Removal of NORM
Cardem’s strength lies in its ability to offer its customers “turnkey” operations in the design and implementation of industrial dismantling. Cardem’s experience and skills cover all aspects of the demolition business, enabling it to offer a comprehensive approach to all issues relating to the partial or total dismantling of industrial facilities. Cardem and its staff have all the necessary qualifications to successfully complete their customers’ projects.
They pay particular attention to employee training, and implement a wide range of internal procedures to ensure the safety of all site personnel. QSE issues are at the heart of everyone’s concerns. Cardem teams are trained in the removal of asbestos, ceramic fibers, lead paint and NORM.
This competence is validated by certifications for these different activities. Cardem is able to mobilize human and material resources to set up an organization specific to each request, while complying with safety and efficiency requirements. For each project, Cardem works in partnership with approved laboratories and waste-disposal channels, guaranteeing full traceability of on-site activities.
Personal Protective Equipment
At the end of the project, a final report and a “ completed works file “ describing the processes, control, and validation analyses, as well as waste traceability, are submitted to the client and the supervisory authorities. 50 years’ experience in industrial demolition and dismantling has enabled Cardem to test, develop and extend a number of techniques and processes.
The company is constantly reviewing and monitoring both regulatory and technical issues, to ensure that its offer is perfectly suited to its customers’ projects. Personnel working on dismantling sites in nuclear environments are certified and have received “Radiological protection level 1 or 2” training. Cardem is able to propose alternative dismantling solutions.
This is particularly true in the highly specialized field of nuclear power, which is subject to numerous constraints in terms of safety and employee health protection. For some jobs it is recommended that the selected demolition contractor has experience dealing with NORM, with appropriate radioprotection and radioactive waste management with the objective of avoiding the need for off-site disposal of process plant at exceedingly high cost. For example, Cardem has assumed full responsibility for handling, transporting, and disposing of all waste resulting from the work, in safe, secure, and legally compliant conditions of an industrial site before its demolition.
A large proportion of the equipment present in the buildings showed a low or significant radiological markings. The removal of the NORM was done via a methodology that minimized the volumes generated and minimized the final disposal costs. It was thus proposed to take into account the notion of dose rate, and to proceed accordingly with the removal of elements with a radioactivity significantly higher than the background noise, but considered as not naturally radioactive within the meaning of the regulations (i.e. with a mass activity <1Bq/g).
Adapting to the rigors of regulations governing work in environments with ionizing has enabled us, as the work has progressed, to establish operating procedures adapted to the specific features of the equipment to be treated. These atypical jobs also require organization and administrative management as well as strict daily monitoring of employee exposure of employee exposure.
The organization we have put in place has also enabled us to reinforce our level of expertise during dismantling and decontamination work on industrial sites, and to strengthen our customer’s confidence. Cardem insured to the satisfaction of his client and that his interests were protected.
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This article can be found in the 2024 edition of the document. Find the full publication here:
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