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When I was first introduced to perimeter air monitoring, I walked in circles for days, literally. Every half hour I recorded a reading in my field book and moved to the next assigned point. This necessary, tedious process continued for days, weeks, and months. At the end of each day I watched an entire job crew file through the gates to the parking area as I stood by in envy. After a deep breath of annoyance and gloom, The remediation of contaminated soil at hazardous waste sites is one way that we, as a society, employ to improve our environment. However, there is a risk of releasing these hazardous substances into the air during the actual soil-remediating operations that could present health risks to the surrounding community. One method of controlling these risks is through community air monitoring programs or CAMP. Have you ever wondered if the air your kids are breathing at their school is safe? Well, so has the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). The US EPA has completed sampling outside air at 63 elementary, middle, and high schools in 22 states. Even better yet, they have completed the analytical work associated with these samples and have uploaded more than 22,500 results to the EPA website. The EPA is now analyzing The Bhopal Disaster has been in the news again with the eight former company executives getting convicted of negligence. A court in the Indian city of Bhopal returned the verdict on June 7, 2010, more than 25 years after the incident. What was the Bhopal Disaster? For those of us old enough to remember, the words “Bhopal, India” brings to mind the very tragic events of December 2, 1984. On that day a
Outdoor Air Sampling Program at Selected Schools Around the Country For the last several months, the United States Environmental Protection Association has been involved in evaluating outdoor air for potential air toxics at 63 elementary, middle and high schools in 22 states across the country. Citing that the EPA is responsible for protecting “the American public where they live, work and play – and that certainly includes protecting schoolchildren where they learn”, Administrator Lisa P. Jackson John Quatermas – EHS Consultant Working as a Health & Safety Officer (HSO) at a hazardous waste site presents many challenges. It is our job to insure that workers on the site perform their activities in a manner that protects them and the public from injury or illness. Each hazardous waste site has its own unique dangerous conditions, which must always be considered – dirty soil, contaminated groundwater, containers of hazardous materials -contaminates vary from location The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under 29 CFR 1910.120 – Hazardous waste operations and emergency response requires workers who work at hazardous waste sites who may be exposed to safety and health hazards1 to receive initial and refresher training from qualified instructors. Initial training must be completed prior to work on hazardous waste sites. The following training discussion follows OSHA guidance in interpreting the standard. OSHA-approved |
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