Why Is Environmental Cleanup Important?
In the event of an accident on a worksite, it’s important to have a plan in place to make sure the proper environmental remediation occurs. In many cases, cleaning your worksite is a matter of law in Alberta. If you’re an excavator working on contract, however, some contracts can be unclear about liability in the case of an accident. Performing the proper remediation, however, is always important and should never be simply ignored or assumed to be someone else’s problem. Worksite remediation has become so important in the current business climate that some excavation companies are focusing on it as a primary service they offer.
What Does It Involve?
Exactly what will be involved in remediating a particular worksite will depend on the specifics of the job and what kind of contamination has occurred. In order to be released of liability for the accident, certain procedures will have to be followed, including the actual removal of the toxic or otherwise dangerous material, checking surrounding land to be sure the accident has been contained and informing the proper authorities that there has been a contamination.
Cleaning a worksite of contamination may include (but isn’t limited to):
Removing the source of the contamination
Physical removal of affected soil
Natural attenuation (facilitating nature’s own ways of cleaning itself)
Neutralization of contaminants by chemical reaction (using chemicals to render dangerous substances environmentally neutral)
Why Is It important?
Environmental cleanup is important to us as Canadians. We need to do everything we can to protect our natural environment. When appropriate remediation measures are taken, it not only protects your workers and the general public, it also formalizes your risk management responsibilities and those of any clients or contractors you may employ.
It’s also important for landowners to know that proper cleanup has been done. When performing a remediation, inform the government of Alberta of your process and apply for a certificate of remediation. This isn’t just paperwork, it helps everyone involved. It provides documentation that proper remediation has occurred, formalizes any liability, and hopefully, closes that liability from the government’s point of view.
If you’re involved in any environmental remediation and in need of a Complyworks, Avetta, or ISNetworld contractor in Alberta, we at Precision Gradall have been providing high-quality excavation equipment since 1990 and HVAC service since 2011. Contact us today to find out how we can help clean up your worksite.