A Guide To Deconstructing Site Decommissioning

In any major engineering project that is undertaken, there will be the need for thorough and competent site decommissioning at some stage in the process. Site decommissioning has taken on greater relevance in recent years as it has had to adapt to new laws on safety and the environment while at the same time striking a healthy balance between cost effectiveness and the necessity to maintain or enhance a client's reputation.

One of the main focuses of any site decommissioning project should be the idea that the success of the project could have far reaching implications for both the surrounding area and the clients involved. With this in mind, it is essential that everything is done to ensure nothing is left to chance and that everything is dealt with appropriately. To be successful, this will involve a consultation or planning process.

The consultation process will highlight any concerns or limitations on a site decommissioning project, as well as develop proposals on how to move forward. At the forefront of any exit strategy or plan will be the project costs and any potential impact works could have on a client's reputation. Obviously there is also a need to maximise the return on a project, while at the same time being sympathetic to any concerns that may adversely effect client reputation.

After the consultation process, and once a plan of action has been decided, there will be considerable engineering requirements that need to be addressed. These will vary depending on the specific job, but with any site decommissioning project the engineering will need to be carried out with care and consideration. Civil, structural mechanical, electrical and geotechnical needs must be met.

More often than not, a site decommissioning project will involve the removal or partial removal of buildings. Older building pose a different set of decommissioning problems to newer ones, but no matter what the age there are areas that need to be looked at. A building fabric survey built into any strategy will help to minimise waste, identify materials that can be reused or recycled and flag up any hazardous materials. Asbestos, lead, mercury, CFCs and PCBs all need to be dealt with in accordance with health and safety and environmental laws.

Some equipment and materials may be able to be completely salvaged from a site decommissioning project. The consultation process will identify these and help come up with solutions for how to remove these items while at the same time minimising damage and therefore increasing their value. Remember the aim of decommissioning a site is not just to pull-out; it should be treated as an integral part of a project and not as an afterthought.

Health and safety must be paramount throughout the site decommissioning. It is often necessary to have fulltime supervision in this respect. This not only helps with the implementation of a strategic decommissioning plan but acts as an extra measure in case anything unplanned or unforeseen happens; which can often be the case.

Health and safety takes on board the welfare of a workforce and at the same time has to effectively manage or oversee the general production of waste on a site. Subsoil contamination, building integrity and adequate equipment are all areas that fall under the remit of health and safety.

Finally, when the site decommissioning is complete there is the need for validation and a project report. When a site has been cleared and a project finished there should be good documentation in the form of accurate records that clearly records the whole process in detail. This report is often referred to after the fact to verify to authorities the procedures that have been followed and the problems that have been overcome.

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