Personal Protective Equipment You Must Wear in the Sewer
When cleaning a sewer, you will be exposing yourself to hazardous waste. As a result, there are several forms of personal protective equipment (PPE) that you must be wearing to avoid getting sick. Sewers contain a variety of bacteria and viruses that can cause stomach illness. The following list of PPE will help you ensure you can complete this task safely.
1. Gloves
Sewer cleaning requires a lot of work with your hands. Therefore, you will need to wear protective gloves. You must wear two layers of gloves. The nitrile gloves protect your skin from harmful chemicals. The textile glove allows you to have an adequate grip when you're handling objects while working in the sewers. Textured gloves also reduce the risk that your fingers will become tangled.
2. Goggles
Always wear goggles that don't have a gap. The goggles protect you from flying waste so that your eyes do not become infected. Always wear a face shield over your glasses as well. A full-face shield is especially important when performing a jetting job because the jet can permanently blind you.
3. Coveralls
When performing a jetting job, you must wear protective clothing such as coveralls. These protect both your uniform and also protect your skin from contact with hazardous waste. The coveralls keep you dry and are easy to clean off after work.
4. Full Plastic Face Shield
Wear a full plastic face shield whenever engaged in a jetting job, especially if you are working at pressures above 2,000 PSI. However, you should wear a mask even if you're performing a smaller job.
5. Boots
Wear boots. These will provide you with more stability. They should come with metatarsal guards as well. These will protect the top of your feet from compression injuries.
6. Hard Hat
Always wear a hard hat. This will protect you from falling debris in the sewer.
Hire Sewer Cleaning Services
Since you'll have to invest a lot of time and money to adequately clean your sewers, it might be impractical to clean your sewer if you're not a professional cleaning service. Not only must you purchase all of the PPE, but if you don't wear it properly, you may place your health at risk. You'll also have to purchase equipment that is highly specialized and which you must learn how to use. The process is time-consuming and can be bad for the environment if not done properly. Instead, work with a sewer cleaning company that can do the job for you.