Terra Contracting : Safety

The entire operation of the H&S program is managed by a corporate executive with the title of Director of Safety. Responsibilities include overall management of the H&S program elements (medical monitoring, site-specific health and safety plans, personnel protection, etc.). This individual also sets corporate policy and facilitates program evolution, concurrent with industry and regulatory standard changes.

Site Health and Safety Plan

Each HASP complies with OSHA standards for hazardous waste operations (29 CFR 1910.120) and addresses each potential chemical and physical hazard on a site-by-site basis. The HASP is also coordinated with each facility's safety program and is administered and enforced by a Project Site Safety Officer (SSO). The HASP defines the safety responsibilities of all personnel for each task. The responsibility of implementing the HASP resides with the Project Superintendent. All site activities are coordinated through the Program Manager.

Training Program

In addition to ongoing LPS training, all Terra field personnel are required to undergo the following training:

40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations 29 CFR 1910.120
Lock-Out / Tag-Out 29 CFR 1910.147
Confined Space 29 CFR 1910.146
Personal Protective Equipment 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart E
Fall Protection 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M
Ladder Safety 29 CFR 1926.1053
Hazardous Communications 29 CFR 1910.1200

Medical Surveillance

Mandatory pre-employment medical examinations, along with periodic screening procedures, are conducted for all personnel and subcontractor personnel assigned throughout the program. On-site first aid and emergency response is maintained and coordinated with client personnel, as required.

Air Monitoring

Terra follows strict procedures to eliminate or minimize the release of contaminants such as dust, fumes or vapor into the air. Such procedures are intended to protect not only Terra personnel but also the general public. For certain types of projects, Terra will install air monitoring equipment following procedures approved by NIOSH. In the event that unsafe levels of airborne contaminants are detected, Terra will take immediate and appropriate action including work shut-down and emergency evacuation if necessary.

Field Personnel Protection and Decontamination Procedures

U.S. EPA respiratory and dermal protection levels are specified in each HASP, as appropriate for the particular site. This includes provisions for upgrading and downgrading protection, along with work zones, command centers, and decontamination areas. Decontamination procedures are strictly enforced for all personnel, equipment, samples, and materials leaving an exclusion zone. Proper handling and disposal of all contaminated expendable materials and equipment is defined in each HASP. Ambient air monitoring for organic vapors is conducted, as required. For those instances in which instrument readings are in excess of established action levels, each HASP will, as applicable, identify the required higher levels of respiratory and/or dermal protection.

Job Safety Analysis

Every project undergoes a Job Safety Analysis (JSA), which is a comprehensive and methodical identification of all known and suspected risks and potential risks that may be encountered during a project. The basic JSA is field adapted to fit any special risks presented by the project. Each plan complies with OSHA standards for hazardous waste operations (29 CFR 1910.120); all hazardous chemicals and physical hazards are considered for each project site. As part of the LPS program, all employees are trained to know the risk of each potential hazard presented by the site.