Incident Lessons Learned: Non Flushables Down the Toilet

Image credit: Trevor RIttenhouse

Summary

During a routine weekly mechanical inspection, a U of A maintenance team discovered a main sewer line blockage that was causing sewage to surface through the floor drains.

The maintenance team successfully cleared the obstruction by deploying 150 feet of mechanical cable through a drain system. The team discovered that the blockage was caused by a large section of industrial plastic pallet wrap that had been flushed down the toilet. 

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated issue; university maintenance workers increasingly report toilet blockages due to the improper disposal of unflushable items such as packaging materials, dental floss and paper towels.

Consequences

The disposal of non-flushable materials into the sanitary system creates a cascade of significant operational and environmental challenges. At the facility level, these items lead to localized plumbing obstructions and sewage backups, which often result in substantial property damage and high remediation costs. Hazards associated with this work include exposure to biological hazards such as pathogens, chemical hazards such as toxic emissions, and physical hazards such as musculoskeletal strains from working in awkward positions from lifting and removing heavy, water-logged masses of debris.

Culture of Care

The Culture of Care Safety Action Plan calls upon all employees and students to take personal responsibility for the safe and effective use of U of A facilities. This includes exercising diligence by ensuring non-flushable items are never disposed of through the university’s sanitary system.

Call to Action

To reduce the risk of clogged and damaged systems, and to prevent similar incidents:

• Flush only human waste and toilet paper down U of A toilets. Dispose of all other items in recycling bins, garbage cans and other receptacles as appropriate. 
• Refer to posted signage for other requirements related to toilet usage.  
• Report blocked toilets to the Maintenance Desk.

The University of Alberta is committed to the safety, health and well-being of our faculty, staff and students. Every day, we advance this commitment to safety through the Culture of Care: Safety Action Plan.