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Annex H
Outline Requirements for the Establishment of Temporary Site for Storage, Forensic Investigation and Sorting of Waste away from the Incident Site
As stated in Section 3.2 (f) of this document, sifting of the debris for investigative and other purposes, including recovery of human remains, personal possessions and items of value may have to be carried out at an off-site location. This may be required because there is insufficient space at the site; there exists a need for weather protection; there are particular sensitivities surrounding the incident or for other reasons. Waste material from the site may also have to be stored temporarily off-site pending the availability, or construction of a new facility, and approvals to dispose of it permanently. Emergency plans should recognise the likely need for the movement and interim storage of part or all of the accumulated waste to an appropriate and secure location to facilitate the forensic sifting process. This planning activity is best carried out locally and jointly by the Police, local authority and SEPA and other interested parties, and should be based on a notional 'best estimate' range of storage and working area requirements and lead to the identification of potential best sites.
Site Selection Considerations:
- Social Issues - must recognise the need for sensitivity about the movement and storage of waste containing (or potentially containing) human remains, personal effects etc and the need for effective communications with the public;
- Environment - Select a site away from sensitive environmental features, e.g. watercourses, private water supplies, conservation sites, etc (Site of Special Scientific Interest);
- Buildings - Select a site away from existing residential and recreational areas. Where possible the recovery, examination and evidential storage processes should be housed in a large building, e.g. an existing hangar, ideally situated between the primary storage area of unexamined debris and the post examination discarded waste. Secondary buildings, possibly of modular construction, will also be required within the main building to accommodate processes such as cold storage, detailed forensic examination and photography, victim identification, etc. A sheltered area should also be made available for the segregation and safe storage of materials intended for re-use or recycling purposes;
- Drainage - Waste material should be stored on impervious hard-standings with sealed drainage systems to contain surface water run-off and other process wastewaters incorporating drainage monitoring points. Tanker facilities to remove the contained waters including facilities for their treatment (physical and/or biological) need to be arranged;
- Services - Essential on-site services are as follows:
(i) Mains Water and electricity to all buildings;
(ii) Toilet with washing facilities;
(iii) Showering area within decontamination area;
(iv) Fixed and portable lighting;
(v) Portable heating and drying area;
(vi) Cold storage facilities for body parts e.g. refrigerated container;
(vii) Catering and welfare facilities;
(viii) First aid/medical/rest facilities; and
(ix) Health & Safety equipment/ PPE storage.
- Security - There is likely to be a requirement for round-the-clock security at the site, concentrated at the main entry/exit point(s) and at the forensic working area. An existing site already provided with anti-intruder fencing and appropriate security would be the preferred option;
- Vehicles - All vehicles used to transport waste from the incident site must be leak proof and may require to be covered to contain dust or prevent escape of wind-blown contaminated material;
- Traffic Movements - Depending on the scale of the incident and the volume of waste to be moved it is likely that significant movement of vehicles, many of them large bulk carriers, will travel to and from the site. Planning should therefore take into account the impact on other neighbouring interests from noise, dust, odours and pollution levels at and around the temporary site;
- Access - The logistics of moving large quantities of waste must be fully examined and best transport routes identified. Good, unrestricted access to the temporary storage area is essential and efficient entry and exit arrangements (possibly one-way system) designed and communicated to all drivers. All forms of transport, including road and rail opportunities, should be examined, costed and considered;
- Equipment Needs - In the examination and recovery areas equipment, as follows, is likely to be required:
(i) Heavy lifting/moving/cutting plant to manipulate large items for examination and storage;
(ii) Heavy duty conveyor belt system with grader facility for finer debris;
(iii) Mechanical excavator shovels to load conveyor and move out post examination materials;
(iv) Forklift to assist with transit of samples, etc within building;
(v) Conveyor belt examination system and sifting machines;
(vi) 'Dexion' type shelving/racking, or equivalent, on which forensic plastic storage boxes could be stored.
- Site Protection and Monitoring - Before and during the use of the temporary site, and following its decommissioning, ground and buildings condition surveys, supported by photographic evidence, should be carried out. Important features such as access roads, fences, and landscaping should be noted. Representative soil samples should be taken as well as water samples from existing watercourses and wells, etc. Such information can be used to demonstrate if physical or environmental damage has been caused and to ascertain the best remedial action; and
- Legislative Requirements - It should be recognised that prior to such a storage facility being deployed, registration and authorisation requirements may apply depending on the nature of the stored material and its uses.
THIS CHAPTER TO BE REVIEWED BY DECEMBER 2009
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