Around
the nation, thousands of hazardous waste sites are
under scrutiny and represent a potential liability
for present and former users. Many of these sites
must be restored to clean conditions to protect
human health and the environment. Current generators
of hazardous waste must also ensure that their waste
is properly managed and disposed of, since the generator’s
liability for hazardous wastes is perpetual. Waste
minimization programs are now becoming the subject
of increased enforcement efforts.
The
remediation of hazardous waste sites presents significant
challenges to the site owners, especially in terms
of worker safety and health. First, in order to
safeguard worker health, all employees at a hazardous
waste remediation site must receive annual training
in work operations, personal protective equipment,
health and safety hazards and emergency response
procedures (29 CFR 1910.120).
Secondly,
a written site health and safety program must be
developed for employees at hazardous waste operations
to identify, evaluate and control health and safety
hazards. Site-specific health and safety plans must
also be developed.
All
waste sites change constantly as the remediation
effort progresses, and the initial safety and health
practices may not always be appropriate for a changing
site. Health and safety plans must be revised as
new site hazards are identified, and personal monitoring
must be updated as well. Because of the changing
nature of hazardous waste remediation sites, health
and safety officers are needed during all site operations,
to implement the health and safety plans and revise
them as needed to address new hazards. Rigorous
daily on-site inspections and exposure monitoring
by experienced industrial hygiene personnel provides
the best possible insurance that workers will not
be overexposed to health hazards, and that the documentation
to prove safe working conditions will be available
in the future.
Helix
Environmental, Inc. brings to its projects years
of expertise gained in hazardous waste site operations
and asbestos abatement projects, from the perspective
of industrial hygienists and occupational health
professionals. The dedicated group of industrial
hygienists and safety professionals at Helix Environmental,
Inc. have developed hazardous waste programs for
individual facilities to minimize the amount of
hazardous waste generated and ensure the correct
handling of hazardous waste, with emphasis on the
protection of worker and community health.
Other
projects have included the provision of site health
and safety oversight at “Superfund”
and private waste remediation sites, air sampling
and analysis for personnel and boundary line locations,
the evaluation of chemical contaminants at both
industrial and construction sites, and workplace
and community noise studies.
Helix
Environmental, Inc. can provide a wide range of
services for hazardous waste operations:
- Hazardous
Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)
Training
- Annual
HAZWOPER Refresher Training
- Personal
Protective Equipment Training
- Development
of Site-specific Health and Safety Plans
- On-site
Health and Safety Officers under the direct supervision
of Certified Industrial Hygienists
- Personal
exposure monitoring
- Boundary
line air sampling
- Development
of Waste Minimization Programs
- Respirator
training and fit testing
Hazardous
Waste Consultation
