Portable Sanitation Association International

122 2019 INDUSTRY RESOURCE DIRECTORY See www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/solidwaste/otherresources.html and scroll to the bottom of the page. As the trade association for portable sanitation, the PSAI's standards would likely be considered or cited here if the CDC bothered with our industry at all. Study finds additional PPE may be warranted in some cases. The PSAI's minimum requirements/standards for PPE are gloves, boots, safety goggles, and hard hats. Of course if the employer/employee wants to do more (e.g., add the face shield and coveralls), that is up to them, at least as far as the PSAI's long-standing standards. Taking the question of PPE to another level, the Washington Onsite Sewage Association (WOSSA) conducted a study in 2013 that was reported in Pumper Magazine in early 2015 (read it at www.pumper.com/editorial/2015/02/become_ militant_about_using_personal_protective_equipment_to_avoid_pathogen). Key takeaways from the WOSSA study findings are: • It is best to use exam-grade gloves with a minimum thickness of 4 to 6 millimeters for durability. The industrial grade or "mechanic's gloves" may keep hands cleaner, but they don't protect from the pathogens. • In addition to backsplash, there is a substantial risk of exposure to pathogens if the technician will be breathing them in. When aerosols are being created by jetting, back flushing, or during the operation of the pump truck, employees should be using face protection to prevent inhalation. WOSSA recommends an N95 surgical mask, sometimes called a procedure mask. A simple dust mask is not designed to protect a worker from the kind of exposure that is typical in our work. • Eye protection should shield against splashes, sprays, and airborne aerosols from multiple angles, so goggles are sometimes needed rather than just a pair of safety glasses. Recommendations regarding PPE best practices. In light of the WOSSA findings, the PSAI's Standards and Guidance Committee reviewed the PSAI's standards for PPE. They concluded the following: • Portable restroom service equipment is designed as a closed system, so the potential for aerosolization of the waste is minimized. Unlike the process of servicing an on-site waste treatment system as covered in the WOSSA study, there is no back flushing involved in the service of a portable restroom or other portable waste holding tanks common to the industry. • Emptying of waste from a portable restroom service vehicle is primarily done in closed systems that remove the possibility for aerosolization. • Because of this lack of aerosolization risk, the normal operating procedure for a restroom service technician does not require the use of a respirator or Tyvek suit as standard PPE in addition to the gloves, boots, safety goggles, and hard hats already required by the PSAI's standards. However, a noted exception to the above would be any situation where the discharge of waste is done into an open receiving location. In this event, it is best practice for the service technician to use PPE that will reduce contamination potential through aerosolized waste. Such PPE would include respirators, face shields, and/or Tyvek suits. Safety and Health Better worksites. Better weekends. Better world. EXCLUSIVE MEMBERS-ONLY CONTENT REDACTED Join us now at www.psai.org for access to this valuable information.

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