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Appendix 5
Inspection Field Activity Procedures

• While inspecting active working faces, or other waste handling areas, stay well back from and upwind of the face and dumping areas. Select a safe place to observe activities out of the traffic pattern.
• Plan options and exit route should an emergency occur (such as emissions, spills, reactions or uncontrolled releases of hazardous materials).
• Stay upwind and a safe distance away from the source of the hazard (i.e.,active face) whenever possible.
• Do not touch or attempt to collect samples of leachate, waste material or debris of any kind without appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Avoid all heavy equipment or machinery operations, which can pose a safety hazard.  If heavy equipment or other vehicles are present, stay out of traffic routes. If staff needs to remain in a traffic area advise equipment operators of your presence. Make sure they see you and stop the equipment before you approach them.
• Never put notebooks or other equipment down in waste areas.
• Avoid wet or muddy areas.
• Avoid dust clouds and dusty operations. Stand upwind and out of the dust plume area. Leave dusty areas immediately and reenter only after dust has settled or after dust control is in effect. Avoid being splashed by the water truck or entering freshly sprayed areas.
• Avoid any area, on- or off-site, where known or suspected hazardous wastes are actively being generated, transported, stored, recycled or disposed of without use of adequate protection. 
• Avoid loud or sustained high noise levels. If you cannot hear the person next to you or the sound is loud enough to be uncomfortable leave the area immediately and do not reenter without adequate hearing protection. (Note: If the facility uses noise for bird control note where the controls are being used and avoid them.) 
• Avoid exposure to landfill decomposition gas at or near gas collection and venting systems.
• Always stay upwind of potential sources and use binoculars for a closer look whenever possible. Pay close attention to air surveillance/instrumentation readings and alarms.
• Do not enter enclosed areas, including buildings, sumps, drains or any low areas where gas may collect without closely monitoring, continuously, air quality at all times.
• Avoid exposure while conducting gas studies or installing or gas monitoring wells or collection and removal systems.
• Avoid low or partially enclosed or covered areas where landfill decomposition gas may collect, both known or suspected, that may be detected by either instrumentation or by observation. This includes ground water wells, storm drains or other sub grade conduits.
• Avoid walking in the waste, near or on the active face, and near operating equipment. Always be alert and watch for sharp objects such as medical syringes, nails and broken glass, which may penetrate your boots or your hands should you fall. 
• Examine your boots and clothing after walking through waste to determine if you have been contaminated.             
• Stay clear of steep slopes. Slopes greater than 10% should be avoided altogether.
• Avoid gas seep's/ leachate control and removal systems (LCRS vents).
• Driving with your boots on can be hazardous and may cause lose of control of the vehicle.
• Avoid contaminating the interior of vehicles. Whenever possible, do not enter the vehicle with contaminated boots or clothing.
• Remember to use all personal protective equipment according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Observe site conditions and wind direction.  Note traffic patterns, work areas, unusual activities
• Keep vehicles away and upwind of all hazards including:  traffic, dust, active areas, landfill gas collection, venting or flame-off areas, etc.

Personal Hygiene

• Always practice good personal hygiene while inspecting solid waste facilities. 
• Avoid hand or body contact with waste materials or any dirty or contaminated surfaces. Make it a habit to use disposable gloves whenever casual contact with waste or waste contaminated surfaces may occur.
• Application of makeup is prohibited at the work area.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with or without gloved hands. Hands and face should be washed with a disinfectant soap, immediately after leaving the work site. Always wash up thoroughly before leaving the site or as soon as possible thereafter.
• Be sure to containerize all contaminated materials in a plastic bag until you can properly dispose of them. 
• Disposable gloves may not be reused. 
• Always carry boots in plastic bags separately from other personal clothing.    
• Water from sealed containers or coolers may be consumed if done carefully and away from contaminant sources. If possible, remove all personal protection equipment before entering any office to get drinking water.
• Eating and smoking are prohibited while on a solid waste facility, except in designated areas. 
• Wash hands before eating or using the restroom. Partial or complete personal decontamination may be required to prevent transfer of contaminants to yourself or facilities.
• Always double check to insure that no uncontrolled contaminants leave the site with you. 
• Whenever possible dispose of all collected waste materials you may have generated contaminated or not. If the operator refuses or cannot accept these materials, double bag them and return to the field shop where they will be collected and disposed of.  Identify by labeling the bagged waste material.

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Appendix 6
Field Decontamination Procedures

Purpose

The purpose of the decontamination process is to minimize the transfer of contaminants from personnel and equipment into clean areas after solid waste facility inspections and other field activities. This procedure provides a decontamination guideline for field staff performing routine field activities with minimal field hazards. 

This guidance is intended to meet the needs of those staff who do not have decontamination facilities available associated with their sites and it is not feasible to return to the home office for decontamination or facilities are not available at their home office. It is recognized that this procedure is to supplement the CIWMB Field Health and Safety Program. 

Activities associated with field duties shall be evaluated to prevent accidents or exposures to hazards. This procedure shall be used with normal routine field activities, such as field inspection. All complex field activities require a Specific Site Health and Safety Plan. The Health and Safety Program staff shall be contacted for further information.

No contaminated items shall be brought into office or common areas. Field equipment should be stored and maintained only in designated areas; if contaminated the items must be bagged.

Decontamination Procedure

Pre-inspection Planning Procedure

1. As part of the preplanning field activities gather site information and plan decontamination procedures.
2. Determine if the site has decontamination facilities available. This should include running water, hand-washing facility, bathroom, shower facility, and garbage dispose facility.
3. If adequate decontamination facilities are not available select and prepare equipment required for decontamination. This may include preparing washing and rinsing solutions in advance if the site does not provide running water. It should also include any personal protective equipment (gloves or tyvek).
4. Always consider site conditions and wind direction when planning decontamination procedures. Select a decontamination area and a clean zone (this may be done at the site.) (Note: Clean zone should always be upwind and upslope.)
5. Organize, prepare, and set up decontamination equipment in designated areas before performing field activities.

[Note: Stay upwind and a safe distance away from the active face (based on field conditions) during field activities. Use binoculars if you need a closer look.]

Decontamination Equipment Selection

Selection of decontamination equipment will depend on the type of decontamination required based upon the site, hazards, and what needs decontamination. Field decontamination kits are available to assist in field decontamination and contain the following:

• Plastic bags (33 gal, clear)
• Long‑handled, soft‑bristled brush (18" handle with thong and hole on handle)
• Hand pump plastic sprayers soap and water solutions (2.5 gallon)
• Spray disinfectant  (LYSOL, hospital grade or equivalent)
• Waterless cleaner  (GO-JO ORANGE w/ PUMICE)
• Paper towels
• Individual towelettes
• Plastic bucket (2‑3 gallon with bail handle, nested for storage)
• Soap (Alconox)

Onsite Decontamination Procedure

1. After field activities or contamination occurs requiring decontamination, return to the designated decontamination area.
2. All items required for decontamination should be available; including pre-prepared solutions. Collect all contaminated items in a central location prior to decontaminating.
3. Any non-disposable item, which cannot be decontaminated, should be double bagged and sealed for return to the office (instrumentation, barhole punches, cotton coveralls, etc.). Any highly contaminated disposable item, which cannot be decontaminated, should be disposed of at the site (boots, protective eyewear, hard hats).
4. Use proper personal protective equipment, hand and/or body protection, when decontaminating. 
5. Decontaminate soiled boots and other reusable equipment onsite. Vehicles can be cleaned at carwash.
6. Bag and dispose of personal protective equipment used during the decontamination of reusable items. Dispose of cleaning solutions and clean all decontamination equipment.
7. Use on-site cleaning facility for final cleanup, if available. 
8. Perform personal hygiene after decontamination is completed. Personal hygiene should include:

• If small amounts of contaminants are contacted, remove contaminated clothing; wipe clean skin with towel and disinfectant.
• Hands and face should be thoroughly washed. 
• Shower afterward, if appropriate and put on clean clothing.
• If staff is heavily soiled, do the best to clean and disinfect onsite (use paper towels, spray disinfectant, and hand pumps spray with soap and water).

In extreme cases, if contamination with hazardous or toxic materials occurs contact your supervisor or the Health & Safety Program staff immediately.

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Appendix 7
Environmental/Personal Air Surveillance and Monitoring Devices

When exposures to airborne contaminants are found or expected to exceed allowable levels, steps shall be taken to control such harmful exposures. The CIWMB shall provide and train field staff on instrumentation to monitor potentially hazardous environments.

Whenever it is reasonable to suspect that an employee may be exposed to high concentrations of airborne contaminants the employee/supervisor shall consult with the Health and Safety Program staff. It shall be the responsibility of the Health and Safety Officer or his designee to maintain, calibrate and store instrumentation made available to field staff.

The following instruments shall to be used when hazardous or toxic contaminants are known or suspected:

• Combustible Gas Indicator/Oxygen Deficiency Meter
• Direct Reading Colorimetric Indicator Tubes ((Draeger_tm or equivalent type air sampling kit) 

Combustible Gas Indicator

Combustible gas indicator meters are used to measure the concentration of flammable vapors or gases (such as methane) in the air. The results are expressed in a percentage of the lower explosive limit (LEL) or the vapor or gas.

Oxygen Deficiency Meter

Oxygen deficiency meters are used to determine the percentage of oxygen present in the environment. An environment that is below 19.5% is legally considered oxygen deficient.

Direct Reading Colorimetric Indicator Tubes

Determines the concentration of a specific vapor or gas in the atmosphere. A hand operated bellows pump and colorimetric tubes are used together to measure the concentration of contaminant by producing a stain whose length is proportional to the contaminant's concentration.

Other direct reading instruments are available for Field Staff uses consult with the Health and Safety Officer and/or program staff to assist in appropriate instrumentation selection. 

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Last updated: November 01, 2007