Simple Steps Prevent Soil Contamination And Save Serious Money.

Simple Steps Prevent Soil Contamination And Save Serious Money.
Canada has thousands of contaminated sites. Soil pollution is linked to water and air pollution, but it’s a problem that’s easy to avoid.
– By Isaac Rudik

While nearly every company and government organisation is trying to improve its environmental policies and practices, Alberta-based furniture maker LOGical Creations Ltd. couldn’t get much greener if someone used a crayon. And it finds that its close-to-zero-as-possible emissions and waste policy is paying off handsomely on the bottom line.

LOGical only uses dead trees and logs rather than cutting down living trees as raw material for its furniture. Wherever possible, handsaws and axes are used, reducing exhaust and greenhouse gas emissions from bulldozers, grapplers, chainsaws and mechanical peelers traditionally used in tree harvesting.

All logs are sun-dried, saving energy and electricity because it doesn’t use a kiln or drying lamps.

Then, furniture is hand finished rather than using electric sanders. Because it doesn’t use spray guns, the company closely monitors how much material is applied, eliminating over-sprays.

Finally, LOGical diverts recyclable matter from landfills by:
• Composting sawdust and wood shavings on-site;
• Sharing cut-off log ends with the community for firewood; and
• Using recycled newspapers as drop cloths when staining or lacquering.

As a result, LOGical significantly lower costs by avoiding buying, maintaining and operating large equipment to harvest trees. Moreover, the average drying kiln costs about $10,000 to buy and up to $5,000 to operate annually. Operating costs are further cut by self-harvesting dead trees rather than purchasing them from foresters.

Besides improving profitability, for its efforts the company has received numerous awards and accolades including the prestigious 2008 Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Pollution Prevention Award.

Readily Scalable

While this Canadian success story is a relatively small business in a specific industry, its practices are adaptable and scalable by other, larger companies and government agencies.

In addition to saving money, using LOGical’s approach can reduce the risk of contamination – especially soil. Soil becomes contaminated when man-made chemicals seep into the earth or other alterations are made to its natural environment, often by the release of chemicals or improperly disposing of hazardous waste.

Canada has tens of thousands of contaminated sites at factories, mines, military bases, airports, laboratories, historic landfills, lighthouse stations, harbours and other locations across the country. Concerns about soil pollution revolve around its major effect as a link to possible carcinogens. It also shares a link to water and air pollution.

Harmful substances may be introduced to the soil through water coming from waste run-off or dumping sites, and using chemicals on crops. No matter how it happens, soil pollution is difficult to fix, making it easier – and cheaper – to focus on the prevention.

Best Practices

Soil contamination comes from ways many of us don’t even think about it: Tossing batteries in with the trash, only to have battery acid leach into landfill soil. From there, the acid makes its way to ground water then into everyday life.

The Bullseye Trio helps prevent soil contamination as well as money. If waste can be pre-sorted, companies avoid paying for pick-ups on material that should be disposed of elsewhere. This covers everything from spent batteries to used ink cartridges, toners, replacement parts for machines treated with oil or chemicals, even used or broken computers and monitors. While enabling businesses to separate anything that breaks down and leaches before moving up the food chain, the Trio also reduces trash collection expenses.

An ounce of prevention is both an old saying and an environmental truism. As LOGical Concepts demonstrates, it’s possible to produce significant savings by greatly reducing the risk of soil contamination. Whether through reducing, recovering and reusing materials, preventing harmful releases, buying and using “green” products or cutting down on power needs, an organisation can “do well by doing good.”






Isaac Rudik is a compliance consultant with Compliance Solutions Canada Inc. (www.compliancesolutionscanada.com), Canada’s largest provider of health, safety and environmental compliance solutions to industrial, institutional and government facilities.

E-mail Isaac at irudik@csc-inc.ca or phone him at 905-761-5354.

Industrial Discharges Are Expensive – And Unnecessary

Industrial Discharges Are Expensive – And Unnecessary
There’s always a chance that spills or leaks can happen when chemicals are used. Employers are responsible for developing appropriate procedures and ensuring that workers know how to use potentially hazardous products correctly. The best approach is following the rule of “The Three P’s.”
– By Isaac Rudik

It’s an all too-familiar story: A business doesn’t pay attention to potential hazard risks that fall under its control, a leak occurs and goes unnoticed, environmental damage results and courts levy hefty fines to cover both the clean-up and as a penalty.

It happened again in June after James Dietrich, a South Huron, Ontario, agribusiness owner, was slapped with a robust five figure fine plus clean-up costs when corn liquor runoff from large storage bins went unseen and unchecked, polluting the Ausable River two years earlier.

Dietrich’s problems began when someone complained to the Ministry of Environment that water in the creek next to their building suddenly turned black and foul smelling. An investigation revealed that corn silage liquor in a bunker silo on Dietrich’s property found its way to a nearby drain tile that flowed into the river.

The Three P’s

There is always a chance that a spill or leak can happen when chemicals are used in the workplace. All employers are responsible for developing appropriate procedures and ensuring that workers know how to use potentially hazardous products correctly. So, the best approach is following the rule of “The Three P’s” – prevention, preparedness and prompt response.

Obviously, prevention is not just the first line of defence, it’s the best course – and it’s always the least expensive.

Prevention begins with evaluating ways to minimize potential spills in storage areas, when hazardous material is being transported inside the workplace, during transfers to other containers and while it is being used in the manufacturing process. This includes using spill trays, Bollard posts and machine guards where accidents might occur.

Rather than pouring liquids directly into a container, install pumps or other mechanical devices including secondary spill containment platforms. Flammable materials should be bonded and grounded to prevent sparks from igniting liquids with drum pumps or de-headers employed to allow for safe transferring of liquids.

Preparing For Problems

Being prepared means having the correct spill equipment on hand in case it’s needed. Post emergency response contact numbers in a visible location and do regular – quarterly is best – practice drills of your spill response plan while also ensuring that engineering controls are adequate.

Every facility needs the appropriate spill equipment and procedures in place, including kits for oil only as well as a universal kit good for general purpose spills. They’re a must when using highly toxic or acidic solutions.

At the same time, assess whether the business requires specialised spill kits including those that are mobile, used on vehicles or in labs. A surprising number of companies require customised spill kits for protection.

In-House First Responders

Equally important, key managers as well people on the shop floor must know when and how to initiate emergency response plans; if it’s not safe to respond before calling emergency services, evacuate the area and restrict access. Then contact the organization’s spill response team and call 911.

The response depends on the nature of the hazard and workplace conditions. Above all, wear adequate protective equipment for the hazard involved: Personal Protection Equipment, proper gloves, safety eyewear, aprons and nearby eye wash stations are a must for every facility using hazardous materials, especially acids and other toxic liquids, as well as having appropriate fire extinguishers.

If safe to do so, send the company’s HazMat team in to work at preventing spills from entering sewers, drains or enclosed spaces after turning on fans to ensure the area is ventilated. Use drain seals to prevent liquids from entering sewers that can be carried into local water supplies. Also, use soil, powder or liquid absorbing materials to neutralise spilled material, which makes clean-up safer and easier.

Finally, using overpacks or lab packs, scoop or shovel any spilled material into suitable, covered and boldly labelled containers, or to protect broken or damaged drums. Flush the spill area with water if doing so is safe, containing the runoff for disposal. Employees must be trained to handle contaminated absorbent material as if it has the same hazards as the spilled product. Be sure to dispose of the resulting waste appropriately.

As long as businesses use hazardous materials, there’ll be a risk of leaks, spills and other damage. Following the Rule of the Three P’s helps ensure that should the unthinkable happen, a quick and appropriate response is ready.






Isaac Rudik is a compliance consultant with Compliance Solutions Canada Inc. (www.compliancesolutionscanada.com), Canada’s largest provider of health, safety and environmental compliance solutions to industrial, institutional and government facilities.

E-mail Isaac at irudik@csc-inc.ca or phone him at 905-761-5354.