SITE CHARACTERIZATION

1
SITE CHARACTERIZATION

• OSHA 1910.120
• HAZWOPER

2
PURPOSE PROVIDES THE INFORMATION NECESSARY
TO IDENTIFY SITE HAZARDS AND TO SELECT WORKER
PROTECTION METHODS. GOAL OBTAIN ACCURATE,
DETAILED, AND COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION TO
TAILOR THE PROTECTIVE MEASURES TO THE
ACTUAL POTENTIAL HAZARDS AT THE SITE.
3
RESPONSIBILITIES

• Incident Commander, Supervisor, Project Manager,
  with support from
• Chemist
• Industrial Hygienists
• Geologists
• Safety Personnel
• Toxicologists

4
Three Phases of Site Characterization

• Offsite characterization prior to site entry.
• Onsite Survey
• Ongoing Characterization

5
GOAL

• Gather as much information as possible so hazards
  are evaluated and preliminary site controls and
  personal protection measure are established
• Focus on potential inhalation hazards, IDLH
  situations or other dangerous situations such as
  
• Explosive/Flammable Situations
• Extremely Hazardous Situations
• Dead animals, Dead Vegetation, Discolored Soils

6
Two Methods To Obtain Information

• Interviews/Records Review
• Perimeter Reconnaissance

7
ONSITE SURVEY

• Look, feel, listen, smell.
• Use BUDDY system.
• Note types of containers, impoundment or storage
  systems.
• Note Condition of Containers.
• Note Physical Condition of the Materials.
• Identify Natural Wind Barriers Wind Direction.
• Determine Potential Pathways or Dispersion.

8
ONSITE SURVEY, continued

• Collect Samples.
• Use Remote Sensing Equipment if Warranted.
• Note any Safety Hazards.
• Identify Reactive, Incompatible, Flammable, or
  Highly Corrosive Wastes.
• Note Tags, Labels, Markings or other Identifying
  Markers.

9
DOCUMENT INFORMATION GATHERED

• Ensures Accurate Communication.
• Ensures Data Quality.
• Documents Rationale for Protective Measures.