Note: These summaries are created automatically. Sometimes the program isn't too smart about selection!
The guide is structured by specific processes (e.g., asbestos removal, metal
cutting, fuel and oil removal) that occur in ship scrapping operations.
Taking a process-specific approach allows the guide to be a more manageable and
useful reference tool for key ship scrapping facility personnel.
7-8 Is the proper mechanical ventilation or respiratory protection used when
cutting certain metals?
What are potential worker health and safety and environmental impacts from ship
machinery removal and disposal?
In short, some people exposed to asbestos develop asbestos-related health
problems; some do not.
Specifically, the Asbestos NESHAP [40 CFR 61 Subpart M] is intended to minimize
the release of asbestos fibers during demolition and renovation activities
(including ship scrapping) through work practices.
When removing RACM, your facility is required to control visible emissions of
asbestos to the outside air because no safe concentration of airborne asbestos
has ever been established.
It is a violation of the asbestos NESHAP standards to put water in the bottom of
a bag, then strip the asbestos material dry and let it fall into the water.
The sampling, removal, storage, and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
is a primary environmental concern, as well as a worker health and safety
concern, for your facility during ship scrapping.
When determining the concentration of PCBs in specific items, your facility can
either: (1) make the same assumptions as EPA (PCB concentration $50 ppm) and
dispose of these items according to PCB disposal requirements, or (2) conduct
sampling of these items to determine the actual PCB concentration and dispose of
them accordingly.
TOP
When spent material has the potential to be blown or washed offsite it should
cleaned up at the end of each workday from all areas of the ground and the
ground covers outside the containment system.
In addition, clean up of spent abrasives shall be required when spent abrasive
materials are hazardous, create a nuisance, or pose a threat to the environment.
Abrasive blasting should be managed to prevent or minimize discharges of
abrasive and spent materials to water bodies.
3. Enclosing, covering or filtering discharges from open areas of a vessel (e.g.
scuppers, railings, freeing ports, ladders or doorways) from which a discharge
may occur directly to water bodies.
The Thames barrier was erected in 1989 to provide flood control to the upper
reaches of the Thames River including the heavily populated areas of London.
The gates could be raised from the riverbed into a vertical defense position in
the event high surge tides threatened the London metropolitan area.
In October of 1997 a sand dredger, the Sand Kite, wrecked into one of the main
gates of the Thames barrier.
The ship was damaged and dumped its load of sand and aggregate, then sank onto
the gate where it sat for several days atop its load.
The barrier gate could not be taken out of service and had to be able to be
closed at any time with a 1-hour notice to the cleaning contractor.
In addition, there could be no environmental pollution or potential release into
the environment during the surface preparation procedures.
The remotely controlled, vacuum attached JetTractm system provided by UHP
Projects, Inc. was used to clean and prepare the surface of the gate for
recoating.
A patented seal allows the remote JetTractm crawler to attach itself to the gate
using vacuum supplied by a remote vacuum skid.
The paint and water is completely contained in a vacuum shroud and removed down
a hose to a vacuum system located on a barge.
The JetTractm crawler is remotely controlled and can move in any direction in
both the horizontal and vertical positions as well as overhead.
UHP waterjetting provided an environmentally safe surface preparation method as
well as an excellent way to remove chlorides and other contaminants caused by
the constant submersion in salt water.