What does a plumber do? A plumber is a person who installs, repairs and maintains plumbing fixtures or systems in businesses, industries or residences.
A plumber is a person who installs, repairs and maintains plumbing fixtures or systems in businesses, industries or residences.
The main duties of a plumber are to:
duty Haul supplies, measure, cut, shape, assemble and join various materials (e.g., pipes, fittings, fixtures) with various tools, servicing the water supply, waste disposal, and heating systems.
duty Use, clean, and maintain various equipment.
duty Read, prepare, or interpret blueprints and drawings.
duty Conform with building codes and other regulations.
duty Prepare cost estimates and documentation for clients.
duty Supervise apprentices or other workers.
Plumbers work in a variety of settings, some of which may contain hazards. The main occupational hazards for plumbers to be aware of include:
biological Exposure to hazardous products such as: lead, sulfur dioxide, asbestos, silica, mould, adhesives, solvents, solder, dusts, and other hazardous products.
safety Being close to flammable products.
biological Exposure to biohazards, including raw sewage when working on sewage pipes or septic tank outlets, when laying new pipe in soil, or flood clean-up.
general histoplasmosis
general psittacosis
biological hantavirus
general Potential infection from bird or rodent droppings:
ergonomic Working in awkward positions or performing awkward manual tasks that increases the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
ergonomic Lifting heavy or awkward objects.
physical Exposure to electricity, extreme temperatures, or noise.
safety Working in confined spaces.
safety Working at heights (e.g., on platforms/scaffolding or ladders).
safety Risk of eye injury from flying particles.
safety Slips, trips and falls, especially when working in wet environments.
general Burns from hot equipment parts, steam lines, and the release of hot water or steam.
general Working with various tools (both hand tools and powered tools).
psychosocial Stress.
psychosocial Shift work or extended work days.
psychosocial Working alone.
Safety Procedures
Working Safely with Sewage
Health effects of exposure to sewage and contaminated soil include:
Human pathogens from soil and raw sewage can enter the body through the nose or mouth, particularly if a person drinks contaminated water or by touching contamination and then touching your mouth or nose. Exposure can also occur through open wounds or by inhaling (human pathogens in dust, for example).
Personal Protection
Material Handling
Maintenance
requirement Follow company safety rules.
administrative Get training on the potential hazards at the job sites where you are assigned.
requirement Learn about chemical hazards, WHMIS and SDSs.
ppe Use safety data sheets (SDSs) to learn about the chemical properties, health hazards, and required personal protective equipment (PPE) that you will need.
administrative Know how to report a hazard.
requirement If you will be working with specific substances – such as lead, asbestos or mould – follow the required work practices for the province or territory in which you are working.
requirement Follow a recommended shift work pattern, and know the associated hazards.
requirement Confined space entry
requirement Working at heights
requirement Working with hand tools, and power tools
requirement De-energizing and locking out machinery and equipment before performing maintenance
ppe Selection, use, and maintenance of personal protective equipment
requirement Lifting
requirement Shift work
requirement Avoiding slips, trips and falls
requirement Heat exposure
administrative Practice safety procedures for:
requirement Tetanus – caused by a toxin produced by bacteria common in soil and sewage.
requirement Leptospirosis – caused by a parasitic worm.
requirement Hepatitis A, B or C.
requirement Bacteria such as E. coli, and parasites such as giardia and cryptosporidium.
ppe Avoid exposure to sewage by wearing gloves, coveralls, rubber boots, eye protection, washing your hands, and decontaminating your equipment after use.
requirement Do not eat or drink while working in a potentially contaminated area. Wash your hands before meals.
requirement After working with raw sewage or soil, wash immediately with soap and water. Do not use solvents to wash your hands as the solvents can cause irritation that may lead to skin infections. Learn more about handwashing and the risk of infections.
requirement Change out of work clothes before leaving the work site. If any sewage has gotten onto your clothes, change them right away. Soiled work clothes should be sealed in a plastic bag and laundered separately from other clothing. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the clothing.
requirement Use fall protection and other precautions when working at heights.
requirement Use eye protection when cutting or grinding to avoid eye injuries from flying particles.
ppe Use appropriate respiratory protection when there is a potential to be exposed to harmful levels of airborne contaminants (e.g., soldering fumes, asbestos, mould, lead, silica, or other substances). Make sure to follow the requirements of the respirator program, including fit testing, and care and maintenance.
ppe Use appropriate personal protective equipment for the task (e.g. hard hats, eye protection, face protection).
ppe Wear appropriate footwear (sturdy shoe with a protective toe box and a non-slip sole)
ppe If working on hot pipes, use heat-insulating gloves and eye/face shields and make sure to drain pipes before you open them.
requirement To avoid electric shock, only use power tools that are safe for a wet environment and that have a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). Be cautious when working on metal pipes – if you feel tingling when touching a metal pipe, stop work immediately.
engineering Install and maintain good ventilation.
administrative Avoid awkward body positions and repetitive manual tasks, or take frequent breaks. Try to rotate your tasks and take a quick break every 30 minutes.
requirement Learn safe lifting techniques.
requirement Keep tools and equipment, and their safety features, in good working order.
requirement Keep cutting equipment sharp so they will work properly. Cut away from your face and body to avoid cuts and punctures.
requirement Keep work areas clear of clutter and equipment. Place, stack, or store materials and equipment so they will not cause injury to yourself or other workers.
administrative Follow good housekeeping procedures – clean up spills quickly; empty waste containers often; discard oily rags and other flammable waste materials safely.