{"id":316,"date":"2017-01-09T20:49:23","date_gmt":"2017-01-09T19:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.frakem.com\/blog\/?p=316"},"modified":"2017-01-09T20:49:23","modified_gmt":"2017-01-09T19:49:23","slug":"top-10-safety-hazards-for-plumbers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.frakem.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/top-10-safety-hazards-for-plumbers\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Safety Hazards for Plumbers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"healthy<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Plumbing is likely something most of us don\u2019t think about on a day-to-day basis, even though it\u2019s an integral part of our daily lives.\u00a0 As long as toilets are flushing and water is freely flowing down the drain, life is good, but the minute one of the plumbed fixtures goes haywire, we are on the phone hiring a good plumber to come restore function.\u00a0 For those of us with little knowledge of water pipes, a plumber\u2019s true skill set is a bit mysterious, so it may come as a surprise that every day they are faced with risks that go along with the job.<\/p>\n

10. \u00a0 \u00a0 Everyday Stressors<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are few jobs that can be touted as \u201cstress-free,\u201d and being a plumber is no exception.\u00a0 With every new job comes the stress of walking into the unknown.\u00a0 For new plumbers just getting started, there is stress of living up to expectations and hoping for success.\u00a0 For the experienced plumbers, many of whom own their own businesses, there is the stress of managing employees and making sure there is enough profit to make a living.<\/p>\n

If not handled appropriately, constant stress can have a significant impact on overall health.\u00a0 A suppressed immune system, added aches and pains, and even heart problems can all be attributed to an overabundance of poorly handled stress.<\/p>\n

9. \u00a0 \u00a0 Diminished Hearing<\/strong><\/p>\n

The tools of plumbing are most definitely not limited to wrenches.\u00a0 In fact, there are many loud components in the plumbing field.\u00a0 Clanging pipes, pounding mechanisms, and buzzing electronic gadgets are all part of the job, so hearing loss is prevalent in plumbers.\u00a0 The percentage of plumbers that have reported hearing loss is a whopping 48% according to a 2004 Protection of the Human Environment report by The World Health Organization.<\/p>\n

8. \u00a0 \u00a0 Potential Eye Risk<\/strong><\/p>\n

Working closely with various tools, materials, and substances poses an immediate threat to the eyes, especially when working in tight spaces.\u00a0 It is common for sparks to fly, debris to splatter, or even water to shoot out at a high pressure, all of which could be detrimental to a plumber\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 Safety goggles are a must even for the least dangerous jobs.<\/p>\n

7. \u00a0 \u00a0 Scorching Summers and Frigid Winters<\/strong><\/p>\n

A plumber\u2019s domain is not limited to bathroom drains or the underside of a kitchen sink.\u00a0 Sometimes plumbing work needs to be done outdoors when weather conditions are less than ideal.\u00a0 Depending on the season and part of the country, plumbers get their share of exposure to the elements.\u00a0 Staying hydrated is extra important on sunny humid days when temperatures venture high, and being sure to wear extra layers in the snow and ice is essential to avoid loss of body heat.<\/p>\n

6. \u00a0 \u00a0 Repetitive Hand Tool Movement<\/strong><\/p>\n

A plumber\u2019s tool belt is stocked with the essential items needed to tighten, loosen, screw, and hammer.\u00a0 Both electronic and manual varieties are meant for ease of use, but the repetitious movements required to use these tools can end up causing long-term musculoskeletal damage, such as tendonitis or carpal tunnel, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.\u00a0 To avoid this damage, it is vital for plumbers to maintain proper posture and a straight wrist.<\/p>\n

5. \u00a0 \u00a0 Contact with Mold<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since plumbers commonly work in areas where water and moisture are present, there is always a risk of coming into contact with various types of mold.\u00a0 Physical symptoms of the mold, like coughing, sneezing, or difficulty breathing, can manifest even before the plumber actually sees it.\u00a0 Proper protective gear and abatement are critical if mold is found.<\/p>\n

4. \u00a0 \u00a0 Run-Ins with Gas and Electric<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pipes and fixtures can be a complex labyrinth behind walls and under floors, and sometimes this plumbing can get close to or come in contact with gas or electrical lines.\u00a0 Plumbers must use extreme caution at all times to avoid disaster and make sure gas lines stay intact and water and electricity do not mix.<\/p>\n

3. \u00a0 \u00a0 Long-Term Wear and Tear<\/strong><\/p>\n

Plumbing work is physically demanding.\u00a0 Plumbers find themselves in many awkward positions to do work and heavy lifting is common, but these repetitious movements can cause the breakdown of muscles, joints, ligaments, and vertebrae over time, so it is crucial for plumbers to pay attention to how they move from day-to-day.\u00a0 Avoiding permanent injury is possible by asking for help when needed and using proper equipment for heavy lifting.<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0 \u00a0 Slippery Floors<\/strong><\/p>\n

Where there is water and bare floors, there is a potential for slips and falls which could lead to a serious injury.\u00a0 Plumbers have to be on alert in each job scenario to avoid such accidents, but being aware of how to fall \u201csafely\u201d can be the difference between a bruise and broken bone.<\/p>\n

\u00a01. \u00a0 \u00a0 Hazardous Material Exposure<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hazardous material is the pinochle of danger in every plumber\u2019s career.\u00a0 Human and animal waste and other bio hazard materials are part of the job in many instances.\u00a0 It is far from pleasant and can be full of toxins that could pose serious health risks to the plumber that is removing it, which is why proper safety and cleanliness protocol must be observed if there is any chance of coming in contact with this material.<\/p>\n

The next time you need to hire a plumber, make sure to thank him or her for their willingness to do quality work despite the many risks they take each day.<\/p>\n

Photo credit:\u00a0http:\/\/www.menifeeplumber.org\/plumbers\/<\/p>\n

About the Author<\/strong>: \u00a0Sam Socorro is an experienced and prolific guest writer from http:\/\/dailyhealthclick.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Plumbing is likely something most of us don’t think about on a day-to-day basis, even though it’s an integral part of our daily lives.  As long as toilets are flushing and water is freely flowing down the drain, life is good, but the minute one of the plumbed fixtures goes haywire, we are on …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,8,6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frakem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frakem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frakem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frakem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frakem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=316"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.frakem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":331,"href":"https:\/\/www.frakem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316\/revisions\/331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frakem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frakem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frakem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}