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Protecting Wastewater Workers by Categorizing Risks of Pathogen Exposures by Splash and Fecal-Oral Transmission during Routine Tasks

Author

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  • Rasha Maal-Bared

    (Quality Assurance and Environment, EPCOR Water Services Inc., EPCOR Tower, 2000, 10423-101 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5H 0E8, Canada)

Abstract

Quantitative microbial risk assessments (QMRAs) present an opportunity to systematically assess risk to wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) workers and mitigate work-related infectious diseases. However, while QMRAs often explore the impacts of aeration or treatment mechanism, or the use of controls to mitigate risk (e.g., ventilation, personal protective equipment (PPE)), fewer studies address other variables, such as differing tasks across plants, time spent conducting these tasks or size of plant. QMRA approaches also vary substantially in their findings and recommendations. The objective of this paper is to provide a risk-based wastewater worker task characterization for urban, municipal and industrial WWTPs along with mitigation measures. Routine tasks fell into five categories in ascending order of exposure and risk, Type A being the lowest and Type E being the highest. Percentage of full-time equivalent time spent on each task category was estimated, along with amount of wastewater exposure (mL) and inhalation duration (h). Estimates differed between urban and municipal plants but were similar in industrial and municipal systems. Finally, a checklist was developed to identify potential mitigation measures and prioritize H&S solutions for eight inspected WWTPs. The present work provides practical information for job safety assessments, H&S policies and QMRA method refinement.

Suggested Citation

  • Rasha Maal-Bared, 2022. "Protecting Wastewater Workers by Categorizing Risks of Pathogen Exposures by Splash and Fecal-Oral Transmission during Routine Tasks," Waste, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jwaste:v:1:y:2022:i:1:p:7-104:d:987309
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Annalaura Carducci & Gabriele Donzelli & Lorenzo Cioni & Ileana Federigi & Roberto Lombardi & Marco Verani, 2018. "Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Workers Exposed to Bioaerosol in Wastewater Treatment Plants Aimed at the Choice and Setup of Safety Measures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-12, July.
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