The old adage ‘safety comes first’ should always be top priority, but according to some plumbing contractors, including Ron George, that was not always the case out on the job, especially in hospitals.
Many contractors came forward with stories about being exposed to bacteria, germs and diseases when working on existing plumbing systems, according to George.
Soon after, the board at ASSE developed a standard to protect your health and safety, titled ASSE SERIES 12000, which was then approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
This New Standard For Health and Safety Will Benefit Tradesmen; Here’s How:
- The critical nature of blood-borne pathogens and other diseases that present health hazards to you is now being addressed, and not ignored.
- It sets minimum criteria for your (plumbers/tradesmen) training and certification on how to safely work in an environment with potentially deadly diseases.
- It helps you identify and manage potential hazards.
There is no code requirement to follow this standard… yet – however it is an industry consensus standard that provides a minimum level of training for you.
What are your thoughts on this new standard? Were you ever in a situation that you felt was hazardous to your health, and what did you do to protect yourself?
