Water and Effluent Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/721218
16 WET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2016 ONSITE HEalTH & SafETy SDEa has created a safer culture across its network Confined space working reaches new heights • When french water company SDEa needed a clear strategy regarding safety across all its water treatment sites, it turned to 3M. projEcT SpEcS • Carry out a full audit into safety procedures • Provide a tailored, integrated safety solution • Create an internal training facility 3 M Fall Protection, a manufacturer of fall protection equipment, has been working with the Union of Water and Sanitation Alsace Moselle in France (Syndicat des Eaux et de l'Assainissement (SDEA) to improve its approach to working at height and in confined spaces. The partnership is the result of a regional campaign to improve safety across all of SDEA's water treatment sites. Following the success of a pilot implementation in Dettwiller, Bas Rhin, SDEA is now rolling out the new strategy across its 116 sites in France alongside installer Alpinistes du Bâtiment. The Union of Water and Sanitation Alsace-Moselle (SDEA) is a specialised wastewater purification organisation responsible for the drinking water and treatment of wastewater for more than 500 towns across the area. The operating facilities at each SDEA facility consists of buildings and technical infrastructure of considerable height and depth. Safe access is required to these locations when operating, maintenance and repair work is to be carried out. While some of the work areas were already equipped with collective and individual protection systems, there was a lack of consistency and action procedures across the sites as a whole. Drop test Raphael Voegelin, quality, safety environment and sustainability manager at SDEA, addressed the situation as part of a company-wide initiative to improve the safety of any work areas that were not properly equipped for workers who worked at height or in confined spaces. Initially, 3M Fall Protection's demo-van was invited to visit the SDEA facility as part of a safety day. The demo-van is part of the company's fleet of specialised vehicles that bring onsite, hands-on fall protection demonstrations to the workforce. The mobile drop test unit enabled SDEA workers to see the effects of falls from height as well as familiarising themselves with the arresting forces they may experience during a fall. Following the visit, SDEA asked 3M Fall Protection's experts to carry out a full audit into its safety procedures and provide a tailored, integrated solution which complies with regulatory requirements and best practice. The process was carried out in three phases, the first being an audit of the existing situation followed by an analysis with short- and long-term recommendations, and then a presentation of the report to the SDEA management team. This visit showcased 3M Fall Protection's knowledge and expertise which led to the opportunity to work further with the organisation, supporting its campaign for safety when working at height and in confined spaces. In order to create a safer culture at SDEA, employees attended the 3M Fall Protection ITFH (Technical Institute of Training in Height) training centre in Paris, where training was provided on the products needed for their applications and ways in which they could create a professional training centre inside SDEA. 3M Fall Protection, formerly Capital Safety, suggested creating an internal training facility at the Dettwiller sewage plant. For this, 3M Fall Protection trained employees on how to deliver effective training on working in confined spaces and at height. A second training day was then carried out with the SDEA management team as part of the first installation of equipment. During this session, employees were trained on the different types of equipment that could be used for each application in order to make their work place safer. Recommendations One example of where 3M Fall Protection improved operations Working at height and in confined spaces topped the improvements Safe access is required when carrying out operating and maintenance work at sites