Progress At Wonder Lake Water Tower

Significant progress has been made on the deconstruction of the Wonder Lake water tower. Mobilization began on Wednesday, October 13. Prior to being on site, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. conducted a job specific safety assessment to ensure the protection of our workers as well as the neighboring properties.

Constant communication is relayed via radio communication between the laborers performing the torch work, the crane operator, and field superintendent. Daily toolbox meetings are conducted in order to determine what portions of the tower will be dismantled, review safety protocol, and discuss progress.

The local fire department visited the job site to inspect our operations; an additional random safety audit was conducted by our insurance carrier on the second day of work – both entities were fully confident with our approach to this project.

The field team assembled for this project has extensive experience. Each day ends with a debriefing of what went well, each team members responsibility going forward, and a review of what work will take place the next day.

Palatine, Illinois Asbestos Project

Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is preparing to mobilize in Palatine, Illinois for an asbestos abatement project at several shuttered commercial properties. Through a process known as Polarized Light Microscopy, lab tests revealed a variety of building materials that needed to be removed. The abatement and proper disposal will include floor tile, mastics, mirror glue, column fire proofing, and boiler stack insulation. The project is scheduled for completion by March of 2010.

Strong First Quarter for Environmental Work

Champion was recently awarded several environmental projects in Illinois and Wisconsin. A shuttered hospital in DeKalb, Illinois will be given a clean bill of health after we remove extensive quantities of asbestos containing material. The parcel, developed in the late 60’s, reflects typical building practices which were considered prudent: The hallways and patient rooms contain contaminated floor tile and mastic throughout; carpeted office areas are held down by ACM mastic; patches of ductwork insulation throughout the second floor is “hot” and will need to be properly abated. Nearly 200,000 square feet of hospital will soon be under containment in preparation of this project.

On behalf of the Milwaukee Housing Authority, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. will be providing asbestos abatement and hazardous material removal services at an 11 story residence tower in preparation of demolition activities. ACM materials is just a portion of this contract as we are also responsible for removal of asbestos PCB bulbs/ballasts as well as mercury switches.

As part of a Job Order Contract agreement with nationwide retail chain JC Penney, Champion Environmental Services, Inc. will be abating ACM floor tile and mastic from a store in Peoria, Illinois.

Winter Weather and Demolition

Our office has been receiving phone inquires over the past few weeks with regard to performing demolition during the winter months. The main question is, “do you guys work throughout the winter”? The follow up question is a simple “how”?

The first question is easy to respond to, yes; we embody a 365 – 24/7 mode of operation. That being said, there is extensive criteria that allows Champion Environmental Services, Inc. to maintain an industrious pace during wintery conditions. What follows is a cursory overview of how Champion Environmental Services, Inc. functions in unfavorable environs.

While most operations surrounding construction tend to slow during cold the weather months, advances in technology and safe guideline practices – tempered with experience, allows Champion Environmental Services, Inc. to perform demolition despite low temperatures and adverse conditions.

In general, working outside in cold temperatures equates with slow work and more frequent breaks. Champion Environmental Services, Inc. hedges against this assumption through proactive strategic planning that is job/site specific. Our workforce of operators, laborers, project managers, and filed superintendents are fitted with the finest cold weather construction gear which is comprised of warm, breathable materials that is conducive to safe, productive work. Additionally, project managers and field superintendents continually monitor weather and site conditions to determine a sensible approach to the task at hand.

So “how” do we get demolition done with snow on the ground or in icy conditions?

It is imperative that all the workers survey the site prior to starting operations to identify potential road blocks/challenges which may inhibit work or create hazardous situations. Attention to detail, however small or insignificant in appearance, must be noted. A laborer picking bricks who is unaware of a small patch of ice could easily loose his/her footing while sorting/stacking piles and slip. A fall on the sidewalk outside your house is bad enough, but falling on a construction site with debris scattered or while carrying heavy equipment could be serious, or worse, potentially deadly.

As I have noted before, a clean-operable site which utilizes a material segregation plan affords greater efficiency. A winter environment dictates that we sometimes, albeit briefly, use machines to move snow so that pathways are clear to get trucks in/out and keep areas open to separate recyclable items.

Dust suppression during demolition is a delicate issue to address. Freezing temperatures means freezing water; an encrusted citadel would preclude safe operations on any level. Experienced machine operators must be selective while razing a structure. A careful approach can mitigate dust – snowfall can be a beneficial, added deterrent to particulate disbursement.

Ultimately, weather does not determine our ability function, safety drives the decision making process.

Gateway Community Hospital Asbestos Abatement

Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is set to begin asbestos abatement at the abandoned Gateway Community Hospital in East St. Louis. The St. Clair County Board officially approved the contracts in a meeting Monday, October 26, 2009.

The following article concerning the job was published in the “Belleville News-Democrat”. The article was written by MIKE FITZGERALD.

Long tagged as an eyesore, abandoned hospital to be torn down
BY MIKE FITZGERALD - News-Democrat

BELLEVILLE -- The abandoned Gateway Community Hospital, long tagged as one of the worst eyesores in East St. Louis, is set to come down soon and possibly be replaced with a park, thanks to a vote Monday night by the St. Clair County Board.

The County Board approved two contracts worth nearly $623,000 with contractors to tear out and dispose of asbestos from the condemned building at 1509 Martin Luther King Drive and then demolish it and cart away the rubble.

"It'll be a great improvement for the city of East St. Louis," St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said.

Champion Environmental Services Inc., of Gilberts, won a county contract for $317,500 to remove and dump the building's asbestos, the contract shows.

Ahrens Contracting Inc., of St. Louis, won a contract worth $305,335 to raze the building, according to the contract.

Since its closure 20 years ago, the abandoned hospital has stood as one of this city's biggest and worst eyesores -- a magnet for rats, vandals and complaints, especially from parishioners at St. Joseph Catholic Church next door.

In March, the County Board agreed to pay a flat fee of $55,000 to SCI Engineering Inc., of St. Charles, Mo., to oversee the hiring of contractors to search for and remove asbestos from the building, and to tear down the structure.

Since autumn 2000, the old hospital had been condemned after East St. Louis city inspectors designated it unsafe.

Contact reporter Mike Fitzgerald at mfitzgerald@bnd.com or 239-2533.

Tragedy Averted – Local Demolition Contractor “Lucky”

Yesterday, a local contractor dropped the roof of a building on a demolition worker. Thankfully, the 45 year old survived the ordeal. The article below was published in the “Sun Times”. Video provided by ABC 7 News Chicago.

"Demolition Worker Rescued After Northwest Suburban Building Collapse"
September 22, 2009
STNGWire

A Chicago demolition worker escaped with only minor injuries after being trapped for nearly an hour when a roof collapsed during a scheduled demolition Tuesday afternoon of a Menard's store in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates.

Police and fire personnel responded to a partial building collapse in the 2300 block of West Higgins Road at 3:55 p.m., according to Arlington Heights police Sgt. Greg Poulos, who said the incident happened during a scheduled demolition of a Menard’s store.

A demolition worker became trapped under a roof, which collapsed during the demolition. Crews were immediately able to make contact with the man, who was trapped in a three-foot high pocket under the collapsed roof, Poulos said.
Crews provided the 45-year-old Chicago man with a radio to communicate with emergency personnel and also cut a hole in the roof to check his air quality. Crews then stabilized a portion of the roof and cut out an area to allow for the man to climb out of the space, Poulos said.

The man was rescued about 4:50 p.m. and was taken to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, where he was treated and released within an hour, Poulos said. He suffered only minor injuries.
Poulos described the worker as "the luckiest man alive," due to the three-foot high pocket, which prevented major injuries.

Members of the Hoffman Estates Code Enforcement and investigators from OSHA arrived at the scene and the remaining portion of the partially collapsed wall was safely demolished.

Link to video - http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=7027441 [Due to embedded code, I could only copy the link]

Why Competence Matters Part II

Let me preface my remarks so as not to be misunderstood: the referenced event below is tragic and our company is saddened by the loss of brother in the demolition industry. These remarks place no blame or opinion of fault with regard to the situation as much as highlighting awareness to the imminent dangers associated with demolition work.

A tragic case in Chicago reiterates a posting earlier this month with regard to worker safety and the overall competence of a demolition company.

On Tuesday, August 11, a 35-year-old demolition worker was killed when the front-end loader he was driving fell seven stories at a site on the Near South Side. The man was in a Bobcat that fell seven stories; the victim was pinned in and fire crews had to extricate him from the machine. The employee was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital at 10:08 a.m.

The companies at the project site were seasoned contrators and well versed in worker safety while demonstrating high competence with similar projects. If a highly regarded company can experience such misfortune that results in the loss of life, it only hardens my argument that expertise far outweighs low bid proposals in choosing a demolition company.

Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the family, friends, and coworkers of the victim.