We received a call from an engineering company who described to us a fume extraction unit over chemical baths in a workshop (top picture) that had ceased working efficiently.
We visited the company and concluded with the customer that the extraction unit had probably not been cleaned since being installed some 20 years previously, and that there was considerable build up of solid material which was causing the problem.
The chemicals being used included heavy metals such as lead and nickel.
We prepared a Risk Assessment and Method Statement which specified that full breathing apparatus and chemical suits should be worn at all times, and that a CCTV camera would be placed into the extraction unit to allow continuous monitoring of the cleaning process.
Drainage rods and a jetting unit including a vacuum tanker were used to remove all built up material, and the customer could see on the monitor when the unit had been completely cleaned. All debris was pumped into suitable vessels and taken by us to a licensed recycling facility.
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