorporate into its work procedures the preventive measures necessary to properly control the occupational risks inherent to this activity, both in terms of technical means and the preventive training of the personnel involved and their medical monitoring.
