Federal and state regulations have strict rules about how companies must protect the safety of their workers. In the water industry, employees are exposed to many potential dangers. The safety officer makes sure the company understands its responsibility in each situation and provides the proper safety actions. The job includes:

• ensuring that employees wear proper safety clothing, helmets, steel-toed boots, and safety glasses
• checking licenses and carrying out inspections for heavy equipment;
• maintaining safety-related records;
• providing training on the use of specialized equipment, such as the tools needed to enter and work safely in tunnels and manholes;
• safely handling and disposing of hazardous waste and chemicals;
• ensuring that areas with hazardous vapors or high voltage have ventilation and other safety features;
• shutting down work sites that are unsafe.