HazMat Management Summer 2012

management

HazMat

SUMMER 2012 www.hazmatmag.com

Remediation • Clean Technology

Biohazardous Cleanup Dioxin Remediation Remote Monitoring Spotlight on Safety-Kleen

MERCURY

Remediation of Mercury Contamination and Spills

An EcoLog Group Publication / CPMP no. 40069240

hmm sum 2012 cvr nl pg 01.indd 1

CL EA NT & ECH W : AS W T A – pa E-T STE ge OEN INN s 24 O -2 ERG VA 8 Y TIO N

— page 8

25/06/12 9:50 AM

ARE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN UP COSTS BLEEDING YOUR BUDGET?

www.fracrite.ca

Your specialists for in situ remediation Advanced Site Remediation: • FRACTURING - soil & bedrock • INJECTION - chemox & biological • 3D MAPPING - verification In situ remediation of:

• Salts • Solvents

hmm sum 2012 ad pg 02.indd 2

• Hydrocarbons • Exotics

FRAC RITE™ PUTS OILFIELD TECHNOLOGY TO WORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Call us for a free assessment of cost-effective remedial options phone: (403) 265-5533 Calgary, Alberta – Canada www.fracrite.ca Canada, U.S.A., France, Holland, Germany

22/06/12 8:01 AM

CONTENTS : VOL 24 NO .3 SUMMER 2012

on the cover

8

HAZMAT: MERCURY CLEANUP Mercury — a potent neurotoxin that vapourizes through the body readily — is used in over 3,000 industrial applications. Our expert describes how to respond to industrial mercury spills.

by Mark Ceaser

departments features 12

HAZMAT: BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE Fluid waste management and disposal practices.

by Mark Ceaser

Editorial

4

Up Front

6

Health & Safety

15

CleanTech Opinion

23

Spotlight

32

Ad Index

37

Legal Perspective

38

16 REMEDIATION: REMOTE MONITORING Ten tips for purchsing a data logger.

by Stew Thompson

30 REMEDIATION: ENVIRONMENT BUSINESS Cleaning up dioxin-contaminated soil. byJohn Nicholson

24 CLEANTECH: WASTE-TO-ENERGY Plasco's Trail Road Facility.

by Guy Crittenden

26 CLEANTECH: WASTE INNOVATIONS Waste Management Inc.'s Organic Growth Group.

by Wes Muir

INTERNATIONAL SITES & SPILLS EXPO Four-page preview of the 2nd year of this event at the International Centre, Toronto, Ontario, November 7-8.

pages 19-22

next edition fall 2012 BONUS DISTRIBUTION: Int'l Sites & Spills Expo ◆ Remtech ◆ Western Canadian HazMat Conference EDITORIAL FOCUS: Pipeline spill response ◆ Brownfields remediation ◆ CleanTech for the oils & gas industry ◆ PCB treatment ◆ Sorbents Space closing: September 10, 2012 Artwork required: September 17, 2012 Call 1-888-702-1111 .

SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 3

hmm sum 2012 conts pg 03.indd 3

22/06/12 9:12 AM

HAZMAT : EDITORIAL

Skin Deep

Y

by Guy Crittenden

“Health and safety for cosmetics is stuck where we were with industrial pollution in the 1970s, except the waste pipe is directly in our mouths.”

ears ago when I was married I used to annoy my then-wife by complaining whenever she painted her nails inside the house. The chemical smell made me feel ill and I inevitably left or ran around the house opening windows and turning on fans.

Though I felt sheepish about my complaining, in the end I was right to be concerned; nail polish and a wide range of cosmetic and personal care products are more laden with toxins than most people realize. Many nail polishes contain the “toxic three”: toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and formaldehyde. Disturbingly, lab tests show some brands that claim to be free of these chemicals contain at least one and sometimes all, some at dangerously high levels. Nail polish is especially risky to workers in salons who are routinely exposed.

It’s odd how the same people who’d be apoplectic about a factory releasing the tiniest amount of pollution into the environment get up every morning and slather themselves with toxic materials disguised in soaps, lotions and cosmetics.

People can be somewhat forgiven for their ignorance; this is another instance where the public wrongly assumes their government is protecting them. Most would be shocked to learn there’s no requirement for cosmetics and grooming product manufacturers to prove their safety before offering them to sale. And there’s no requirement for the companies to list the ingredients on the label, as these are considered “trade secrets.” Many labels are outright fraudulent, referring to contents as “pure,” “natural” or “toxin free” when the very opposite is true.

There just isn’t proper regulation or enforcement in this area.

In terms of health and safety for cosmetics and personal care products, North American society is stuck where we were with industrial pollution in the 1970s, except in this case the waste pipe is stuck directly in our mouths.

I was reminded of this visiting the Green Living Show in Toronto this spring. Staff from several booths distributed pamphlets about campaigns to fight toxic chemicals in cosmetics and personal grooming products, most notably Environmental Defense and also the David Suzuki Foundation, which has campaigned for proper labeling for several years.

At one booth a campaigner told me about expensive lab tests for which her organization had paid in which about a dozen brands of lipstick were analyzed for the presence of lead. Her organization was shocked to discover that lead — a potent neurotoxin — was present in every sample sent for testing, sometimes in powerful concentrations.

The epidermis is one of the most efficient pathways for our bodies to absorb chemicals. To imagine that women everywhere unwittingly smear lead on their lips each day is alarming and unconscionable.

According to the Suzuki Foundation, more than 10,500 industrial chemicals are used in cosmetic ingredients, including “carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxics, endocrine disruptors, plasticizers, degreasers and surfactants.” The foundation has published a study that lists what it calls the “dirty dozen.” They are: BHA and BHT; coal tar dyes (p-phenylenediamine and colors listed as “CI” followed by five digits.); DEA-related ingredients; dibutyl phthalate; formaldehyde-releasing preservatives; paraben, methylparaben, butylparaben and propylparaben; parfum; PEGs (e.g., PEG -60); petrolatum; siloxanes; sodium laureth sulfate; and, triclosan. (More detailed info is available at davidsuzuki.org/dirtydozen/) Unfortunately, just knowing the chemical names doesn’t get one very far when there’s no requirement to put them on labels. I suggest the simplest way to avoid exposure is to simply avoid all cosmetic and personal grooming products about which you haven’t done research. I’ve cut well-known commercial grooming products from my own morning routine. It’s amazing how much of this junk we can do without! I currently buy a few health food store versions of certain products, but am wary of claims about them being “organic” or anything else unless I’ve done some sleuthing. In fact, I tend to use simple coconut oil to moisten and lubricate my skin, and a locallyproduced handmade face cream that incorporates Shea butter and some herbal extracts clearly listed on the label.

The same applies for under-the-sink household cleaning products. I clean my home these days mostly with plain water, vinegar and baking soda. I use earth-friendly soap for my dishes and laundry, and Norwex antibacterial microfibre cloths (from Norway) to wipe down most surfaces.

The online Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is a valuable resource, searchable by product category, brand, etc. The site rates about 69,000 different pro­d­ucts and assigns risk scores from 0 to 10 depending on the product formulations. It’s not uncommon to find personal care products containing as many as four or five known carcinogens, plus suspected carcinogens, irritants, allergens, mutagens, etc.

Visit www.atsdr.cdc.gov/training/toxmanual/pdf/ module-2.pdf It’s amazing that society is so concerned about food safety but allows the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and chemical industries carte blanche to sell dangerous products for people to bathe in and apply to their skins on a daily basis.

Corporate ethics? Corporate responsibility? In this area, they’re oxymorons as far as I’m concerned.

HMM Guy Crittenden is editor of this magazine. Contact Guy at gcrittenden@hazmatmag.com

4 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 edit pg 04.indd 4

22/06/12 8:06 AM

hmm sum 2012 ad pg 05.indd 5

22/06/12 8:08 AM

HazMat

HAZMAT: UP FRONT

SUMMER 2012

management

Vol. 24, No. 3

Solutions for the Business of the Environment

Guy Crittenden EDITOR gcrittenden@hazmatmag.com Brad O’Brien PUBLISHER 416-510-6798 bobrien@hazmatmag.com Jamie Ross ACCOUNT MANAGER 416-510-5221 jross@hazmatmag.com Kimberly Collins PRODUCTION MANAGER 416-510-6779 kcollins@bizinfogroup.ca Anita Madden CIRCULATION MANAGER Carol Bell-LeNoury GENERAL MANAGER, ECOLOG GROUP Bruce Creighton PRESIDENT

Port Hope set to clean up radioactive soil

AWARD-WINNING MAGAZINE HazMat Management, USPS 016-506 is published four times a year by EcoLog Group, a division of BIG Magazines LP, a div. of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd., a leading Canadian business-tobusiness information services company.

HazMat Management magazine provides strategic information and perspectives to North American industry and government on pollution prevention and waste management issues.

Readers include corporate executives, compliance and safe­­ ty officers, industrial plant managers and operators, municipal govern­ment environment officials, working scientists, and consulting engineers.

EcoLog Group products include Solid Waste & Recycling magazine, the ERIS risk information service, and a number of newsletters affiliated with EcoLog.com Head Office:

Internet: Email:

80 Valleybrook Drive Toronto, ON M3B 2S9, Call: (416) 442-5600 Fax: (416) 510-5133 www.hazmatmag.com bobrien@hazmatmag.com

Information contained in this publication has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, thus HazMat Man­age­ment cannot be responsible for the absolute correctness or sufficiency of articles or editorial contained herein. Al­though the information contained in this magazine is believed to be correct, no responsibility is assumed therefore, nor for the opinions ex­pressed by individual authors. Articles in this magazine are intended to convey information rather than give legal or other professional advice.

Reprint and list rental services are arranged through the Publisher at (416) 510-6780.

Subscription rates: Canada — $51.95 (add applicable taxes) per year, $82.95 (add applicable taxes) for 2 years, single copy $10.00. USA and all other foreign — $82.95 per year US single copy US10.00 Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 40069240 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to Circulation Department — HazMat Management magazine 12 Concorde Place, Suite 800 Toronto ON M3C4J2 From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods: Phone: 1-800-668-2374

Fax: 416-510-5133

Email: jhunter@bizinfogroup.ca Mail to: Privacy Officer

Business Information Group

12 Concorde Place, Suite 800

Toronto ON M3C 4J2

T

he Town of Port Hope, Ontario is moving ahead with the second phase of the largest cleanup of radioactive soil in Canadian history, four months after the federal government pledged $1.28 billion to the project.

This summer between 400 and 4,800 homes will undergo inspection; a contract for a water-treatment facility will be tendered in the next couple of months. The low-level radioactive waste that’s scattered in Port Hope (one hour east of Toronto) is the result of a half-century of radium and uranium refining at the Cameco plant (operated by former crown corporation Eldorado Nuclear Ltd. until the 1980s). Risks from contamination were identified in the 1970s but it took decades for a solution.

By 2014, 1.2 million cubic metres of soil (enough to fill five Olympic pools) will begin being excavated at various sites around the town. The waste will then be taken to a sealed landfill-type storage facility north of the town. (The site near Highway 401 already has a large pile of contaminated fill

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

The Forest Stewardship Council® logo signifies that this magazine is printed on paper from responsibly managed forests. “To earn FSC® certification and the right to use the FSC label, an organization must first adapt its management and operations to conform to all applicable FSC requirements.”

©2012 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent.

Print edition: ISSN-1713-9511 Online edition: ISSN 1923-3469

For more information, visit www.fsc.org

Member

Canadian Business

that will also be placed in the storage facility.)

In the nearby hamlet of Port Granby, 450,000 cubic metres of contaminated soil will be moved and sealed in a nearby field.

The site was used as an alterative waste management facility starting in 1955 and now there’s concern that, as it sits along the bluffs along Lake Ontario, erosion and receding shorelines could allow the contaminated soil to seep out.

Both landfills will have sealed impermeable liners at the bottom and top. Safety procedures will attend active construction of the project to control dust and ensure trucks are cleaned and covered when transporting material.

Property owners affected directly by the cleanup will be compensated through a program that has already handed out $2.5 million to 50 claimants who can’t sell their homes for full market value. Some residents have complained that their houses have dropped steeply in value despite not being directly affected by the radioactive waste and soil.

Press

6 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 upfront pg 06-07.indd 6

22/06/12 8:09 AM

HAZMAT : UP FRONT

In Memoriam

I

t is with great sadness that we report the untimely passing of Raw Materials director Richard (Rick) Paul Unyi. Rick — a loving husband, father, son and brother — died in automobile accident on June 2, 2012.

Beloved husband and best friend of Melissa (nee Hills). Proud father of Tanner and Walker.

Cherished son of Judy and Stan Unyi. Loving brother of Shari (Ken) Unyi and Kirk (SaraLeigh) Unyi.

Adored uncle of Brittany, Abbey, Mackenzie,

Lauren and Evan. Sadly missed by his mother in law Marilyn Malton, his father in law Doug (Chris) Hills, brother in law Graham (Annarita) Hills and his many uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.

Born and raised in Stevensville, Rick was a coach and a board member with the Greater Fort Erie Minor Hockey Novice A.E. Team. He worked as the Director of Raw Materials Inc. and will be sadly missed by founder Wayne Elliott and the entire staff.

Most sonic drill rigs purchased for mineral exploration

M

ineral exploration in unconsolidated material has always been a risky proposition primarily because, in the past, there was no economical, versatile or accurate method of determining where to mine. With the advent of sonic drilling technology, that has all changed.

Ray Roussy, patent holder and the developer of modern day sonic drilling technology, says, “It was surprising for us to realize that seven out of 10 sonic rigs are purchased for mining exploration.” Initially, the sonic drill rig had been seen as a powerful environmental investigation drill due to its ability to provide undisturbed core samples.

Although the diamond drill has long been the preferred tool for mineral exploration in hard rock, in unconsolidated material, it has

two unfortunate drawbacks. First, it doesn’t drill well in unconsolidated materials and, secondly, it can’t provide accurate core samples from those kinds of formations. Only a sonic drill can recover a continuous core including boulders, clays, silt, sand and gravel and lay it in its stratigraphic sequence — from the surface all the way down to 300 ft (100 m) and deeper.

Using Roussy’s patented sonic drill head, samples, ranging from three- to eight-inches in diameter, can be obtained from a wide variety of mineral deposits including hardto-extract oil sands, slag piles, mine tailings and heap leach pads.

Extruded into clear plastic sleeves and then neatly laid out, these core samples can be subjected to a detailed visual examination and analysis, followed by sampling, photographing and archiving for a permanent record of the existing mineral conditions. In other words, the gold, or other valuable mineral, remains where it was found in the sample. As well, cased holes, provided by the sonic drilling technique, prevent the collapse of the borehole and ensure that cores are not contaminated by uphole debris.

By creating a comprehensive description of the lithology and stratigraphy of the underlying geological setting, a prospective property can be evaluated in the most accurate manner possible.

Visit www.sonic-drill.com SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 7

hmm sum 2012 upfront pg 06-07.indd 7

22/06/12 8:09 AM

HAZMAT: COVER STORY

MERCUR Cleanup and spill control procedures for a common toxin

M

ercury is a known neurotoxin that’s extremely toxic even in small amounts. Exposure directly affects the central nervous and renal systems, potentially causing developmental delays, and motor and brain problems like those associated with autism. Mercury’s hidden danger also exists when it lies at room temperature; when exposed to air it vapourizes readily. Once it’s an aerosol, it’s absorbed into the lungs and spreads throughout the body. Chronic mercury poisoning is more common from long-term exposure by inhalation of dust or vapours.

Knowledge to prevent incidents and exposure is vital, especially in mercury collection and cleanup.

Mercury is used in more than 3,000 industrial applications.

The most common uses are in high-pressure sodium lamps and fluorescent bulbs, mercury-containing thermostats, spent batteries, in the medical field, with sphygmomanometers, fever thermometers and dental amalgams, and in chemicals and staining solutions, such as Mercury Chloride.

Since the early 1990s environmental regulations have eliminated mercury as a produced product; sources nowadays are mostly a result of reclamation and recycling. Despite the changes in federal regulations to reduce the amount of mercury going into landfills and usages in consumer products, mercury-free alternative products have been slow to replace existing items. (In some cases, it’s impossible to do so.)

SPILL RESPONSE

The most common form of a mercury spill is in liquid form. As anyone who has broken a thermometer knows, when liquefied, the small beads that form are difficult to pick up and contain. Measures should be taken accordingly to insure workers don’t come in contact with the contaminated area without proper protection. A broken light fixture, while not spread out, is just as much of a risk to employees, as the dust very readily spreads and can be inhaled.

Cleaning up such spills can be done in one of two ways: via amalgamation or insolubilization. Both methods will turn mercury in a non-vapourizing form. Insolubilization requires the mercury to be mixed into a sulfide; amalgamation mixes the mercury with one or more metals into a solid, which is easier to collect and dispose.

The major surface areas encountered with mercury spills are hard (such as concrete or tile), soft (such as carpet) and soils.

Before a spill takes place, the proper materials need to be in order for preventive maintenance. A spill kit should be on hand at all times at any workstation where the risk of mercury spillage and exposure exists. The kit should contain the following items: goggles, nitrile gloves, disposal bags, waste labels, storage container, mercury-type respirator, mercury-sensing badges or instruments, absorbent scratch pads, water spray bottle, shoe covers, warning tape and, preferably, zinc-ferrous based magnetic mercury amalgamation powder. Additional tools such as plastic, non-sparking shovels and sweeping devices, and a telescoping magnetic tool to collect the amalgam once hardened are recommended.

When a spill occurs, a set procedure should be followed to reduce the risk of exposure to the individuals, and spreading of the mercury from the spillage area. The first step is to isolate the contaminated area and evacuate all personnel from

“Mercury is used in more than 3,000 industrial applications.”

by Mark Ceaser

8 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 cvrsty pg 08-11.indd 8

22/06/12 8:43 AM

HAZMAT : COVER STORY

URY

“Mercury spills most commonly occur in liquid form.”

SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 9

hmm sum 2012 cvrsty pg 08-11.indd 9

22/06/12 8:43 AM

HAZMAT: COVER STORY

the building or area until the spill can be contained and corrected.

The marking off of the area by tape or signs is followed by an immediate interview and spill inquiry report filled out with the worker’s assistance. This will determine whether the spill is simple or complex.

Generally, amounts less than one pound of mercury are considered simple, with additional considerations taken into account regarding the surface areas and possible spreading of the mercury.

Ventilation is the primary concern in the contaminated area, as the free mercury will readily vapourize and continue to do so until collected. It’s recommended to shut down the air conditioning or heating, if applicable, and open the windows to get the maximum amount of fresh air in the room and to allow vapours to flow outside.

After responders don personal protective equipment and remove all metallic

objects, they should use mercury-sensing gauges or a gas vapour analyzer to determine the areas of contamination and residue. An alternative method is to use a high-intensity halogen light to detect the presence of mercury droplets or powder.

(A final method would be the application of a Sodium Sulfide solution to the contaminated area. Discolouration in the form of dark reddish brown stain will indicate the presence of mercury.)

Once the mercury has been located, apply the magnetic amalgamation powder directly to the contaminated area. Using the spray bottle, apply a slight mist to the powder, to allow the dry acid reagent to react with the metals and start to form the solid bond. Mix the powder and mercury together, using the scratch pads until the metals have the appearance of a paste like substance. With normal setting times (approximately an hour), survey the entire

area for additional contamination spots, making notice of cracks, crevices and any orifices into which the mercury could have fallen.

If detection has discovered mercury in such conditions, the advantages of the magnetic amalgamation powder are evident. In the same method as before, form a paste and apply it to the contaminated area. Once hardened, use the magnetic pick-up tool to collect the mercury bearing waste, and collect it into a storage container. This application is also advisable in situations where mercury has accidentally been poured down a drain and is difficult to collect. Forming the powder and using the magnetic tool like a drain snake, collect the mercury, then remove the piping for disposal along with the waste amalgam (at an approved mercury recycling and collection facility).

Upon completion of the spill cleanup,

10 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 cvrsty pg 08-11.indd 10

22/06/12 8:43 AM

HAZMAT : COVER STORY

Canada’s ONLY trade event serving the waste, recycling and public works markets

November 14 - 15, 2012 International Centre, Toronto, ON Canada collect all contaminated materials that have been amalgamated into a bucket with a sealed lid. This container will be the primary device to return the objects to the mercury recycler.

Inspect the area and atmosphere for any residual indication of mercury vapours. In the United States the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards limit the exposure risks to mercury vapour at no more than 0.2 mg/L. Great care must be taken to inspect all the areas before declaring the site now safe for return. Tools, gloves, boots, etc., can now be collected into separate containers for disposal. As a final precaution, it’s recommended to put down a wax-like sealant over the affected surface area, if applicable.

TRICKY SITUATIONS

Another common situation is the spilling of mercury in a doctor’s office where it winds up on carpeting. The same skill and attention to detail as previously described must be followed.

Application of the amalgamation powder, and then collection with a mercury-only vacuum, is the preferred method. The affected carpet area is then cut out and ripped up, with all items (including the vacuum cartridge) placed in disposal containers for return to the recycler. Again, as with the hardened surface area, vapour analysis will indicate if additional treatment is needed.

Occasionally, mercury is spilled outside and into the surrounding soil. Great care must be taken to set up a perimeter around the contaminated area and to collect the soil for cleaning. Soils vary in type and consistency; commonly the mercury is found close to the surface. The soil can be taken off site for reclamation via distillation or by using a combination of forming layers of the amalgamation powder and sand, making a slurry of the soil and water, and passing the mixture through the filter media. The effluent should be tested for mercury contamination and the filter media retained for processing at the recycler.

Of growing concern in recent years is the improper disposal of mercury-bearing wastes, which will potentially increase with the growth in sales of energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and similar products. While it awaits stricter environmental regulations and the development of new mercury-free technologies, the US EPA Greenlights program has set standards that specify regulations for fluorescent bulb disposal and reclaim the mercury. Other recycling policies have led to special collection and recycling services for mercurycontaining devices, such as thermostats. The standards and locations of such facilities, or information to set up a collection program, can be found at the Mercury Awareness Program website or by contacting the Association of Lighting and Mercury HMM Recyclers at www.almr.org Mark Ceaser is General Manager of OMNI/ajax in Goulds­boro, Pennsylvania. Contact Mark at info@omni-ajax.com

“The quality of visitors and prospects were excellent.”

Samantha Goetz, Orbis Corporation

“CWRE offers our company a means to reconnect with our current customer base and establish new customers all in one convenient location.”

Jackie W. Barlow, II Vice President Paradigm Software

Reach Your Target Market!

85% of Canadian Waste & Recycling Expo attendees plan to

purchase products from exhibiting companies up to $250,000.* *2011 Canadian Waste & Recycling Expo Attendee Survey

For more information, please contact Arnie Gess Call: +1.403.589.4832 Email: arnie.gess@cwre.ca Visit: www.cwre.ca

Mark Ceaser will be speaking on remediation of Mercury spills at the Sites & Spills Expo in November. See special 4-page event preview, pages 19-22.

12/11SWR

SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 11 CWRE12 SWR Ad 3.375 x 11.indd 1

hmm sum 2012 cvrsty pg 08-11.indd 11

12/5/2011 3:56:19 PM

22/06/12 8:43 AM

HAZMAT: BIOHAZARD

Biohazardous Spills Fluid waste management, disposal and practices

W

hile the health risks associated with fluid waste have been known for decades, it wasn’t until the appearance of AIDS in our society that infection control practices and an awareness of the vulnerability to healthcare workers, including custodians, to exposure of bloodborne pathogens, including Hepatitis B, became a major concern.

Today, a myriad of regulations govern workers’ exposure to fluid waste and bloodborne pathogens.

Companies need to have a plan in place; these should include worker training and education, as well as the specifics of how to protect oneself and disinfect and dispose of waste.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING

by Mark Ceaser

“The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that a 5.25 per cent bleach diluted to a concentration of 0.05 per cent is useable for the decontamination of a blood spill.”

Base education programs on practical situations faced by workers in the performance of their specific duties. Content should include general information about infection prevention and control (stressing the importance of hand washing) and information about bloodborne pathogen transmission. It should also include: assessed risk of exposure; exposure prevention tips; immunizations (HBV vaccine); specific policies and procedures for individual work areas, including protocols following an exposure; and, resources for further assistance.

Workers need to know how to apply preventive techniques in routine practice and in unusual situations.

Time must be given for workers to question, absorb and apply the information. It’s critical that educational programs enable workers to express and work through their concerns about caring for individuals with a bloodborne infection. Records of participation should be maintained as needed to satisfy legal requirements.

Specifically emphasized in the educational programming are the risks that exist in the workplace. The factors involved with exposure include: • The infectious agent (bloodborne pathogen); • Transportation of the agent (either through body fluids or aerosol means); • The host of agent.

PROTECTION

A very common and neglected issue in prevention of transmission is proper disinfection and personal protective equipment for the worker’s hands.

Many of the microbial inhabitants of the hands are capable of colonizing and infecting wounds, cuts, and

other susceptible sites. The single most effective means of preventing the transmission of infection is conscientious hand washing. New technologies should be introduced promptly to replace less effective or less safe practices if evaluation indicates benefit. Emphasis should be on reduction of exposure to needles or other sharp items as well as reduction of exposure of cuts or mucous membranes to blood and fluids capable of transmitting bloodborne pathogens. Also, contamination of working environments needs to be decreased, reusable instruments should be redesigned where possible to enable effective cleaning and disinfection, and safety devices should be implemented based on the level of risk of various types of exposure incidents.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) serves as a barrier against direct contact with bloodborne pathogens.

Protective equipment includes: gloves, eye protection, face shields, masks, gowns, aprons, and protective footwear.

Of course, when selecting gloves for workers make sure those who will wear them and those who will come in contact with them are not allergic to latex, if that is the type chosen. One study concluded that among surgical personnel, the use of face shields, waterproof gowns and waterproof boots could have prevented more than half of the observed cutaneous exposures involving sites other than the hand.

PROPER DISINFECTANTS

Usage of the proper disinfectant during waste cleanup can prevent exposure to risk and infections from occurring both during the actual cleaning procedure and afterwards from residual microbial activity from incubation.

As with the matter of reaction with the PPE, there are many other factors to consider when using a disinfectant material, such as actual fluid containment and health risk issues.

When deciding on what product or material to consider for body fluid cleanup and disposal, compare the products available. Of foremost consideration is the actual killing agent included. Most commonly, products available have an aldehyde, phenol or chlorine killing agent.

The various disinfectants have a wide range of antimicrobial activity, and not all will kill what they come in contact with. In addition, reaction to the personal protective equipment and surrounding surface area that has been exposed to the bloodborne pathogen must be

12 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 biohaz pg 12-14.indd 12

22/06/12 8:10 AM

HAZMAT : BIOHAZARD

“The single most effective means of preventing the transmission of infection is conscientious hand washing.”

also taken into consideration.

What the product does to the residual waste once treated is highly important and not to be disregarded.

Is it simply absorbed on a granular material or polymer, where it can still be in a fluid state, or is it solidified, as in a cementatious reaction, where no visible liquid is available either visually or while handling of the waste? The spilled material should be in a solid form that will not be moldable, pliable or release the fluids back out while handling, either during transportation or from landfill burial.

ACCIDENT RESPONSE

When a spill of infectious waste occurs, prepacked spill kits for employees should be at the ready. After that, evacuate the scene of the accident in order to control the risk exposure of outside people to the materials and reduce the spread of infection.

If people are physically exposed to the material, remove all

clothing that becomes contaminated because fluids can seep through the cloth to come into contact with skin. Contaminated laundry should be handled as little as possible, and should be placed in an appropriately labeled bag or container until it’s decontaminated, disposed of, or laundered.

Put on all PPE, including doubling of gloves, and make sure no skin is exposed. Containment of the spill is of the utmost importance, both as an airborne issue as well as spreading of fluid. Apply the solidification powder to form a perimeter around the spill and contain it. This will allow for the chemical treatment to enact while the threat of exposure has been reduced.

With proper tools, remove sharps that may have been formed by the spillage and breakage of the holding material. Place the materials within a lined, thick walled container to reduce the risk of puncture. Be alert not to create aerosols while collecting the debris.

Engineered. Tested. Proven. Safe.

Quick coupling SolutionS for Extreme Applications.

Walther Prazision’s quick couplings and multi-couplings are engineered, certified and application specific...successfully used and proven in the most demanding applications including; chemical, acids, cryogenic, nuclear, hazardous & toxic media, gaseous & liquid hydrogen, steam, hot oil, critical water cooling, pharmaceutical, medical, bioscience, food & beverage, aerospace, military, mining, forestry, hydraulics (shock, vibration, pulsation resistant), steel mills, subsea, marine, transportation, robotics & laboratories, etc. Temperature resistance from -328 F to +880 F, pressures to 58,000 psi.

Please contact Lou Speziale by e-mail at spez-tech@rogers.com or by phone at 905-828-5579, for expert application recommendations and technical assistance.

www.speztech.com SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 13

hmm sum 2012 biohaz pg 12-14.indd 13

22/06/12 8:10 AM

HAZMAT: COVER STORY

At this point, the treated fluid waste should have solid properties that will allow for collection of the spill. Remember that a true solidifier will continue to set up even after placed in the disposal bag. Apply any additional powder to the spill to collect and treat any remaining fluid.

Wiping down of the affected area with wipes will require the same attention as the spill powder, in regard to killing agents and potential reaction with the personal equipment.

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that a 5.25 per cent bleach diluted to a concentration of 0.05 per cent is useable for the decontamination of a blood spill. To avoid causing aerosols, do not apply the liquid solution directly to the spilled area, rather apply to the cloth and wipe, and work into the area. Allow several minutes for disinfection, and repeat procedure.

AFTER CLEANUP

Upon completion of the cleanup and collection of the spilled materials, meticulous attention to the removal and collection of the soiled disposable PPE must be followed. Remove the gown/ protective apron, followed by the outer layer of gloves;

then remove the facemask and goggles with the unsoiled gloves.

Once all used PPE, spill control equipment, and other potentially contaminated items are in the red bag, add a mixture of cementatious encapsulation powder to the waste container, so no fluid will be released, and all materials are encased in a solid mass and seal bag securely for disposal.

Wash your hands with a non-abrasive, preferably germicidal, soap and inspect for any possible exposure. If your skin or mucous membranes come into contact with another person’s blood/body fluids, flush with water into the sanitary sewer system as soon as possible. Immediately contact the medical office if you are involved with any blood or body fluid exposure incident. HMM Mark Ceaser is General Manager of OMNI/ajax in Goulds­boro, Pennsylvania. Contact Mark at info@omni-ajax.com Mark Ceaser will be speaking on remediation of Mercury spills at the Sites & Spills Expo in November. See special 4-page event preview, pages 19-22.

If you are looking for a qualified list of Abatement Contractors

EXPERT PEOPLE. BETTER DECISIONS.

and/or Environmental Consultants for your upcoming projects for Asbestos, Mould, Lead or any other Environmental projects, all EACO members carry Environmental and Pollution Insurance Coverage.

www.eacoontario.com Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario 70 Leek Crescent, Richmond Hill Ontario L4B 1H1 (416) 499-4000 Ext. 114 (416) 499-8752 fax

When faced with making decisions in today’s ever-changing regulatory environment, it pays to have an expert on your side. At XCG, we will listen, provide advice and assist you in arriving at the best possible solution for your project.

www.xcg.com

Providing Remediation and Risk Assessment, Decommissioning and Demolition, Brownfield, Environmental Site Assessment, Solid Waste and many other environmental services.

Toronto | Kitchener | Kingston | Edmonton | Cincinnati

14 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 biohaz pg 12-14.indd 14

22/06/12 8:10 AM

HAZMAT : HEALTH AND SAFETY

Tool Time!

Workplace tools that assist in the reduction of workplace injuries and incidents

I

njury and incident reduction is a task many organizations struggle with daily. With mandates across the country to address workplace safety increasing, due diligence is key. How do you reduce workplace injuries and incidents? Fortunately for all of us there are numerous tools, training programs and resources available to our organizations and to individuals within the organization that are both cost effective and efficient in meeting the need to increase workplace safety.

With the changing landscape of safety in many provinces and throughout the US, organizations are asking where to turn to; they want options — with tried and true solutions.

The one tool most of us are already familiar with is the implementation of an injury and illness prevention program; a proactive foundation to assist employers find and fix workplace hazards before workers are injured. We already know these programs can be effective, resulting in workers suffering fewer injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

In addition, employers improve compliance with existing regulations; they experience many of the financial benefits of a safer and healthier workplace and a significant reduction in workers’ compensation premiums.

Going beyond the foundation of legislative requirements, workplace incidents and injuries can be further reduced by utilizing other resources and tools such as LINK Tools and Essential Skills Assessments and up-skilling.

Many organizations such as “shipyards, aviation repair stations, manufacturing plants, service yards and maintenance facilities” require workers to utilize their own handtools on the job; this gives them the impression of saving employer money. However, this practice impacts negatively on the organizations’ bottom line. Independent tests by the US Military and by an international certification agency show how adding just a few LINK tools can increase the bottom line by a “25 to 50 per cent reduction in task duration providing an increase in productivity” and in addition “a reduction in time off for medical conditions.”

LINK Tools are designed for user safety and increased productivity.

“Testers in all applications note the reduction of pain related to musculoskeletal stress. Working from a comfortable position without fear of tool disconnect can improve worker health and safety.” (See www.linktools.com) Another amazing resource and application that can improve productivity and safety is the use of Essential Skills Assessments in the workplace along with up-skilling in areas where skills need to be addressed. The Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council outlined in their research that essential skills are a predictor of safety performance in the workplace. The research assessed the correlation between the skill levels that professional driv-

ers have in reading text, document use and numeracy and the likelihood of having safety incidents.

The TOWES Assessment was used on 231 drivers. The TOWES (Essential Skills) Assessment tool identifies individuals at five levels (level 1 through 5). Professional Truck Drivers Reading is required to be at a level 3 at a minimum with a range from 1-3 dependant on the task; Document Use at a level 4 at a minimum with a range from 1-4 dependant on the task; and Numeracy at a level 3 at a minimum with a range from 1-3 dependant on the task.

In assessing Reading Skills, 50 per cent of the 231 drivers tested met or exceeded the required Reading Text Level 3 standard; 36 per cent of the 231 drivers tested were at Reading Text Skill Level 2; and 14 per cent of the 231 drivers tested were at Reading Text, Skill Level 1.

In assessing Document Use Skills levels, five 5 per cent of the 231 drivers tested met or exceeded Document Use Standard of Skill Level 4; 95 per cent of the 231 drivers tested did not meet Document Use Standard of Skill Level with 33 per cent at Skill Level 1, 44 per cent at Skill Level 2 and 18 per cent at Skill Level 3.

In assessing Numeracy Skills levels, 59 per cent of 231 drivers tested met or exceed the Numeracy Skill Level 3 standard with 39 per cent at Level 3 and 20 per cent at Level 4; 41 per cent of 231 drivers tested did not meet the Numeracy, Skill Level 3 standard with 17 per cent at Level 1 and 24 per cent at Level 2.

As a result of the study it was identified that Reading Text Skill Level 1 were 2.76 times more likely to have had an incident than those at Skill Levels 3 to 5; Numeracy Skill Level 3 were 2.61 times more likely to have had an incident than those at Skill Levels 4 to 5.

For more information on this study and the Essential Skills go to: Essential Skills as a Predictor of Safety Performance: www.essentialskillsthatwork.com/upload/ 34_pdfFile.pdf TOWES Canada: www.towes.com/en/home/home Literacy & Essential Skills HRSDC: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/LES/index. shtml These are just two of the many tools and resources that an organization can utilize to improve safety within their organization. These are two cost effective programs you can implement into your workplace. Save a life: invest in your workers!

HMM

by Lynne Bard

“Reading Text Skill Level 1 were 2.76 times more likely to have had an incident than those at Skill Levels 3 to 5.”

Lynne Bard is President and Senior Consultant of Beyond Rewards Inc. based in Guelph, Ontario. Contact Lynne at info@beyondrewards.ca SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 15

hmm sum 2012 h&s pg 15.indd 15

22/06/12 8:11 AM

REMEDIATION

Data Loggers Ten things to know before purchasing

The dataTaker DT80M logger.

R

by Stew Thompson

“Ideally, the data logger will have the versatility to accommodate the wide range of sensors you may need to connect it to.”

emote monitoring applications in fields such as oil and natural gas extraction, environmental monitoring, and fleet management often require close attention to detail. Users need to accurately record and track several variables including temperature, flow, strain, stress, vibration, and more. Therefore, when purchasing a new data logging solution, it’s crucial to understand the exact capabilities and specifications of the device you need.

However, the sheer variety of data loggers and data logging systems can often make it difficult to choose the best model for your application. With this in mind, the applications specialists at CAS DataLoggers present 10 things customers purchasing remote applications need to know to choose the right data logger for their project.

1. According to Pete Martin, Sales Manager for CAS DataLoggers, “To begin searching for the right product, always keep in mind your starting point: what do you want to accomplish? Consider whether you need a quick fix for a specific problem or a long-term solution providing a general need with room for expansion.

“Details such as knowing how many and what types of inputs are required are important, along with how often readings need to be taken (determining the logger’s sampling rate) since there’s such a wide range of options open to you. Often users believe they need to

record multiple channels of data at hundreds of Hz, not realizing that this will soon exceed the logger’s available memory and require more frequent downloads.”

2. You’ll also want to take into account are whether the data logger must be equipped with external sensors or built-in sensors, Martin says, or if programmed alarms are needed. Will the logger need to perform real-time calculations on the measured data? This could be avoided by installing a remote telemetry unit (RTU). Will the device need output signals? Having a clear initial idea of what requirements are needed and what features might become necessary in future are key factors in making the most suitable choice.

3. The type of sensors being recorded is also critical in the decision process. Ideally, the data logger will have the versatility to accommodate the wide range of sensors you may need to connect it to. For instance, if you’re planning to use thermocouples, the logger must support TC inputs. Likewise, if the application must accommodate several different inputs (including current-loops, voltages, pulses, etc.) then you’ll require a more flexible, powerful data logger.

Data loggers are on the market that are compatible with most types of signal inputs including AC Voltage, Process Current, Bridge, Strain, Load, Pressure, Dew Point, Event (or State), Frequency,

16 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 remediation pg 16-18.indd 16

22/06/12 8:12 AM

REMEDIATION

Level, Process Voltage/Current, PH, Relative Humidity, RTD, clearly shows measurements in its given environment, whether in Shock, Acceleration, Sound, Temperature, Thermocouple, Pulse, dim lighting, underground or outdoors. This will especially help Serial and more. Are you going to need a large number of inputs when presenting the data to clients, instructing personnel in its use, to adequately monitor your conditions? Are you expecting to only or when showing your project to others. measure and log analog signals, or will you also need to record 7. No matter what your budget is, look for cost-effective options which give you extensive features for an economical price. If you digital signals?

4. You’ll definitely want to consider a ruggedized device that can anticipate future expansion for your project, search for data logsurvive hazardous working conditions including dust, dirt, and gers with a modular design so you can simply add other capabilities accident. Depending on your application, you may need to safely when needed. enclose the logger in a sturdy industrial or portable enclosure. Also 8. Most data loggers can record at a rate up to about 1Hz (once per decide how often you need to transport the data logger. Will the second), although many faster recording frequencies are available. device need to be moved between jobs, which could jostle an unpro- When speaking with a representative, it’s important to determine tected unit and reduce its longevity? Will it be installed in a vehicle? the right recording rates for your application. When recording from a K-Type thermocouple, for example, the sensor/sample may These questions will help you protect your investment.

5. Also determine how the logger will be powered. Will you need take several seconds to change temperature, making a high-sample a battery-operated device for extended operation? Again, this device give you redundant data. Depending on the application, it depends on the logger’s location, whether it’s going to be installed may only be necessary to capture a few minutes’ worth of data or you may need to store entire months of readings. This can be easily inside a vehicle or in a more stationary location. the amount of data storage required by multiplying the 6.GroundTech1-2 Ensure that yourpage dataad:Layout logger has 1a visible LCD3:34 display 6/8/11 PM that Page determined 1

Log in

search...

Home | About Us | Products | Service & Support | Financing Solutions | Educational Uses | Events | Contact Us

BROWNFIELDS REMEDIATION PRODUCTS We provide the latest innovations in soil and groundwater sampling, injection remediation systems, and direct push drilling machines.

Geoprobe Model 7822DT Geoprobe 420M

Dual Tube Samplers

Remediation Systems

Injection Pumps

MIP Systems

Soil Gas Implants

Service & Support

GroundTech Solutions is Canada’s forefront provider of the latest innovative subsurface technology.

For more information call 1.877.877.1862 or go to www.groundtechsolutions.com ®

SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 17

hmm sum 2012 remediation pg 16-18.indd 17

22/06/12 8:12 AM

REMEDIATION

number of channels by the sample rate and recording duration, given in this quick formula: Total Number of Points = Number of Channels x Sample Rate x Recording Duration Since model specifications vary, there may be a limit based on the total amount of internal memory, or the data logger may offer the option of using external memory such as a USB memory stick to expand the available memory. Options like these can significantly cut down your costs.

9. Many data loggers are designed for fixed installation, but other devices are intended for portable applications, such as those commonly required for environmental monitoring. How remote is the office from where you’re collecting the data? Is the logging environment located underground? For many industrial applications, a USB memory stick serves as the fastest way to get your data, especially when the data is in unalterable format intended for clients to view. This method also lets you quickly get set up onsite and then gather all the data using USB. Communication with the data logger for setup, monitoring,

and downloading data can be done in many different ways, including those which continuously send the data directly to the software interface.

10. When it comes to software, look for a user-friendly interface that enables fast configuration. Preferably the software will be included free with the data logger.

Pete Martin adds, “Above all, go with the capabilities which prove the most practical for your application and analysis. If you’re looking for data trends, we recommend that you use the statistical capabilities offered by certain data loggers to summarize the data over an interval. If you’re looking for anomalies, use the triggering features in many data loggers to simply capture a window around the event. All of these features and more are available to ensure that your logger handles every aspect of your application.”

HMM

Stew Thompson is Marketing Specialist, CAS DataLoggers in Ches­terland, Ohio. Contact Stew at sthompson@dataloggerinc.com

Participate in Canada’s industry event dedicated to innovation in HazMat management, site remediation and clean technology. ● Exhibit – Take advantage of valuable leads and sales on the tradeshow floor.

Over 40% of exhibit space already booked! ● SponSor – Market your business and strengthen your brand pre-show, on site and post-show.

Clean Up Your World November 7 – 8, 2012 International Centre Toronto, Canada

● SpEak – Share your expertise centre stage. Submit an abstract today! ● attEnD – Get inspired, learn, share and network!

Register now for early bird pricing at www.sitesandspills.com

sitesandspills.com

Produced by:

to book your exhibit space, speaking and sponsorship opportunities: Call Direct: 416-510-5221 • Toll Free: 1-866-517-5204 Email: sales@sitesandspills.com

www.sitesandspills.com 18 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 remediation pg 16-18.indd 18

22/06/12 9:41 AM

CLEANTECH: OPINION

Optimism on Federal EA Changes

A

s part of its 2012 budget, the federal government is seeking to simplify and shorten the environmental assessment (EA) process for projects requiring federal review. As part of their stated approach to federal reviews, the legislation would change the federal EA process significantly. This represents a significant effort to make the regulatory process less of a stumbling block and cost concern for project proponents; though controversial to some, many of the changes are consistent with other regulatory process modifications in recent years and also with a recent call for “common sense” in judicial proceedings.

One of the most notable changes will be the institution of rigid timelines for the designation, screening and panel review process, resulting in the requirement that a decision be made no later than approximately two and a half years after the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) receives the project description. For large projects, whose proponents have come to expect delays of two to three times longer, this is revolutionary. However, other governments have been putting similar rigid timelines in place in recent years; the Ontario process for appealing a Renewable Energy Approval to the Environmental Review Tribunal is one example; there, rigid timelines have forced the Tribunal to front-end load the process as much as possible to avoid the embarrassment of a deemed decision upon expiry of the applicable period.

Other changes allow the minister to agree that a

provincial assessment process is an appropriate substitute for the federal process, and reduce the number of agencies that can conduct a review. These have upset environmentalists and other interested parties. This puts significant responsibility in the hands of the minister — the ultimate effect will depend on decisions coming out of his or her office. That said, the concept of avoiding duplicative federal and provincial reviews has already been the subject of agreements between certain of the provinces and the federal government; this change can be viewed as the government giving itself the ability to eliminate a redundant process in situations where a federal-provincial agreement is not in place.

So, while suspending judgment on the impact of these changes until we see the practical effects, I’m hopeful that the net result is consistent with the views expressed by former Supreme Court Justice Ian Binnie at the time of his retirement — that control of the court process has to be returned to the judges — and that tight timelines on proceedings will result in a focussing of attention on the issues of real significance. So long as the scope of reviews continues to encompass the issues of material environmental concern, the changes to the federal environmental review process could be positive for all parties. HMM

Aaron Atcheson is a Partner and Chair of Miller Thomson LLP’s CleanTech Group in London, Ontario. Contact Aaron at aatcheson@millerthomson.com HMMsept08gm1307 Kilmer.qxd

KG SERVICES Your environmental remediation specialist 24 hr - 365 Days Immediate spill response and remediation services.

Excavating services, haulage, disposal, restoration and clean up.

Excavating equipment, dump truck and bins, compact equipment, power generators, water pumps, traffic control equipment and fleet of equipment to cover every aspect of remediation.

Free consultation and quotations for any size project

Main: 519-732-3015 • 24 Hr Emergency Response: 519-209-5947 www.kgservice.ca Licensed by MTO, MOE and MOL. Compliance approval by MOE.

9/12/08

by Aaron Atcheson

“Control of the court process has to be returned to the judges.”

4:27 PM

Page 1

Kilmer Brownfield Equity Fund L.P. Canada’s leading fund dedicated to the redevelopment of brownfields

Putting Private Equity to Work The Kilmer Brownfield Equity Fund is dedicated to creating value for stakeholders through the clean-up and revitalization of brownfield properties in Canada.

If you have a property for sale, please contact Pamela Kraft, Development Manager at 416-814-3437 pkraft@kilmergroup.com www.kilmergroup.com/brownfield SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 23

hmm sum 2012 ctc opinion pg 23.indd 23

22/06/12 8:13 AM

CLEANTECH: WASTE TO ENERGY

Plasco Trail Road commercial-scale demonstration facility

Plasco’s Trail Road facility in Ottawa, Ontario.

A

ccording to the Ottawa-Ontario-based Plasco Energy Group, Plasco Trail Road is the only operating commercial-scale conversion facility in the world that converts post-recycled municipal solid waste into a consistent syngas than runs GE Jenbacher engines to generate electricity.

Plasco entered into a partnership with the City of Ottawa in April 2006 for the construction of the commercial-scale demonstration facility.

Plasco Trail Road was constructed to: demonstrate the company’s proprietary technology at a commercial scale to customers and investors; produce environmental performance data that is significantly lower than existing emission standards in leading jurisdictions; and, to validate Plasco’s operating costs and net energy production efficiency.

Plasco says the plant has successfully demonstrated electricity production using its syngas-to-fuel GE Jenbacher engines. Plasco says its superior environmental performance has been validated

24 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 ctc w-to-e pg 24-25.indd 24

22/06/12 8:14 AM

Control room of Plasco’s Trail Road facility.

by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and that the economic viability of Plasco waste conversion facilities has been demonstrated based on revenues from net electricity produced and fees for accepting waste for processing.

Plasco Energy Group worked collaboratively with local and provincial levels of the Canadian government to develop rules for permitting the innovative technology. This process also involved an extensive public outreach program and government agency consultation. Through this approach, Plasco Trail Road was granted temporary demonstration permits that specified more stringent air emission regulations than existing standards.

After completion of the demonstration period and an Environmental Assessment Screening Process mandated by the province, Plasco was issued permanent operation permits for the Trail Road Facility on October 24, 2011. In December 2011, Ottawa’s City Council approved a 20-year contract with Plasco for a commercial waste conversion facility. This facil-

ity will have capacity to convert 150,000 tonnes per year of Ottawa’s postrecycled waste into green power and other valuable products. Throughput is expected to be 128,000 tonnes per year.

Ottawa Mayor, Jim Watson, was quoted on December 15, 2011 saying, “Back in 2005 Plasco set out to prove its potential with a demonstration plant... they also set out to prove to the Ministry of the Environment that very low emission levels could be achieved. Finally, they set out to prove that they could get investors to build a full commercial plant without a capital contribution from the city. Today, Plasco has grown from eight people to more than 150 employees all here in Ottawa. This company has attracted more than $250 million in new investment in Ottawa since the city first sat down to consider a joint venture opportunity.”

HMM Written by Guy Crittenden, editor of this magazine. Contact Guy at gcrittenden@hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 25

hmm sum 2012 ctc w-to-e pg 24-25.indd 25

22/06/12 8:15 AM

CLEANTECH: WASTE INNOVATION

Driving Change Waste Management Inc’s Organic Growth Group

W

aste Management Inc. has quietly evolved in recent years from being a traditional waste recycling and disposal company into an increasingly high-tech firm. An industry leader, the company has been making strategic investments in both Canada and the United States that can help broaden its business.

The company’s Organic Growth Group (OGG), its venture investing arm, has been expanding its portfolio of investments in companies working on leading-edge technologies for creating renewable energy, expanding recycling, or managing waste.

Since its inception in 2005, the OGG has grown dramatically, advancing projects it has in development as well as embarking on exciting and ambitious new ventures.

Today, the OGG has a portfolio of nearly 40 acquisitions, joint ventures and investment projects at various stages of development. To support Waste Management’s (WM) growth strategy of extracting the highest value from the materials it manages, OGG is focused on four platforms for growth: •R enewable Energy: Utilizing the entire waste stream or converting landfill gases to valuable energy sources; •C onversion Technologies: Con­vert­ ing segments of the waste stream into valuable energy sources; •R ecycling Technology: Repurposing segments of the waste stream; •C onsumer Facing & Sustainability Models: Promotion of the WM brand, green messaging and sustainability through various retail and/or consumer focused business models.

Some notable investments that Waste Management has announced include:

by Wes Muir

“The OGG has a portfolio of nearly 40 acquisitions, joint ventures and investment projects at various stages of development.”

Enerkem’s gasification facility in Westbury, Quebec.

hmm sum 2012 ctc waste innov pg 26-28.indd 26

Genomatica: A joint development agreement research and advance their proprietary technology and manufacturing processes to enable production of intermediate and basic chemicals from syngas derived from municipal solid waste.

22/06/12 8:16 AM

InEnTec’s plasma gasification facility at Waste Management’s Columbia Ridge Landfill in Arlington, Oregon. Waste materials are fed into a first phase gasification chamber that operates at approximately 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. After the first phase, the waste materials flow into a second closed chamber where they’re superheated to temperatures between 10,000 and 20,000 degrees Fahrenheit using electricity-conducting plasma gas. The intense heat rearranges the molecular structure of the waste, transforming organic (carbonbased) materials into an ultra-clean, synthesis gas (syngas) that may then be converted into transportation fuels such as ethanol and diesel, or industrial products like hydrogen and methanol. In a secondary stage of the PEM process, inorganic (non-carbon-based) materials are transformed into environmentally inert products.

Agilyx: WM has made an investment in this alternative energy company that converts low-value, difficult-to-recycle industrial and consumer plastics as well as contaminated and recycling residual plastics into a high-value synthetic crude oil, which can be converted into ultra-low-sulfur diesel and other transportation fuels and petroleum products.

Enerkem: WM has invested in this Canadian company, which, through proprietary thermal-chemical technology, helps convert waste materials into advanced biofuels such as ethanol , as well as renewable chemicals. Enerkem’s technology is able to process diverse carbonbased feedstocks, including sorted municipal solid waste, construction and demolition wood, and agricultural and forest residues.

Harvest Power: WM has invested in Harvest Power, a company that generates high quality compost with proprietary technology that controls odours and potential emissions. WM is providing the raw materials for Harvest Power’s composting, biogas and syngas operations and helping the company expand its operations. It’s also working with them to develop high-solids aerobic and anaerobic digestion and composting technologies, which accelerate the decomposition or organic materials to produce renewable energy.

High Mountain Fuels: WM formed a joint venture company with Linde North America to create a facility at WM’s Altamont landfill near Livermore, California, to convert landfill gas (LFG) into liquefied natural gas (LNG) to power its collection fleet. This plant — the SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 27

hmm sum 2012 ctc waste innov pg 26-28.indd 27

22/06/12 8:16 AM

In late 2009 Waste Management commissioned the largest landfill gas (LFG) to liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in the world at the Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility near Livermore, California. The facility produces enough LNG to power 300 of WM’s nearly 500 LNG vehicles in the state. The 18 million litres of Altamont biofuel produced each year reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 27,000 tonnes annually; the fuel has a carbon density 85 per cent lower than gasoline or diesel, according to the California Air Resources Board.

Fermentation area at Terrabon pilot facility in Bryan, Texas.

world’s largest LFG to LNG facility — has a design capacity to produce up to 13,000 gallons per day. Using bio-methane LNG results in 90 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to natural gas from fossil fuels. The US EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program selected the facility as its 2009 Project of the Year.

InEnTec: WM invested InEnTec, to develop projects to process nonhazardous waste such as medical waste and other segregated industrial and commercial waste streams. Using InEnTec’s plasma enhanced melter/gasification technology, waste is converted into renewable energy and environmentally beneficially fuels and industrial products.

The first project has been built at WM’s Columbia Ridge landfill in Arlington, Oregon.

Fulcrum: Waste Management has made an equity investment in Fulcrum BioEnergy that uses a gasification technology to produce ethanol. The investment also includes a loan agreement and a master project development agreement to jointly develop Fulcrum projects

in various locations throughout the United States using municipal solid waste supplied by subsidiaries of WM under long-term feedstock agreements.

Terrabon: WM has invested in Terrabon, which, through its MixAlco™ technology (an acid fermentation process) converts biomass into organic salts. The organic salts can be converted into a high-octane gasoline that can be blended directly into s refiner’s fuel pool, avoiding many of the blending and logistics challenges presented by ethanol.

“The intent is to develop a suite of options to help WM’s customers more effectively and efficiently manage their waste streams.” These investments underpin WM’s commitment to innovative technologies that extract the value in waste and convert it into clean renewable energy, chemicals and other beneficial reuses.

HMM Wes Muir is Director of Communications for Waste Management Inc. in Brampton, Ontario. Contact Wes at wmuir@wm.com

28 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 ctc waste innov pg 26-28.indd 28

22/06/12 8:16 AM

hmm sum 2012 ad pg 29.indd 29

25/06/12 11:00 AM

REMEDIATION: ENVIRONMENT BUSINESS

Dioxin Cleaning up dioxin-contaminated soil

M

by John Nicholson

“Non-thermal treatment of dioxincontaminated soil is possible.”

y interest in the cleanup of dioxin contaminated soil has peaked with the discovery that fly ash had been deposited at my favorite local tobogganing hill. Between 1967 and 1974, coal fly ash was dumped on the hill — a good way of building up the hill but not so good for human health and the environment if exposure were to occur.

Fly ash, the light ash that gets blown up the stack during combustion processes, is known to contain dioxins. Fly ash should not be confused with bottom ash, the material that remains at the bottom of the chamber after combustion. Whereas bottom ash is non-hazardous and can be used as aggregate or building material, fly ash is hazardous and needs to be managed properly.

Back in the days before the dangers of fly ash were known, using it as “clean fill” didn’t seemed like a bad idea. As such, stumbling across a tobogganing hill built up using fly ash is not as uncommon as one would suppose.

Dioxin describes a group of highly toxic chemicals: polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs). Dioxin is classified as a known human carcinogen. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), recognized dioxins for what they are: toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative.

According to data compiled by the US EPA in 2004, backyard trash burning is the number one anthropogenic source of dioxins, followed by industrial sources (i.e., coal-fired energy generators) and commercial/ residential sources (i.e., gasoline and diesel use). Forest fires generate over 50 percent of all dioxin emissions according to the US EPA data.

Bennett Environmental project in Saglek, Labrador.

A Canadian inventory on dioxins releases to the environment, prepared in 1999, focused on 20 sectors.

More recent data on industrial emissions of dioxins in Canada can be found in the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI).

Like any soil contaminant, the potential health effects associated with dioxin is directly related to the level of exposure. Lowering the exposure reduces the risk of adverse effects.

The World Health Organization (WHO) determined human health will be protected from both cancer and non-cancer effects if the average daily ingested dose of dioxin does not exceed the Tolerable Daily Dose, which is 2 picograms per kg/day.

Deriving a soil level from a Total Daily Dose depends on the soil exposure pathway (eating it, breathing it in, or sorption through the skin). Canada-wide standards established through the CCME for dioxins and furans in soil are 4 nanograms of toxic equivalents (TEQ) per kilogram (4 parts per trillion). This value is applied to all land uses (i.e., agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial).

30 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 enviro bus pg 30-31.indd 30

22/06/12 8:18 AM

REMEDIATION : ENVIRONMENT BUSINESS

Bennett Environmental’s facility in Saint Ambroise, Quebec.

TREATMENT METHODS A quick and easy method of managing dioxin-contaminated soil is to transfer if to either a non-hazardous if permitted (i.e., the concentration in soil is less than 4 ppt) or hazardous waste landfill.

Another method of managing dioxin-contaminated soil in situ is through solidification and stabilization — basically adding cement to bind the dioxins and prevent them from migrating.

Neither landfilling nor solidification/stabilization destroys the dioxin. The contaminant is either transferred (landfilling) or bound in place (solidification/stabilization).

Thermal treatment is one of the most popular methods of destroying dioxins. In the United States 30 hazardous waste incineration facilities are permitted and actively managed contaminated soils. Of these, Clean Harbors operates 10 and Chemical Waste Management operates three.

In Canada, Bennett Environmental Inc. is a predominant thermal treatment company that has the capability to destroy dioxins in soil. The company’s thermal oxidizer, located in Quebec, has a destruction

and removal efficiency of 99.9999 per cent (commonly referred to as “six nines”).

The other predominant thermal treatment company in Canada is the Swan Hills Treatment Centre in Alberta.

The rotary kiln incinerator is licensed to destroy all organic wastes including dioxin-contaminated soil.

Non-thermal treatment of dioxin-contaminated soil is possible, including bioremediation. A published review of the full-scale non-combustion technologies by the US EPA in 2010 showed that there were eight commercial methods capable of treating dioxin-contaminated soil. A quick review of the companies behind the technologies appears that they are not run-away successes, with some no longer in business. For example, one of the technologies referenced in the EPA report is gas-phase chemical reduction, with the company behind the technology being ELI Eco Logic (a Canadian-based company that ceased operations in 2004).

John Nicholson, M.Sc., P.Eng., is a consultant based in Toronto, Ontario. Contact John at john.nicholson@ebccanada.com SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 31

hmm sum 2012 enviro bus pg 30-31.indd 31

22/06/12 8:18 AM

HAZMAT: SPOTLIGHT

The ubiquitous Safety-Kleen parts washer found at auto service stations.

Safe and Clean A Look at Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.

Fluid recovery tank car; in 1987 Safety-Kleen launched its fluid recovery service for small-and-medium-sized quantities of industrial waste, which included collection of 55-gallon drums

S

by Guy Crittenden

"Safety-Kleen traces its roots to a Wisconsin inventor named Ben Palmer."

afety-Kleen Systems, Inc., based in Plano, Texas and incorporated in 1963 is a leading North American used oil recycling and re-refining, parts cleaning and environmental solutions company, with approximately 4,300 employees serving approximately 270,000 customer locations in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Safety-Kleen is the world’s largest provider of parts cleaner services and is the largest recycler of automotive and industrial hazardous waste fluids. The company provides a variety of services to small quantity generators of waste solvents and other liquid wastes, as well as environmental solutions for over 400 of the Fortune 500 companies. The company is perhaps best known to the public for its parts cleaning and liquid waste recovery systems in automotive repair shops. The company provides similar services to industrial plants and other waste generators.

HISTORY Safety-Kleen traces its roots “to a Wisconsin inventor named Ben Palmer who designed the Safety-Kleen parts washer, a device that helped remove grease from auto parts” while working in his family’s sand and gravel business in the 1950s. His method replaced a more dangerous practice of washing parts in gasoline, thus the name Safety-Kleen was born. By the early 1960s Palmer was in Milwaukee with about 100 customers.

In 1967 Gene Olson, a Wisconsin businessman, saw potential to expand the business through franchising and bought out Palmer for $100,000. Sadly for Olson,

the plan led to bankruptcy; in 1968 Olson sold SafetyKleen to Chicago Rawhide Manufacturing Company, an Elgin, Illinois-based manufacturer of automotive bearing shaft seals. The new owners established a network of 130 branch facilities within three years, and thus began Safety-Kleen’s transition to today’s industry colossus.

Safety-Kleen entered the international arena in 1970 when it started establishing service routes in Canada. By October 1971 Safety-Kleen had placed 75,000 machines on 132 routes in 42 states and two Canadian provinces.

With sales topping $7.4 million in 1971, the company became profitable for the first time. In 1973 SafetyKleen established its first overseas operations and opened offices in the UK and the year after in Germany.

By the mid-1970s Safety-Kleen was processing more than 15 million gallons of used mineral spirits solvent annually, with 70 of every 100 gallons of solvent delivered to customers as recycled liquid. During the mid-1970s Safety-Kleen introduced a number of allied products, including a powdered concrete floor cleaner, a wiper blade, a carburetor cold parts cleaner, an aerosol spray choke and carburetor cleaner, and a Safety-Kleen broom.

Safety-Kleen expanded in the 1980s into the environmental services business, due to new regulations from the US EPA that labeled used solvents as hazardous material.

Many mergers and acquisitions followed over the years and sales rose to $134.8 million in 1981 (the year the company finally made the Fortune 1000 list).

In 1987 Safety-Kleen launched its fluid recovery service for small-and-medium-sized quantities of industrial

32 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 spotlight pg 32-33.indd 32

22/06/12 8:20 AM

HAZMAT : SPOTLIGHT

Safety-Kleen continued to lead the North American re-refined oil industry, setting another combined production record for its re-refineries in East Chicago, Indiana and Breslau, Ontario.

“We produced more than 105 million gallons of re-refined oils in East Chicago and Breslau in 2010 and, with production topping 8.7 million gallons in a four-week June-July period,” said Dave Sprinkle, Safety-Kleen’s executive vice president, oil re-refining in a news release from last year.

Inside Safety-Kleen’s Buffalo, New York facility that removes water from used oil and “We’ve also expanded the distribution network for our treats non-hazardous oily wastewater. The plant processes about 25 million gallons of used environmentally-friendly EcoPower oil to more than 700 seroil and wastewater annually. Most of the processed oil is sent to the company’s facilities in Breslau, Ontario and East Chicago, Indiana. On average 40,000 gallons of wastewater is vice outlets across the US and, with a triple-digit percentage increase in sales over last year, we are leading the industry in treated by the facility each day. meeting consumer demand for ‘greener’ motor oil.”

EcoPower is Safety-Kleen’s premium-quality re-refined synwaste, which included collection of 55-gallon drums. That year thetic blend motor oil and is certified to meet or exceed the the company entered the oil recovery business via the acquisiquality standards set by the American Petroleum Institute (API) tion of the Canadian firm Breslube Enterprises. In 1987 Safetyand the Society of Automotive Engineers for new motor oil. And Kleen’s revenues jumped and Safety-Kleen became the first further assurance of its quality is proven by its new formulation American company to post 17 straight years of earnings growth of EcoPower dexos1™ Synthetic Blend 5W-30, which is GM of more than 20 percent. dexos1™ licensed, making it the first engine oil recycled and refined Accelerated international expansion followed. By 1991 the from reclaimed oil to meet GM’s stringent specification. EcoPower company opened its new East Chicago oil recycling facility, jumpuses up to 85 percent less energy to produce than newly-refined ing process capacity to more than 100 million gallons of oil each oil, which helps consumers conserve year. By 1991 Safety-Kleen was ranked resources and reduce dependence on among the Fortune 500 companies, foreign crude. and remains among the largest waste Safety-Kleen currently re-refines management and environmental service approximately 145 million gallons of companies in the world today. used oil feedstock per year. The comOver time the company grew into pany’s Breslau re-refinery has coman international multi-service business, pleted a 10-million gallon per year and was at one point swallowed up by capacity expansion, and engineering industry giant Laidlaw Environmental plans for a new southern U.S. facility Services (LES) a merger that didn’t based on a planned capacity of 45 milwork out. LES was forced to declare lion gallons annually. bankruptcy after having to declare “Our two existing re-refineries accounting irregularities After a difhave already processed more than 2.5 ficult period Safety-Kleen was able to Overview of the East Chicago, Indiana refinery. billion gallons of used oil into highre-establish itself and all lawsuits were quality lubricants and by-products,” said Safety-Kleen CEO and settled between various parties. The company divested itself of President Robert Craycraft. By recycling and re-refining used oil certain acquisitions and focused on its core business. at current levels, Safety-Kleen avoids the emissions of more than one million tonnes of greenhouse gases annually when compared SAFETY-KLEEN TODAY to refining from crude and burning used oil for energy, the Safety-Kleen’s clients these days include automotive, metal fabequivalent of taking 190,000 cars off the road every year accordricators, printing and packaging, government, educational and ing to a 2009 life cycle analysis completed by Environ. medical sectors, among others.

Safety-Kleen has traveled a long journey with many twists Safety-Kleen offers closed-loop systems to handle and dispose and turns, but focused as it is on its core business, and helping of chemical wastes in the most sustainable way possible. Services companies rely less on virgin solvents and imported oil, its future include parts washing, containerized and bulk waste disposal, vacuum services, oil and coolant recycling, on-site project managelooks bright.

HMM ment, universal waste recovery and emergency response services.

Most recently the company has set records for re-refined oil Guy Crittenden is editor of this magazine. Contact Guy at gcritproduction.In 2011, following a record production year in 2010, tenden@hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 33

hmm sum 2012 spotlight pg 32-33.indd 33

22/06/12 8:20 AM

110200609_BabyAd_Hazmat_v3.indd 1

hmm sum 2012 dps pg 34-35.indd 34

22/06/12 8:20 AM

Copyright Tervita Corporation 2012. EARTH MATTERS and the TERVITA logo are the trademarks of Tervita Corporation. All rights reserved.

NO MATTER WHO HIRES US, WE WORK FOR HER.

Copyright Tervita Corporation 2012. EARTH MATTERS and the TERVITA logo are the trademarks of Tervita Corporation. All rights reserved.

It could be an oil company that needs help squeezing the last few hundred barrels from a well.

Or a municipality that needs to de-commission an illegal meth lab. Either way, we will do the job professionally, safely and with an eye to the future. We are the 4,100 men and women of Hazco, Concord, Beck and nine other affiliated companies – formerly known collectively as CCS, now as Tervita. We apply knowledge, skill, technology and hard work to provide environmental and energy services that are best-in-class. Our goal is sustainability, both for the client companies who hire us and for the planet as a whole. Because it’s not just you counting on us. It’s everyone.

To learn more about our comprehensive range of services, visit tervita.com today.

A N O R T H A M E R I C A N L E A D E R I N E N V I R O N M E N TA L A N D E N E R G Y S E R V I C E S

12-02-24 7:02 PM hmm sum 2012 dps pg 34-35.indd 35

22/06/12 8:20 AM

HAZMAT: EVENTS

Carbon Economy Summit

The 9:15 am session on voluntary and mandatory regulations examined everything from Quebec’s new cap and trade system to corporate calls for a carbon tax, and a practical overview of carbon policy shifts in Canada, plus expected requirements for business. (Left to right:) Moderator Katie Sullivan, Canadian and Finance Policy Director, International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) in Toronto; Bruce Dudley, Senior Vice-President with Delphi Group; Luc Robitaille, Corporate Director Environment, Holcim (Canada) Inc.; Gray Taylor, Counsel & Co-Chair of Climate Change & Emissions Trading, Bennett Jones; Dirk Forrister, Incoming President and CEO, International Emissions Trading Association.

Right Insets: Keynote Speaker Dr. Blair Feltmate, Chair of the Climate Change EVENTS OUR COMPANY IS PRESENTING Adaptation Project, Canada, speaking on “Preparing Your Business for Climate IN THE FALL, 2012.

Change.”

Mark Your Calendar

O

n June 6, 2012, Business Information Group presented the Carbon Economy Summit, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The event hosted 250 executives in business, manufacturing, supply chain, sustainability, transportation and fleet management and marketing. This exclusive one-day event brought together an impressive list of over 25 speakers and keynotes exploring environmental, financial and risk-management performance in the low-carbon era.

Networking with new sustainability contacts and reconnecting with peers, the day included key information on reducing waste, cutting costs and becoming more attractive to investors and employees.

The Carbon Economy Summit is organized by Ca­­nadian­ Manufacturing.com and its 14 affiliated trade magazines.

Ca­nadianManufacturing.com is owned by Business Information Group, Canada’s largest publisher of trade/business magazines and directories (including HazMat Management magazine). HMM For more information visit www.carboneconomysummit.ca

International Sites and Spills Expo 2012 November 7-8, 2012, International Centre, Toronto www.sitesandspills.com 17th Annual Resin Outlook Conference October 2-3, 2012, Doubletree Airport Hotel, Toronto www.canplastics.com/conference/ Surface Transportation Summit October 17, 2012, Capitol Banquet Centre, Mississauga www.surfacetransportationsummit.com Design Engineering Expo October 30, 2012, Mississauga Convention Centre, Mississauga www.dex2012.com Basics of Injection Molding November 28, 2012, Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, Toronto http://www.canplastics.com

36 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 events pg 36.indd 36

22/06/12 8:21 AM

advertiser index

SUMMER 2012

18, ADVERTISER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PG # Beeàh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Canadian Business Press. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Canadian Waste & Recycling Exp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Dupont. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 EACO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 EnviroTech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Eriez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Frac Rite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Groundtech Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Intrinsik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Kilmar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 KG Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Ontario Waste Management Association. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Ozonator Industries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Pinchin Environmental Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Sites & Spills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,19-22 OWMA AD

. . . . . AM . . . . .Page . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SpezTech.

6/5/07 .7:33 Tervita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-35 XCG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Ontario Waste Management Association

Who’s standing up for Your Business?

If you own or manage a private sector waste management company involved in any facet of solid or hazardous waste management – let us stand up for you …join OWMA today!

OWMA has a primary mission to support a strong and viable waste service industry and to ensure that OWMA member companies are recognized as industry leaders.

Contact: Michele Goulding (905) 791-9500 www.owma.org SUMMER 2012 HazMat Management 37

hmm sum 2012 adidx pg 37.indd 37

25/06/12 11:01 AM

HAZMAT: LEGAL PERSPECTIVE

Mine or hauler Who’s responsible for waste PCB oil?

I

by Dianne Saxe

“The Court of Appeal agreed that the defendants had a good argument about the flaws in the hauler’s corporate behavior.”

n Enviro West Inc. v. Copper Mountain Mining Corp. a waste hauler was hired to remove waste oil from a transformer at a mine. Despite several oral and written warnings, the hauler didn’t realize the oil was heavily contaminated with PCBs. As a result, the hauler mixed the PCBs with other oils, creating extensive PCB contamination of its oil inventory and equipment. The hauler sued the mine and its electrical contractors for its resulting losses. The mine and its contractors were held liable for negligence. Even though they had complied with provincial requirements, they had not taken sufficient precautions to ensure the hauler knew the oil contained high concentrations of PCB oil, and to ensure the hauler was licensed and capable of handling it.

In this instance, the judge’s ruling neatly summarizes the issues and reasons for the finding: “[101] From the outset, long before the Enviro West oil tanker arrived on site, the critical information concerning the nature of this hazardous waste and the risks associated with the disposal of the PCB waste (both the Transformer itself as well as the oil within) ought to have been adequately communicated by Copper Mountain to Boundary Electric.

That verbal communication should have been supported by documentation in the form of a purchase order or work order which detailed this critical information. I find it was unreasonable for Copper Mountain to expect that Costain, the Enviro West truck driver, would be the gatekeeper of this information. I accept that Costain was in no position to weigh or consider this critical information or to assess the associated risks...

[103] While perhaps in compliance with the regulatory requirements, I am not persuaded that by virtue of posting the warning sign and affixing the labels, Copper Mountain can be said to have met the standard of care imposed on a waste generator. Given both Costain’s and Enviro West’s history of attending at other sites to collect waste oil with PCBs less than 50 ppm, a label reading “Attention PCBs” was not likely to raise any alarm bells in Costain’s mind...

[116] Overall, Copper Mountain failed to take any steps to ensure the PCB waste in its possession was handled in compliance with the regulatory requirements.

Had Copper Mountain been diligent in providing information about the nature of the Transformer oil and the risks associated with this PCB-laden waste oil, Enviro West would have never collected the PCB waste oil from the Transformer, would have never transferred the PCB waste oil into its tanker truck, and would have never offloaded the PCB waste oil into the storage tank at its Kelowna facility.

[117] But for Copper Mountain’s failure to communicate the nature of the Transformer oil in a reasonable manner to Canyon Electric and to ensure that this information was properly communicated to Boundary Electric, Boundary Electric would have never accepted the Transformer [oil] and would have never retained Enviro West to collect, transport and dispose of the Transformer oil.

[118] But for Canyon Electric’s failure to advise Boundary Electric that it either knew this was almost pure PCB-laden oil or alternatively that it did not know the PCB content of the Transformer oil, Boundary Electric would have followed its regular practice of requiring and [sic] analytical test report for the waste oil or perform its own field test of the Transformer oil before agreeing to accept this Transformer. Had Boundary Electric had the analytical test report indicating the true PCB content of the Transformer oil, Boundary Electric would not have agreed to accept the Transformer.

[119] But for Boundary Electric’s failure to advise Enviro West that the Transformer oil contained PCBs in excess of 50 ppm, that the PCB Report was available, and that Boundary Electric itself had not verified the PCB level in the Transformer oil, Enviro West would not have collected, transported, stored and disposed of the Transformer oil.”

The issue on appeal to the British Columbia Court of Appeal was whether the waste hauler had been contributorily negligent, and should bear some of its own losses.

The trial judge had found that little blame should be put on the driver’s shoulders; since he had had no training in the handling of high-strength PCBs. The defendants appealed. The Court of Appeal agreed that the defendants had a good argument about the flaws in the hauler’s corporate behavior, which the trial judge had not evaluated, and sent the issue of contributory negligence back to her for reconsideration.

Remitted to trial court to consider: Managing office did not ensure that drivers were aware of implications of transporting PCBs and understood PCB labeling; Lack of guidelines/policies on statutory obligations re: PCBs; Comments of plaintiff company’s founder and CEO advocating for testing.

We will report the results of the reconsideration in a future edition.

HMM

Dianne Saxe, Ph.D. in Law, is a leading Canadian environmental lawyer with her own practice in Toronto, Ontario.

Contact Dianne at dsaxe@envirolaw.com

38 www.hazmatmag.com SUMMER 2012

hmm sum 2012 legal per pg 38.indd 38

22/06/12 8:24 AM

I N CO M B AT, YO U ’ R E A S I T T I N G D U C K WITHOUT AMMUNITION At the WESTERN CANADIAN HAZMAT CONFERENCE 2012, we’ll arm you with all the intel you need to win your battle against hazardous material.

PROUDLY PRESENTED BY ENVIROTEC & SASK EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND FIRE SAFETY

OCTOBER 10-12 l SASKATOON SK

Register by 31 August to take advantage of Early Bird pricing Register online at www.canadahazmat.com Or call 1-877-244-9500

hmm sum 2012 ad pg 39.indd 39

HAZMAT 2012 WESTERN CANADIAN

CONFERENCE

22/06/12 8:24 AM

Mother Earth will love you (And so will your accountant)

On site ZERO emission bio-hazard waste treatment...at a fraction of your current costs.

Yes you read it right. Using the power of ozone, our environmentally-friendly OZONATOR technology can quickly and safely treat your bio-hazardous waste on-site, while at the same time saving you up t o 50% on your waste management costs.

HigHligHts • • • •

Clean, safe and environmentally-friendly Proven science and technology Zero emissions Save up to 50% on your current bio-hazard management costs

• Fast – treat up to 440 lbs. of waste per 15 minute cycle • No special boxes, liners or refrigeration of waste • Easy to use: any staff member can run it • Easy to budget: predictable monthly costs through available leasing program

OZONATOR INDUSTRIES

To find out how to make your facility safer and cleaner…and the planet a better place to live, visit www.OzonatorIndustries.com or call 1.306.791.0900

Print ad2.indd 1 hmm sum 2012 ad pg 40.indd 40

5/2/08 1:43:16 PM 22/06/12 8:25 AM