TNUSSP

Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), leading the Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP), organised a two-day training on ‘Occupational Safety and Health for Sanitation Workers Engaged in Septic Tanks Desludging’, in collaboration with the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department (MAWS) TN_maws , Government of Tamil Nadu, and the Regional Labour Institute (RLI), Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. The programme brought together Sanitary Inspectors, Supervisors, and De-Sludging Operators from 20 Municipalities in the Chengalpattu region of Tamil Nadu.

Sanitary Inspectors and Supervisors play a critical decision-making role in planning and implementing septic tank and sewer cleaning operations, activities that involve multiple workplace hazards, including confined space entry. The training forms part of TNUSSP’s decade-long engagement to strengthen occupational safety and health (OSH) practices in sanitation work.

A total of 51 participants engaged in classroom sessions, field demonstrations, and simulation exercises to build a stronger understanding of occupational safety. Key themes included vehicle and site safety, hazardous process management, with particular emphasis on atmospheric gas measurement and confined space safety. Cross-cutting discussions addressed occupational and mental health, as well as safety communication.

The sessions were delivered by a multidisciplinary technical team comprising representatives from the Regional Labour Institute; the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS), Government of Tamil Nadu; Tamil Nadu Fire & Rescue Services Department; and subject experts. Anamika Ramesh, I.A.S., Joint Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Government of Tamil Nadu, attended the closing session and encouraged participants to translate their learnings into safer on-ground practices.

The sessions drew from a needs assessment study IIHS conducted in 2018 across two Indian cities, underscoring the importance of moving beyond Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ensuring sanitation workers’ participation in safety-related decision-making. In 2022, TNUSSP developed a First Aid Training Manual for De-sludging Workers focused on workplace emergency management and accident prevention. Since 2023, TNUSSP has worked with RLI and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Hygiene (DISH) to develop a comprehensive OSH Manual for sanitation workers engaged in de-sludging; the present training drew directly on these principles.

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