Before you quench your thirst, know these water cooler safety tips!
When working in the scorching heat, with sweat dripping down your face, the first thing you want to do is grab an ice cold thirst quencher or go to the water cooler to fill your cup with liquid bliss, right? I bet the last thing on your mind is the possibility that germs and unwanted growth could contaminate the contents in the water cooler at your construction site.
The reality is water cooler safety is no joke and should be taken seriously, especially since OSHA requires an adequate supply of potable drinking water be provided in all place of employments (OSHA 1926.51(a)(1)).
A water cooler can turn into a hazard when not handled correctly. Drinking water from contaminated sources is frequently responsible for the spread of diseases such as typhoid, cholera, and dysentery.
To ensure workers are drinking from sanitized water coolers, inspect supply sources before employees arrive on a job site and determine a regular cleaning schedule – not less than once per week. After inspection, any water cooler found unsafe should be removed from use. A warning sign alone will not provide sufficient protection.
When water coolers have been inspected and their contents are ready to be consumed, ensure workers can easily identify it by placing a Potable Water Cooler Label on the outside.
To help you comply with OSHA 1926.51(b)(2), “There shall be no cross-connection, open or potential between a system furnishing potable water and a system furnishing non-potable water,” use a Water Cooler Tether Lockout to prevent the possibility of cross-contaminating water.
By following all of these useful water cool safety tips, your workers will fully trust the water you provide is safe to use.
Sources:
National Safety Council Drinking Water on Construction Jobs
OSHA Sanitation
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