SEPTIC TANKS-A DEATH TRAP

The number of deaths resulting among 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 in the county sewerage system. Construction of onsite septic tanks require 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 from such occupation 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 the 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 works and thus fail to assess the work area on a case by case basis. Novice workers are also at risk due to 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 to death. Slips and fall into the septic tanks may also occur which could result to drowning. Some of the 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 the environment 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 implementation of a permit to work system and 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 set up where the workers lack even the basic personal protective equipment. For a formal workplace set up, the client will ensure the contractor brought on board is adequately prepared for the task and the contractor subjected to their health and safety system and therefore the chances of errors that could result to death are considerably reduced

More information need 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 utilities workers involved in emptying the sewers.