Maintenance Down the Drain
Part 1: Drain Cleaning Equipment Options
Part 2: Drain Cleaning Safety Considerations
Part 3: Drain-Cleaning Equipment: Rent or Buy?
Part 4: Drain Cleaning: Safety Checklist
Drain Cleaning: Safety Checklist
By Thomas A. Westerkamp - July 2008
Drain cleaning is an essential task in any facility, but it can present dangers for front-line technicians. Among the important questions managers must ask in developing safety training for drain-cleaning equipment are these:
• What personal protective equipment should technicians wear?
• Is a manual or electric auger or a high-speed water jet better suited for this job?
• What issues should technicians address to select the right cable size to prevent buckling and whiplash?
• What attachments fit the job best?
• What pre-inspection is needed?
• How should technicians check the electrical components?
• How should they prepare the area for safe operation before beginning the task?
• What steps are required to feed cable safely and protect hands?
• How should technicians use torque control on powered augers to prevent cable jamming and buckling?
• What should they do if the equipment jams or the cable buckles or breaks?
• What steps are required to ensure the backflow preventer on a high-speed water jetter is working to prevent contaminating the fresh-water supply with sewer water?
• What is the proper way to insert the water-jet nozzle far enough into the line to prevent backsplash when the water is turned on?
