Safety isn’t sexy. No one gets excited about gas monitors. But no one likes pulling dead bodies out of a sewer either. 

I started out my June column with those words. I don’t like repeating myself, but it’s an important enough topic that it’s worth saying again. And if they make even one person take a little extra time or put a little extra emphasis on safety, they could save a life. I can’t think of any greater power a few simple words could hold. 

Two of the stories in this month’s issue of Cleaner relate to safety issues. The work you do can be dangerous, and at the end of the day, beyond getting the job done, beyond making a good profit, the safety of your crew should be top priority. If it’s not, the end of the day — and someone’s life — could come all too soon. 

High-pressure water can cut you in half. Hydrogen sulfide can choke you out before you even know what’s happening. Trenches can bury you alive. You probably don’t face all these dangers on a daily basis, but you no doubt face at least one regularly. No matter how safety conscious you usually are, it only takes one lapse, one mistake, to change everything. 

That’s the thing about safety measures: They only keep you safe if you follow them 100 percent of the time. Accidents are often the result of little shortcuts, of failing to take simple steps to protect yourself to save a little time. The industry is filled with stories of people who tried to save a few minutes and ended up losing their lives. And if you push your employees to get jobs done faster than safe practices allow, there’s a good chance you could lose your business, too. 

The aforementioned gas monitors, along with other important confined-space gear, are critical if you’re working in manholes, sewers, tanks or any other underground chambers. These aren’t situations where you learn from your mistakes; they’re situations where you die from your mistakes. That might seem overly dramatic if you’re used to that kind of work and haven’t had any issues, but do a quick internet search on “sewer fatality” if you want a quick and sobering reminder — page after page of people who didn’t take the proper precautions and paid the ultimate price. 

This month’s Safety First column takes a look at confined-space safety and the dangers of hydrogen sulfide. You probably know that the gas has the distinct smell of rotten eggs, an obvious warning sign. But as it reaches higher concentrations, H2S paralyzes the olfactory nerve. You won’t smell it. You’ll just collapse and die. Please take the time to read the column. Even if you’re familiar with all the information, the reminder is worthwhile. 

High-pressure water is another threat altogether. The pressures used for industrial cleaning require the highest level of safety. The management team at PSC Industrial Services in Houston, Texas, is well aware of the threat and has invested heavily to keep their people safe. 

The company has spent $4 million to get its operators out of harm’s way and into the protected, climate-controlled cabs of its automated tube-lancing systems. In addition to boosting efficiency, the company has gone the extra mile to keep its people safe. 

I hope you’ll do the same.

Stay safe, and enjoy this month’s issue.