OSHA Spotlight: Do you know the last time drinking water was tested at your facility? Do you know if it was done correctly?
Thursday, November 01, 2012

ARTICLE 53 (Red Book Contract)
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

Section 11. The Agency shall test for evidence of drinking water contamination (by radon or other contaminants exceeding EPA water quality standards) at each air traffic facility, at least once every three (3) years and more often if there is evidence of possible contamination.

If such testing validates the contamination, and if corrective action or abatement cannot readily be taken, the Agency will provide bottled water and associated equipment or other potable water meeting EPA/ OSHA standards for the use of all bargaining unit employees until the contamination has been corrected/abated, as evidenced by a normal water test taken at least ten (10) days following correction/ abatement.

After Hurricane Sandy all coastal facilities should be having a conversation about drinking water and how it may have been affected by the flooding!

Sample analysis must be conducted by a certified drinking water laboratory, and in accordance with JO 3900.61 (Water testing at Air Traffic Facilities). Your Air Traffic Manager (ATM) is responsible for taping off all drinking water sources six hours prior to testing. You should make yourself familiar with terms like “first draw” and “first flush,” or “purged draw,” and “SECOM (water testing company).”

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safe drinking water website (http://www.epa.gov/safewater/labs) provides information on how to obtain a listing of certified laboratories to test drinking water for each state.

Please click HERE to determine if a lab is certified.

Please click HERE to the EPA where you can find acceptable contaminant levels.

Your facility manager is responsible for disseminating the analytical results (and corrective action plan, if established) to all occupants of the facility. The Facility Manager will serve as the employees’ point of contact for all drinking water issues for that facility.

If you have any questions, please contact your Regional OSHA Representative. Click HERE for a listing of reps.