Remedial safety in in‐situ chemical oxidation, crucial to success

Abstract

AbstractIn‐situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) has been developed as a remedial technique for several decades, implemented under a variety of Health, Safety & Environmental practices. A positive safety culture and implementation of best practices are important for the protection of all workers, as well as the general environment and the public, and for compliance with regulatory requirements and professional workplace expectations and ethical obligations. ISCO is arguably one of the highest‐risk approaches for in situ remediation, and the consequence of poor safety practices, lack of training, and a failure to sharing previous knowledge can be substantial. Since 2000, the remediation industry has experienced step changes in the evolution of safety practices, shifting focus from a centralized autocratic planning process, toward a behavior‐based safety‐first individual empowerment, resulting in—“I am responsible for the safety of myself and the team.” Supporting this step‐change, this paper explains the need for safety‐first work practices, provides examples of common inadequate or incomplete practices, discusses the top four adverse incidents in ISCO projects (impacts to storm sewers; impacts to other utilities; errors and omissions; and inadequate contingency planning), and provides a description of the top three skills to mitigate risks (planning, executing, and correcting).