Sewerage cleaner

Sewerage cleaners maintain and clean septic tanks, sewerage systems and their pipes within communities. They remove blockages that stop the sewerage flow to ensure the smooth running of the systems.

A sewerage cleaner typically does the following:

• Clean and disinfect domestic basements and other areas flooded by sewer stoppages.
• Ensure that repaired sewer line joints are tightly sealed before backfilling begins.
• Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins.
• Cover repaired pipes with dirt, and pack backfilled excavations, using air and gasoline tampers.
• Cut damaged sections of pipe with cutters, remove broken sections from ditches, and replace pipe sections, using pipe sleeves.
• Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages.
• Install rotary knives on flexible cables mounted on machine reels, according to the diameters of pipes to be cleaned.
• Locate problems, using specially designed equipment, and mark where digging must occur to reach damaged tanks or pipes.

Sewerage cleaners often work outdoors, but they may work indoors on rare occasions. They often wear protective clothing or equipment. They are sometimes exposed to contaminants, such as cleaning products, and diseases and infections carried in waste.

Sometimes, sewerage cleaners must get into awkward positions to reach cramped work places

Sewerage cleaners usually work a full time, on a regular schedule if they work for local governments. They may work more hours one week, and fewer hours the next, depending on demand. This applies more for those who work for or own small companies.

The following job titles also refer to sewerage cleaner:

• drain cleaner
• sewer pipe cleaner
• drain technician
• septic cleaner
• septic tank service technician
• sewer bricklayer

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as sewerage cleaner. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Sewerage cleaner is a Skill level 1 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to sewerage cleaner.

drainage worker
street sweeper
refuse collector
sorter labourer
waterway construction labourer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of sewerage cleaner. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of sewerage cleaner with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

septic tank servicer
sewerage network operative
water network operative
drain technician
pipeline maintenance worker

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of sewerage cleaner.

• Waste transport legislation

These skills are necessary for the role of sewerage cleaner.

• Operate pumps: Operate industrial pumps used to remove excess liquid.
• Ensure compliance with legal requirements: Guarantee compliance with established and applicable standards and legal requirements such as specifications, policies, standards or law for the goal that organisations aspire to achieve in their efforts.
• Perform cleaning activities in an environmentally friendly way: Undertake all cleaning duties in a manner which minimises environmental damage, follow methods that lessen pollution and wastage of resources.
• Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
• Handle chemical cleaning agents: Ensure proper handling, storage and disposal of cleaning chemicals in accordance with regulations.
• Dispose waste: Dispose waste in accordance with legislation, thereby respecting environmental and company responsibilities.
• Clean sewerage systems: Clear out and clean items that block the flow of sewerage in the sewerage system by hand or with a machine.
• Ensure equipment maintenance: Ensure that the equipment required for operations is regularly checked for faults, that routine maintenance tasks are performed, and that repairs are scheduled and performed in the case of damage or flaws.
• Inspect sewerage systems: Determine and locate the cause of blockage in the sewerage system.
• Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.
• Operate sumps: Operate industrial sumps used to remove excess liquid such as water or chemicals.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of sewerage cleaner. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Water policies: Have a solid understanding of policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations concerning water.
• Pollution prevention: The processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.
• Types of pipelines: Know various types of pipelines and their different usages. Differentiate between pipelines used to transport goods over short and long distances, and understand their respective feeding systems.
• Excavation techniques: The methods to remove rock and soil, used in an excavation site and the associated risks.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of sewerage cleaner. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Ensure sanitation: Keep workspaces and equipment free from dirt, infection, and disease by removing waste, trash and providing for appropriate cleaning.
• Inspect pipelines: Walk flow lines to identify damage or leaks; use electronic detection equipment and conduct visual inspections.
• Clean industrial containers: Clean residual dirt particles from containers. Adapt cleaning process to the customer’s requirements.
• Clear pipelines: Clear pipelines by pumping water or other substances through them, or wash the pipelines manually or using suitable machinery.
• Detect flaws in pipeline infrastructure: Detect flaws in pipeline infrastructure during construction or over the passage of time. Detect flaws such as construction defects, corrosion, ground movement, hot-tap made by error, and others.
• Use pipeline video equipment: Handle movable video cameras which visually inspect sewerage systems and pipelines. This camera is attached via a long cable entwined upon a winch. Analyse the footage to see if any repair or maintenance is needed.
• Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
• Maintain septic tanks: Maintain effluent sewer systems which use septic tanks to collect sewage, and separate solid waste from it, from residential buildings or organisations. Perform routine maintenance tasks and cleaning duties, identify and repair faults.
• Prevent pipeline deterioration: Ensure the conservation of pipelines by undertaking adequate maintenance of the system and its coating properties. Prevent corrosion formation, leaks, and other problems.
• Regulate the flow of substances in pipelines: Control of the flow of substances such as gases, chemicals, oils, and other materials transported via pipelines and pump stations.
• Operate drilling equipment: Operate a range of drilling equipment, pneumatic as well as electrical and mechanical. Tend drilling equipment, monitor and operate it, according to regulations. Safely and efficiently drill holes using the correct equipment, settings, and drill bits.
• Perform cleaning activities in an outdoor environment: Adapt the cleaning working methods and procedures to the environmental conditions and adapt to weather conditions such as rain, strong wind or snow, when this affects the performance of the equipment or machinery that is being used.
• Repair pipelines: Conduct maintenance and repair work on pipelines to prevent or remedy damages using, if necessary, remote-controlled robots.

9129 – Other cleaning workers

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References

1. ESCO
2. Septic Tank Services and Sewer Pipe Cleaners – Working Conditions – IllinoisWorkNet
3. Septic Tank Services and Sewer Pipe Cleaner Job Description, Duties and Jobs – CareerPlanner.com
4. Featured image: By Łukasz Lech – Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0