Atıksu Arıtma Tesisleri: İş Güvenliği Riskleri ve Sağlık Tehlikeleri

Öz

Artan nüfus ve kentleşme, artan su tüketimine ve atık su oluşumuna yol açar. Bu su kaynaklarının uygun şekilde arıtılmadan geliştirilmesi, su seviyelerinde azalmaya, su ekosistemlerine zarar vermeye ve temiz suya sürekli erişime neden olur. Bu nedenle, atık su arıtma tesislerinin işletilmesi ve yönetimi, su sızıntılarını önlemek veya kirliliğini önemli ölçüde azaltmak için elzemdir. Bu tesis, yalnızca yasal bir gereklilik değil, aynı zamanda bu tür yönetim politikalarının önemli bir yönü haline gelmiştir. Ancak, atık su arıtma tesisleri, atık suyun arıtımı için fiziksel, kimyasal ve biyolojik bileşenleri içeren karmaşık sistemlerdir. Herhangi bir iş yerinde olduğu gibi, atık su arıtma tesislerinde de gerekli iş sağlığı ve güvenliği önlemleri alınabilir. Bu tesislerin işletilmesi, bakımı ve onarımı sırasında iş kazası ve meslek hastalığı risklerini ortadan kaldırmak veya en aza indirmek için iş sağlığı ve güvenliği kapsamında risk değerlendirmeleri yapılmalıdır. Risk değerlendirme çalışmaları, iş yerindeki tehlikelerin tanınmasıyla başlar. Atık su arıtma tesislerinin her aşamasında dikkate alınması gereken tehlikeler vardır. Bu tehlikelere maruz kalmanın bir sonucu olarak ortaya çıkan riskleri önlemek için kontrol hiyerarşisini kullanmak esastır. Fiziksel, kimyasal ve biyolojik tehlike potansiyeli olan atıksu arıtma tesislerinde, tesis çalışanları bu tehlikelere maruz kalmaları sonucu zarar görebilirler. Bu çalışmada, Ordu ilindeki Durugöl Atıksu Arıtma Tesisi'ndeki iş sağlığı ve güvenliği çalışmalarını incelemek amacıyla, tesis alanı görüşme ve gözlem yöntemleri kullanılarak detaylı bir şekilde araştırılmış ve tesis yöneticileri ve personeli ile görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Tesisin risk analizi sonucunda, en yüksek risk puanına sahip bölümler için düzenleyici ve önleyici tedbirler önerilmiştir. Böylece, çalışma sonucunda; 1- Tesis çalışanları arasında iş sağlığı ve güvenliği tehlikelerinin yaygınlığı değerlendirilmiş, 2- İş sağlığı ve güvenliği tehlikelerinin yaygınlığını etkileyen faktörler belirlenmiş, 3- Üst yönetime çalışanların güvenliğini korumak ve hastalıkları önlemek için direktiflerin geliştirilmesi için öneriler sunulmuştur

Anahtar Kelimeler

• İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği
• Risk Değerlendirme
• Atık su arıtma tesisi tehlikeleri

Sewage Treatment Plants: Occupational Safety Risks and Health Hazards

Öz

Increasing population and urbanization cause water consumption and wastewater generation to increase. Developing water resources without proper treatment causes water levels to drop and water ecosystems to be damaged. Therefore, the operation and management of wastewater treatment plants is essential to prevent water leaks or significantly reduce pollution. As in every workplace, necessary occupational health and safety measures can be taken in wastewater treatment plants. During the operation, maintenance and repair of these plants, risk assessments should be carried out within the scope of occupational health and safety in order to eliminate or minimize the risks of occupational accidents and occupational diseases. There are hazards that need to be taken into consideration at every stage of wastewater treatment plants. In this study, in order to examine the occupational health and safety activities at the Durugöl Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ordu province, the plant area was examined in detail using interview and observation methods and interviews were conducted with plant managers and personnel. As a result of the risk analysis of the plant, regulatory and preventive measures were suggested for the sections with the highest risk scores. Thus, as a result of the study; 1- The prevalence of occupational health and safety hazards among plant employees was evaluated, 2- The factors affecting the prevalence of occupational health and safety hazards were determined, 3- Suggestions were presented to the upper management on the development of guidelines to protect the safety of employees and prevent diseases.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Risk Assesment
• Sewage Treatment Plant
• Hazard
• Risk

Kaynakça

1. Ahmed, S. F., Mofijur, M., Nuzhat, S., Chowdhury, A. T., Rafa, N., Uddin, M. A., & Show, P. L. (2021). Recent developments in physical, biological, chemical, and hybrid treatment techniques for removing emerging contaminants from wastewater. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 416, 125912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125912
2. Albatanony, M. A., & El-Shafie, M. K. (2011). Work-related health effects among wastewater treatment plants workers. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2(4), 237–244. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23022842/
3. Ambekar, A. N., Bharadwaj, R. S., Joshi, S. A., Kagal, A. S., & Bal, A. M. (2004). Sero surveillance of leptospirosis among sewer workers in Pune. Indian Journal of Public Health, 48(1), 27–29.
4. Brautbar, N., & Navizadeh, N. (1999). Sewer workers: Occupational risk for hepatitis C – Report of two cases and review of literature. Archives of Environmental Health, 54(5), 328–330.
5. Brophy, M. (1991). Confined space entry programs. Water Pollution Control Federation Safety and Health Bulletin, (Spring), 4.
6. Bruni, E., Simonetti, G., Bovone, B., Casagrande, C., Castellani, F., Riccardi, C., Pomata, D., Di Filippo, P., Federici, E., Buiarelli, F., & Uccelletti, D. (2020). Evaluation of bioaerosol bacterial components of a wastewater treatment plant through an integrated approach and in vivo assessment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(1), 273. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010273
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024, April 22). Reducing health risks to workers handling human waste or sewage. https://www.cdc.gov/global-water-sanitation-hygiene/about/workers_handlingwaste.html
8. Crook, B., Bardos, P., & Lacey, J. (1988). Domestic waste composting plants as source of airborne microorganisms. In W. D. Griffiths (Ed.), Aerosols: Their Generation, Behavior and Application. London: Aerosol Society.

9. Cyprowski, M., Sobala, W., Buczyńska, A., & Szadkowska-Stańczyk, I. (2015). Endotoxin exposure and changes in short-term pulmonary function among sewage workers. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 28(5), 803–811. https://doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00414
10. Dejan, V., Sandra, S., & Zarko, V. (2018). Working conditions at the water treatment plants: Activities, hazards and protective measures. Safety Engineering, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.7562/SE2018.8.01.05
11. Dinçer, M., & Erol, İ. (2024). Adana ASKİ Seyhan Atıksu Arıtma Tesisi’nin L Tipi Matris Yöntemi ile risk değerlendirmesi. Afet ve Risk Dergisi, 7(3), 677–696. https://doi.org/10.35341/afet.1389243
12. Flayeh, A. (2009). İş güvenliği tehlike risk analizleri ve bir işletmede uygulama (Yüksek lisans tezi). Selçuk Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü.
13. Friis, L., Engstrand, L., & Edling, C. (1996). Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among sewage workers. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 22(5), 364–368.
14. Güner, E. D. (2018). Environmental risk analysis of a biological wastewater treatment plant. Pamukkale University Journal of Engineering Sciences, 24(3), 476–480. [in Turkish]
15. Huang, C.-F., Tsai, Y.-L., & Lu, W.-H. (2021). Relationships among perceived control, safety attitude, and safety performance: A case study on wastewater treatment plant workers. Sustainability, 13(22), 12573. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212573
16. International Labour Organization. (2009). International hazard datasheets on occupation: Wastewater treatment plant operator. International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS).
17. Jeggli, S., Steiner, D., Joller, H., Tschopp, A., Steffen, R., & Hotz, P. (2004). Hepatitis E, Helicobacter pylori, and gastrointestinal symptoms in workers exposed to wastewater. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 61(7), 622–627.
18. Karakuzu, C. (2018). Risk analysis in road construction [Master’s thesis, Istanbul Esenyurt University, Institute of Science and Technology]. [in Turkish]
19. Kara, G., Akbulut, Z., & Topak, A. N. (2018). Odor problems in wastewater treatment plants in Turkey. National Journal of Environmental Science Research, 1(4), 185–188. [in Turkish]
20. Khuder, S. A., Arthur, T., Bisesi, M. S., & Schaub, E. A. (1998). Prevalence of infectious diseases and associated symptoms in wastewater treatment workers. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 33(6), 571–577.
21. Kinney, G. F., & Wiruth, A. D. (1976). Practical risk analysis for safety management (Vol. 5865). China Lake, CA: Naval Weapons Center.
22. Lee, J. A., Thorne, P. S., Reynolds, S. J., & O'Shaughnessy, P. T. (2007). Monitoring risks in association with exposure levels among wastewater treatment plant workers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 49(11), 1235–1248.
23. Ministry of Labour and Social Security. (2013, December 26). Communiqué on the list of hazard classes regarding occupational health and safety (Official Gazette No. 28602). Republic of Turkey Official Gazette. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2013/03/20130329-4.htm
24. Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, General Directorate of Environmental Management. (2014). Safety measures to be taken in units with poisoning risk in wastewater treatment plants (No. 53177711/249) [in Turkish].
25. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2003). Permit-required confined spaces (29 CFR 1910.146). U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.146
26. Orhan, G. (2016). Investigation of chemical and physical factors in domestic wastewater treatment plants [Specialist thesis, Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety]. [in Turkish]
27. Özkoç, H. B., Sağlam, C. G., & Uslu, A. (2023). Risk analysis and evaluation of the current situation in terms of work safety in the drinking water treatment plant. Black Sea Journal of Engineering and Science, 6(1), 18–24. https://doi.org/10.34248/bsengineering.1158567
28. Özkars, R. (2010). Establishment of occupational health and safety management system in Sivas wastewater treatment plant [Master’s thesis, Cumhuriyet University, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences]. [in Turkish]
29. Özkars, R., & Yıldız, S. (2013). Evaluation of wastewater treatment plants in Turkey in terms of occupational health and safety. Erciyes University Journal of the Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, 29(3), 254–261. [in Turkish]
30. Republic of Turkey (2012). Occupational health and safety law (Law No. 6331, Official Gazette No. 28339, Date: June 30, 2012). https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2012/06/20120630-1.htm
31. Republic of Turkey Ministry of Labour and Social Security. (2012). Regulation on risk assessment of occupational health and safety (Official Gazette No. 28512, December 29, 2012). https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=16925&MevzuatTur=7&MevzuatTertip=5
32. Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Industry and Trade. (2009). Machinery Safety Regulation (2006/42/EC). Official Gazette (Issue No. 27158, March 3, 2009).
33. Safe Working Procedure. (2010). Working with wastewater. The Toronto Public Service Citizen Focused Services Cluster B.
34. Thatcher, A., Todd, A., Davy, J., & Metson, G. S. (2022). Ergonomics in the design of a greywater treatment system for an urban informal settlement. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 66(1), 1643–1647. https://doi.org/10.1177/1071181322661323
35. Thorn, J., Beijer, L., & Rylander, R. (2002). Work related symptoms among sewage workers: A nationwide survey in Sweden. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59(8), 562–566.
36. Tirink, S., & Özkoç, H. B. (2021). Effects of toxic heavy metals on the environment and human health. In Highly Interconnected & Endless Puzzle: Agriculture (pp. 99–127).
37. Tiwari, R. R. (2008). Occupational Health Hazards in Sewer and Sanitary Plumbing Workers. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 12(3), 112–115. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5278.44691
38. Türkmen, S. (2019). Occupational health and safety in wastewater treatment plants [Master’s thesis, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Samsun, Turkey]. [in Turkish]
39. Uslu, A., & Uslu, G. (2021). Determining the existing hazards and the measures to be taken in oral and dental health centers by risk assessment. e-Journal of Social and Legal Studies, 7(2), 121–153.
40. Uslu, A., & Uslu, G. (2022). Hazard identification and risk analysis in rebar rolling plant. Black Sea Journal of Engineering and Science, 5(3), 109–115. https://doi.org/10.34248/bsengineering.1101902
41. Zaki, N., Hadoudi, N., Charki, A., Bensitel, N., Ouarghi, H. E., Amhamdi, H., & Ahari, M. H. (2023). Advancements in the chemical treatment of potable water and industrial wastewater using the coagulation–flocculation process. Separation Science and Technology, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/01496395.2023.2202347
42. Zuskin, E., Mustajbegovic, J., Lukenda-Simovic, D., & Ivankovic, D. (1990). Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity of sewage canal workers. Lijecnicki Vjesnik, 112, 353–357.