Course Unit: Water Hygiene Scheme

Course Duration 1 Day

Overview

The National Water Hygiene training protects the safety of water through good hygiene practices while working on restricted operations as defined in the technical guidance notes:

“Work which may involve direct or potential contact with untreated sources of underground water, with partially or fully treated water within water treatment works or with treated water, or any surface of an operational asset (including those temporarily out of use) which will itself be in contact with potable water at any stage in its distribution to the point where it is made available to consumers.”

Regular courses for the Safety, Health and Environment Awareness are scheduled throughout the year, please call to book.

Objectives

Subjects covered within the training session include:

• The premise that water is a food product and the public expect their water supply to have been treated properly so that it does not cause health problems.
• The importance of personal hygiene and identification of potential sources of contamination.
• Awareness of potential for contamination. Includes Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the need for clean boots.
• Vehicles – vehicles need to be kept clean and tidy and tools need to be separated. Awareness of where the vehicle has been taken before entering a treatment works e.g. fields, sewage treatment works etc.
• Multi-functional working – water and sewerage working is becoming common for some companies and the associated risks must be understood.
• Fuel, diesel and chemical contamination – any of these getting into the water could have detrimental affects.
• Pets could help to spread water borne diseases e.g. dogs, cats, horses etc – ensure that individuals do not wear the same footwear for work.
• Chlorine/disinfection, both in the water itself and other usage i.e. how chlorine is used to wash boots, clean tools and in repairs, and the correct disposal of chlorine solution.
• Awareness and usage surrounding approved products. The right substance for the job
• Awareness of the sampling and audit processes in place by various bodies.

Health Screening

A standardised health screening questionnaire must be completed by any person required to work on restricted operations. This includes staff working on the water network, water treatment works, taking water quality samples etc, i.e. anyone that the water company considers could come in contact with treated water.

Answers on the form that suggest the individual maybe carrying a water borne disease will require the individual to be referred to their doctor or occupational health department for checks. The trainer will make the final decision on whether to allow the individual to carry out the training course. The individual must pass the health screening before they can be registered for the National Water Hygiene card and will not be issued a card until both the health screening and the test have been passed.

Course Numbers
Maximum 12 learners.