Bethel was retained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to remove a localizer platform located at the west end of Runway 8 at the Bob Hope International Airport in Burbank, California. The platform was constructed of wood decking, support beams, staircase, hand railings, and supported by subgrade concrete foundations. The wood was partially painted with lead-based paint (LBP). Previous analytical sampling of the paint found concentrations of lead as high as 11,000 parts per million (ppm). Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) lead results for samples collected by the FAA indicated that the painted debris had to be managed and disposed of as California non-Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) Hazardous Waste.
This project required diligent communication and coordination with FAA and airport personnel to ensure that all logistics were in place before the start of work. This entailed background screenings and all onsite personnel and attending a runway safety orientation before entering the active runway area where the project took place.
Bethel and their subcontractor workers complied with the site-specific safety and health plan which focused on Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) requirements for lead abatement. Site personnel donned the proper personal protection equipment (PPE) during demolition activities, including respirators, Tyvek suits, work gloves, safety glasses, steel toed boots, reflective vests and hard hats. The project was successfully executed ahead of schedule.
