Is a Career in Environmental Remediation Right for You?

If you have worked in the construction industry, you know that confirming that the environment of the job site is safe from pollutants is an important job. The people who test and remove risky substances are a vital part of every construction project. If you think the career might be a good choice for you, here are a few things you should know.

What Is Environmental Remediation?
Knowing what you are digging into could affect your health and that of the people near a specific location. When you work on a construction site, the building process often stirs up dirt and water on the property. If the project involves demolishing existing structures, there might be hazardous materials in the building that you need to understand. Environmental remediation covers the inspection, testing, and removal of possibly toxic substances. Some of the contaminants are naturally-occurring but toxic to humans or animals. Others relate to outdated construction methods. In either case, the environmental remediation industry aims to control the damage.

Environmental Site Assessment
Before anyone can remove something bad from the job site, they have to know what’s there. That is the purpose of the environmental site assessment (ESA). There are a number of federal and state regulations governing best practices for conducting an environmental site assessment. They are set up in phases. Each phase is designed to perform a thorough inspection of the property. This includes testing of the soil, air, groundwater and existing structures. The resulting reports tell the person in charge what they need to do to prevent contamination.

Hazardous Materials Removal
Looking at things that could be a problem is one aspect of environmental remediation. Taking care of it is the other half. Hazardous materials removal depends on the type of pollutant you are dealing with. An old, underground tank full of questionable substances needs a different kind of removal than the contaminated soil around it. In some cases, treating the ground may call for removing a portion of the soil, neutralizing the toxic chemical and replacing it. People who work in hazardous substance removal typically need training and certification. That way, they can eliminate the danger without putting themselves and others at risk during the process.

Careers in Environmental Remediation
Jobs in environmental remediation offer a lot of options for someone who is interested, well-educated and engaged. In this field, you might work in:

• administration
• testing
• compliance
• excavation
• drilling
• hazardous materials removal

Careers in this field usually call for training in current regulations related to environmental contaminants, as well as any special functions of the position. People with a job in environmental remediation might work for a corporation to ensure compliance during building, Many also work for a company that specializes in these services. You could even be a contractor who offers them as part of your business.

Finding the right career for you depends on the kind of work that interests you. If you love the idea of making a better world for everyone in California, environmental remediation could be a good choice. To start on the path to your new career, contact CSLS today!