Safety

Safety Program

We established our program in 1996 in an effort to protect the health and welfare of each and every employee.

David C. Sago, former Utility Manager, wrote the Guidance Manual for plant safety at the Fairmont Wastewater Treatment Plant in 1996.

Employees are involved in the safety program daily. It is their responsibility to report unsafe conditions at the wastewater and filtration plants, field services department, storm water utility, and at the utility's 36 lift stations. Our staff is in constant communication to maintain a safe working environment.

Training

Safety training, awareness and safe equipment handling are critical to the Utilities Safety Program. Monthly Safety Meetings are held to provide training on various topics to provide a safe and healthy workplace and to foster safe work behaviors and attitudes. These type of training activities include:

• All possible employees are certified in First Aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures
• Annual Miss Utility training and updates
• Chlorine and methane alarm training
• Chlorine safety and repair courses with our local chlorine distributor and the City of Fairmont Fire Department
• Confined space training with Fairmont Fire Department with Permit Entry Program in place
• Correct use training.
• Emergency Response Program
• Fire extinguisher training
• Hazard communication with Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
• Hepatitis B vaccination program for all employees to include Lines Department employees
• Lock-out / Tag-out training and procedure program
• Oxygen / Acetylene training on tanks and proper use instruction
• Proper use training for personnel protective equipment (PPE) issued to all employees, i.e.:
  • Back protection belts
  • Gloves
  • Hard hats
  • Other clothing materials
  • Protective eye-ware
• Shoring and trenching
• Traffic control and work zone safety