Site Characterization and Analysis
Hazardous waste sites must be evaluated to identify specific site hazards and to determine the appropriate safety and health control procedures needed to protect employees from the identified hazards.
Preliminary Site Evaluation
A preliminary evaluation of a site's characteristics must be performed prior to site entry by a qualified person in order to aid in the selection of appropriate employee protection methods prior to site entry.
All suspected conditions must be identified during the preliminary evaluation and further evaluated during the detailed evaluation if they:
- may pose inhalation or skin absorption hazards that are immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH);
- exceed published exposure levels (e.g., OSHA PELs, ACGIH TLVs®, NIOSH RELs);
- indicate exposure over radioactive dose limits (see 10 CFR 20); and
- could cause death or serious harm, including but not limited to the presence of flammable or oxygen-deficient atmospheres.
Based upon the results of the preliminary site evaluation, PPE must be selected and used during initial site entry which will provide protection to a level of exposure below permissible exposure limits and published exposure levels.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-4. Why are preliminary site evaluations conducted?
You forgot to answer the question!