The construction sector is arguably a lucrative one for keen entrepreneurs and prospective investors to seek their teeth into. As our population increases and resulting demand for greater city infrastructures rising, the Office for National Statistics made clear that the number of British construction businesses in current operation throughout the country is on the up, with a significant growth of 6.2%, in 2017 — meaning that 314,590 were active in the UK.
The numbers for the sector do sound impressive, with the highest level of employment on record, increased earnings, and rising value of new construction orders. But despite this, the industry does encounter some downfalls that can have a negative impact on client delivery. These difficulties are often dealt with by geoenvironmental consultants who have specialist expertise in waste management. An entire development plan can be hindered when hazardous waste products are detected on sight. This will inevitably cost both time and money to the business, which might not always be an option.
Potential hazards to be wary of when handling hazardous waste
The official statement on hazardous waste from the Health and Safety Executive outlines that substances which are harmful to human health or the environment, although not necessarily with an immediate effect, are deemed as hazardous products. Businesses have a responsibility for handling hazardous waste, however their duty of care will depend on whether they are a producer or holder, carrier or a consignee.
A list of some of the most well-known hazardous waste substances:
- Asbestos
- Chemicals
- Batteries
- Solvents
- Pesticides
- Oils
- Various equipment that include ozone depleting substances and general hazardous waste containers — which can be quite common in construction.
These substances may come in the form of solids, liquids, vapours, gases, and micro-organisms. However, under certain conditions a substance can exist in more than one form at the same time, which means businesses must be correctly equipped to handle them.
The annual production of hazardous waste is recorded at 400 million tonnes, which equates to 13 tonnes every second. As this figure has significantly increased over time, governments around the world are applying pressure on businesses to keep waste to a minimum through the encouragement of prevent, reuse, recycle or recover waste in that specific order. This is known as The Waste Hierarchy.
A degree of caution is required in regard to the acquirement and storage of hazardous waste, as the process differs massively from general waste. As a standard, this waste can be categorised within four main sub-categories which will depend on the type of development you are working on:
- Construction
- Demolition
- Industry
- Agriculture
Assuring that waste is labelled properly and stored securely is fundamental. To prevent any contamination on your construction site, waterproof covers are recommended so that no waste can run off to any other area. Hiring a hazardous waste skip could also be a potential option when the waste is on site.
Hazardous waste must also be accounted for in records, as well as putting physical warnings in place around the storage locations. Before your waste management company comes for collection, you must also fill out a consignment note which is required when:
- Collections from businesses that are registered waste carriers.
- Movements from one premises to another within the same organisation.
- When another business has produced waste, movements from customer premises.
It is not necessary to present a consignment note when:
- The movement of domestic hazardous waste – other than asbestos.
- Waste has been imported and exported under international waste shipment controls that require a different movement note.
Taking hazardous waste into consideration when it comes to planning any development project is vital. Make sure you’re prepared ahead of your next build by analysing your site before putting plans in place or discussing with environmental consultants.
