The Alpha Guide to Hazardous Materials Audits

For developers and business owners, it can be difficult to identify the right environmental consulting process for your commercial needs. Alpha Environmental specialise in a wide range of environmental consulting practices, and this week, we’re taking a closer look at one of our most popular services, the Hazardous Materials Audit.

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What is it?

A Hazardous Materials Audit is typically carried out prior to the commencement of a construction, demolition or renovation project. The goal of these audits is to determine whether there are hazardous materials present, what the condition they are in, and whether they pose a health hazard to human health if they are exposed or disturbed prior to the demolition works beginning. Some of the hazardous materials this audit is designed to identify include:

  • Ground storage tanks (both above and below ground)
  • Asbestos
  • Biological hazards
  • Hazardous materials such as chemicals
  • Ozone depleting substances
  • Lead paints and lead dust
  • Synthetic Mineral Fibre
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls

What does it entail?

A Hazardous Materials Audit entails having environmental consultant conduct research into the site, examine past hazardous materials reports, and inspecting representative areas of the site. The information gathered during this process is then used to assess the risks posed by the materials. A report of the key findings is then produced; this includes management recommendations for the site. The report will also form the basis of a Hazardous Materials Register listing.

 

What are the advantages?

A Hazardous Materials Adit can help to clarify the environmental management requirements of your site through determining what hazardous materials are present in the workplace, assessing the risks they pose to human health and the environment, and identifying what control measures are necessary to manage these risks.

 

Is a hazardous materials audit right for my business?

If you own an older building or former industrial site and intend to undertake some sort of construction, remodelling, or demolition project, then a Hazardous Materials Audit may form part of your legal requirement to manage hazardous material exposure risks in the workplace.

 

Alpha Environmental specialise in Hazardous Materials Audits for Melbourne businesses. To learn more about our capabilities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 9415 8002.