By Jeff Eriks, Cambridge Companies

February 1, 2017

 

What steps are necessary to work through an emergency response when damage has occurred to a facility?

What needs to get done to continue working temporarily and have zero downtime?

There is a multitude of reasons why a waste collection and disposal company may need a new facility. Some reasons include:

  1. Fire Damage
  2. Flood Damage
  3. Company Growth
  4. Eminent Domain
  5. Bad Neighbors
  6. Consolidation

Some situations allow for plenty of time to plan while others require a quick reaction to the situation. While the preferred method is to take the necessary time to plan, sometimes companies encounter times when they have to react right away. One of the most common reasons for emergency response in the waste industry is fire. A solution to fire damage needs to get created quickly, and at the most reasonable price. This will allow operations to continue with little or no downtime. No matter the type of facility, the proper steps need to be taken to evaluate its current state. The first step in the process is to contact the insurance company to make sure that they know an event occurred and can schedule an adjuster to come out to the facility.

Safety First

Initially, determine that the facility is safe to re-enter. Have a structural engineer or a trusted design-build partner assist in this process. Along with this, other professionals may need to verify that there are no other hazardous conditions. The professionals will address the steps needed to keep the entrance into the building safe. If the building is safe to enter, then the next step is to remove anything valuable from the facility that is salvageable. Once the facility gets emptied of necessary items, it is time to complete the analysis of the structure and for the design-build contractor and other professionals to present the options.

Read the full article in the Waste Advanatage Magazine February 2017 Issue