Working at water and wastewater plants can be dangerous, with hazards such as slippery walkways, dangerous gases and noisy, malfunctioning equipment. Workers experience an occupational injury and illness rate higher than the average for all occupations, incurring injuries ranging from sprained ankles and pulled muscles to lung infections, blindness and even death.A 2009 OSHA report put the IIF (injury/illness/fatality) incidence rate for the wastewater industry at 4.1 per 100 workers, compared with 3.6 cases per 100 for the nation, noting that the rate had dipped below 5.0, where it had been for several years. A major reason is that the
