It’s Dirty Dirt but
Someone’s Got
to Clean It
PILE TIPS
Cleanliness and job site safety
Digging out tons of soil, planting
vegetation to support
habitats and cleaning waterways
may seem like inherently dirty jobs.
Yet cleanliness and organization are crucial
to both quality work and the safety of the
job site. GZA’s Stephanie Turkot, assistant
project manager, talks about why.
For want of a nail
To explain why cleanliness and organization
is so important, Turkot points to the
humble tarp.
“When dealing with contaminated soil,
we have a soil management plan, which
tells everyone on the site how soil should be
moved, placed and handled,” she said.
Part of her job as a project manager is
to ensure the plan is followed, which often
includes putting a barrier between the soil
that’s removed and other soils on the site.
It also includes communication, which is
another important key factor.
“In the long run, let’s say we didn’t use
the tarp. If there’s a delay, and they can last
for years, as precipitation falls on the soil,
contamination leaches into the ground,
and suddenly you’re spending far more to
fix that than you ever would for a tarp,”
she said.
Similarly, keeping the site clean helps
with daily safety concerns, such as reducing
tripping and slipping hazards. Something
as simple as picking up debris before starting
work pays off later, especially when
you’re on a schedule.
It’s all in the details
Turkot explains that the details are on her
mind from the beginning.
“Whenever I get to a site, I mobilize my
vehicle and think, ‘Where are we going to
set up?’” she said. “I make sure the eyewash
and first aid are accessible as part of the
first setup, for example.”
As tools and equipment arrive, she organizes
them to be both accessible and clear
of any pathways.
“A lot of these jobs, we’re under a timeframe
to get things done,” she said.
Having a detailed plan in place helps
keep to the schedule and limit issues. It’s
part of the process to look at the site beforehand,
not just its present, but its past.
“We spend time reviewing site documents
and viewing the site on Google
Earth,” said Turkot, with the understanding
that there’s only so much information.
“Having these plans in place helps keep the
site clean beforehand.”
Be flexible
No plan can anticipate everything and
weather, in particular, can bring surprises
that need to be managed.
“Organizing yourself when you get the
project helps stay on top of the weather. You
can proactively think about what you can
do,” said Turkot. “If you’ve got four hours
outside and four inside, you can prioritize
in the face of time pressures.”
It's easy to assume any job involving contaminants
or soil is a dirty one. Yet as any
project manager can tell you, even the dirtiest
job can be an organized, safe one. t
This article was originally published on
www.gza.com and is republished here
with permission.
By Dan Seitz with Stephanie Turkot, GZA GeoEnvironmental
mps197 / 123rf
www.piledrivers.org PILEDRIVER | 39
/www.gza.com
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