Sewage Clean-Up Risk Assessment

Product Overview

This risk assessment covers sewage clean-up, from site assessment and area control through to decontamination, waste handling and emergency response. It supports planning and risk management by identifying biological contamination, chemical, electrical, access, manual handling and environmental hazards.

Activities & Risks Covered

This assessment addresses activities and risks including:

• Assess the work area, contamination scope, access, hygiene needs and emergency arrangements
• Coordinate with occupants, contractors and other duty holders before work begins
• Establish exclusion zones and control entry to contaminated areas
• Manage exposure to sewage, contaminated water, sludge, surfaces, aerosols and dust
• Identify and handle contaminated sharps, broken materials and hidden objects carefully
• Isolate or manage electrical equipment and services in wet or contaminated areas
• Plan work in sewers, pits, tanks, manholes and other enclosed spaces
• Use cleaning agents and disinfectants while preventing incompatible mixing and spills
• Handle wet waste, hoses, pumps, sandbags and damaged materials safely
• Control slips, trips, falls, heat stress and fatigue in difficult work conditions
• Decontaminate equipment and workers, manage contaminated waste and respond to exposure incidents

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out sewage clean-up.

Activities & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template records model guidance used to inform the documented controls. Applicable WHS/OHS laws and adopted Codes vary by state or territory, so confirm the current local requirements when tailoring the assessment:

• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Biological hazards — Clinical waste management; p. 88.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace — 2.1 Identifying the hazards; p. 14.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace — 3. First aid equipment, facilities and training; p. 12.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Confined spaces — 3.4 Assessing the risks; p. 24.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities — 2. The work environment; p. 13.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace — 2.2 Safety Data Sheets (SDS); p. 16.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks — 4.1 The hierarchy of control measures; p. 31.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of fatigue at work — Provide sufficient breaks while at work; p. 30.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace — Plant hazard identification — Traffic movements in the workplace; p. 17.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks — 5. Step 4 — How to review controls; p. 27.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination — 3. What is effective consultation?; p. 13.

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Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)

• Activity-specific hazard identification and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each activity
• Risk matrix and assessment classification
• Review, monitoring and sign-off fields
• Site-specific customisation before use