Measures for the employee against exposure to contaminated soil in event of emergency

Before you begin

• You can recognise contaminated soil from the following: 
  • strange odour and colour;
  • foreign soil materials such as asbestos, debris, asphalt, waste, etc.
  • presence of crusts (oil);
  • corrosion of existing cables and pipes;
  • presence of packaging from chemical substances;
  • vegetation which is entirely or partially dead;
  • or if you know that soil contaminating activities have taken place at that location. 
• If you suspect that the soil may be contaminated, contact your supervisor. 
• Determine together with your supervisor whether a solution to the problem can be planned, therefore whether the status can be lowered to a non-urgent problem recovery. 
• Determine whether the working activities can be carried out in another manner so that you do not have to work on contaminated soil.  Consider the following options: 
  • using an alternative route;
  • installing temporary emergency piping;
  • re-routing via another medium-voltage space;
  • laying the cable/piping above the ground until you can safely dig again;
  • using a generator.

During the work

• Mark out the work place and make certain that unauthorised persons can not enter.
• Use the following personal protective equipment: 
  • Protective company clothing and over it: disposable overall type 3-5
  • Safety boots
  • Nitrile gloves
  • Respiratory protection:  Minimum half-face mask with filter cans ABEK-P3
  • Goggles
• Do not eat, drink or smoke during the work.
• Wash your hands, arms and face when you stop working.
• Work as much as possible with the wind at your back.
• Place excavated soil on foil and cover it immediately. Cease work if there are serious physical complaints such as irritation, headache, nausea, and dizziness and report this to your superior. 

When the work is finished

• Clean the tool which came into contact with the contaminated soil.
• Put the disposable clothing and gloves used together with the filter mask in a refuse sack and remove it as hazardous waste.
• Clean the other personal protective equipment used and store it.
• Wash your hands, arms and face.