AWWA Policy Statement: Health, Safety, and Environmental Programs

March 7, 2025

The following revised AWWA Policy Statement on Health, Safety, and Environmental Programs has been approved by the Technical and Educational Council for Council/ Member comment.

Comments on the policy statement will be reviewed by AWWA Staff and forwarded to the Executive Committee if the comments are minor or referred back to the originating body if the comments are substantive. Policies forwarded to the Executive Committee will be reviewed for approval and final action.

Revised: Health, Safety, and Environmental Programs Policy Statement

American Water Works Association (AWWA) considers a safe work environment to be vital for everyone who works in the water industry, without exceptions. Employers must fully adopt an effective health, safety, and environmental program developed according to established risk factors and regulatory compliance, and the program must be integrated and maintained throughout the workplace. Everyone should comply, uphold, and continually improve all health, safety, and environmental regulations, standards, and procedures, and be prepared and open to adopt new regulations and safety concepts in response to new technology, new scientific discoveries, and emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases. 

AWWA believes that effective health, safety, and environmental programs successfully balance human, environmental, cultural, and political challenges in achieving excellence in all aspects of the water industry and is committed to providing educational and support materials to members to further this aim.

Practices specified in this policy statement are consistent with all other pertinent AWWA policy statements.

Adopted by the Board of Directors Feb. 2, 1997, and revised Jan. 18, 2004, and Jan.

17, 2010, and June 7, 2015. Revised April 20, 2020. 

Submit comments by April 7, 2025.