There are more dangerous trades — firefighting and coal mining come to mind — but plumbing presents a long list of potential hazards. This is true because jobs and job sites vary widely. Plumbers obviously face different risks in different work environments. Whether you are snaking a line, installing a water heater or soldering pipe on a multi-story apartment complex, a plumber, installer or contractor needs to think: safety first.
“PHCC has a core belief in helping keep members’ workplaces safe,” said Chuck White, vice president of technical and code services for the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors - National Association. “The PHCC Insurance, Safety, & Risk Management Committee is very involved in this process. Committee chair David Frame from Bob Frame Plumbing Services Inc. in South Bend, Ind., stresses the importance of training the workforce in safe practices and the use of personal protection equipment as being the key to getting the job done right.