Black & Veatch has been awarded a contract by the Awwa Research Foundation (AwwaRF) to study and develop best practices for integrating health and safety into water utility operation, management and facility design. Black & Veatch will lead a team of representatives from 23 water utilities from across the U.S. in cooperation with Applied Safety and Ergonomics, Inc. (Ann Arbor, Mich.) in the groundbreaking research.
“Black & Veatch assembled a team of water utilities with advanced safety cultures who are willing to share their experience with their peers,” said AwwaRF project manager India Williams. “A water utility survey, along with a workshop and case studies, will serve as a foundation for two documents that will provide practical guidance for protecting water industry workers from illness and injury.”
The 18-month research project, scheduled to begin in January 2006, will culminate in two documents: Compendium of Water Systems Hazard Assessment and Mitigation of Best Practices and Design-and-Operation Integration Procedure. According to John Borowski, Black & Veatch principal investigator and practice leader for Health and Safety Consulting, the documents will be used by utilities to improve existing safety programs. They will focus on effective integration of hazard assessment, mitigation procedures and design standards into the design and operation of conveyance, treatment and distribution systems.
“This project further positions Black & Veatch both as a leader in the water business and a pacesetter in development and implementation of safe work practices and procedures,” said B&V Water president and CEO Dan McCarthy. “Combining two areas of expertise for the potential benefit of an entire industry presents a tremendous opportunity to create value.”
Source: Black & Veatch
