Portraits: Dennis Fischetti

Dennis Fischetti, Employee Health & Safety

How would you describe your job to a 5th grader?

I am part of EH&S (Employee Health & Safety.) We help the staff; engineers, electricians, machinists, oilers, and sewage treatment workers stay healthy and safe while we perform the many different jobs and tasks necessary to treat the wastewater that comes into to the plant.

What is the most interesting part of your job?

I have always said that it is amazing to see the difference between the wastewater coming in at the beginning of the plant process and at the end. To think that what we do here cleans it that much, to the point where we can discharge it into the east river, is unbelievable.

What is your schedule like?

I work Monday through Friday 7am to 3pm,so it is the busiest time of the week, especially working around all the ongoing construction. I might have to do forklift training, make up signs on the computer, inspect chemical storage facilities, check safetyequipment used by the staff, inspect the preparations for people going into a confined space for a job, repair fire hydrants or fire sprinklers, repair eyewashes or deal with collecting and storing hazardous waste. It gets pretty busy.

What is it like to work at the largest wastewater treatment plant?

Everything here is bigger, more involved, and more complex because of the sheer size of the plant.

Has anything exciting happened to you on the job?

I remember, several years ago, when a hurricane hit the plant. It was like being on a ship, with “all hands on deck” doing everything possible to prevent the plant from being overwhelmed and flooded out by all the rainwater pummeling the plant.

What is the most important aspect of your job?

In the end, it is to make sure all the people here are trained and equipped to do their job safely, because it can get dangerous, so they go home without any injuries.

How long have you worked at the plant?

I have worked for the DEP [Department of Environmental Protection] for 18 years, almost all of them at Newtown Creek.