Project Highlights

ACEC/SC Engineering Excellence Honor Award

S&ME Inc. performed various services including asbestos surveys, lead based paint testing, QC/monitoring, fuel management services and identification of existing coating conditions, recommendations for future treatment and development of a bid document to conduct removal of the existing coatings and re-coat areas of the exterior. Asbestos testing/surveys was conducted on various marine vessels to determine potential occupational and guest risk. Limited removal was also determined and monitored to eliminate high risk scenarios. The asbestos services were provided by in-house personnel with SCDHEC licenses.

Fuel and spill management consulting was performed to minimize potential petroleum releases. S&ME developed bid documents for the removal of over 300,000 gallons of marine fuel. The removal was conducted during non-operational hours and the fuel product removed was used as an alternate fuel for a fossil fuel plant reducing/eliminating fuel disposal costs.

Testing was performed of the exterior coatings on the island, hull and deck to determine the metals content due to environmental and occupational concerns Onsite direct read testing was performed utilizing X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technology.  A Niton XL 309 provided conclusive for the content of surface and buried lead reported in micrograms per squared centimeter (ug/cm2). S&ME personnel trained in accordance with OSHA, HUD/EPA s lead inspectors and risk assessors performed the onsite testing.

Recommendations were provided to repair the various areas and substrates (steel, copper, aluminum etc.), remove the existing coating, and re-coat the substrate under rigid quality controls both from an administrative stand-point and onsite observation.

S&ME then developed bid documents for the removal of existing coatings in a controlled process to control the spread of lead contaminants to the environment, and protect the public and tradesmen.  OSHA requirements are included to include but not limited to personal protective equipment and administrative controls in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.62.  Proper waste handling, storage, transport and disposal, and the overall minimization of waste was also addressed in the design. Monitoring for metals in the ambient air and adjacent water bodies project requirements which will be conducted by S&ME.  S&ME was awarded an Engineering Excellence Grand Award for this project by ACES-SC.

S&ME conducted a lead inspection, coatings inspection, design, and is performing onsite inspections with a NACE trained and a NACE certified inspector using in-house personnel.  These processes/services are consistent with those anticipated for bridge. Work complied with OSHA and SCDHEC/EPA requirements.