Equipment decommissioning is the process of safely shutting down and removing old or obsolete equipment from operational use. It’s an important process once a piece of equipment has reached the end of its functional life because it helps prevent accidents, protect the environment, free up space for new equipment, and recover valuable resources.
On a surface level, equipment decommissioning may seem simple, but the most challenging aspect of this process is ensuring it’s carried out safely and in compliance with environmental regulations. For example, some machinery can contain stored electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic energy or could be in a confined space with limited access, which increases the risk of injuries if proper procedures aren’t followed. There may be environmental hazards, too, like PCBs in electrical equipment, mercury in switches and instrumentation, and asbestos in insulation materials.
The inherent risk of physical injuries and environmental damage underscores the importance of working with Environment, Health, & Safety professionals like Archview Services.
Professionals understand that equipment decommissioning isn’t a simple process—there are key factors to consider before starting a project, such as isolation requirements, industry-specific regulations, documentation guidelines, and more. That’s why the equipment decommissioning process always begins with an initial site assessment.
1. Initial Assessment
An initial assessment offers valuable insight into the equipment, its usage, and the potential challenges involved with decommissioning and removal.
Some of the key factors that professionals take away from the initial assessment include:
- The equipment history and usage.
- Any potential hazards or contaminants that may be present.
- The structural integrity of the equipment.
- Any environmental impact that decommissioning or removal could have.
- How the removal may impact neighboring equipment.
2. Safety Plan Development
When equipment is properly decommissioned and removed, it’s done in a way that significantly minimizes the risk of accidents, prevents damage to the surrounding area, and maximizes the safety of those performing the task. That’s where Site Health and Safety Plans (HASPs) come in.
HASPs are customized based on site-specific hazards but could include the following:
- Ensuring all power sources are disconnected.
- Implementing locking mechanisms or straps to prevent movement or shifting during transit.
- Using protective covers or padding to safeguard equipment.
- Properly labeling hazardous materials or substances.
The plans will also detail the equipment being decommissioned and which personnel will be involved in the process. They must also be compliant with OSHA and EPA regulations, industry-specific guidelines, and local and state laws.
3. Site Preparation & Permits
Once a safety plan has been developed, the next step is site preparation. This phase is primarily based on the findings from the initial assessment and follows any guidelines outlined in the developed safety plan. There are many elements to the site prep phase, including:
- Obtaining work authorization permits.
- Properly securing the area.
- Verifying site isolation.
- Implementing a lockout/tagout program to help prevent accidental activation of equipment.
- Flushing and cleaning tanks or piping.
- Disconnecting utilities.
- Performing environmental testing.
- Removing hazardous materials.
4. Removal
After the site is prepped, equipment removal can occur. Like most of the phases of equipment decommissioning, how this phase is carried out, including which techniques are used, is determined by the equipment that’s being removed.
For instance, most heavy equipment must be safely dismantled before transport, and construction equipment like cranes and rigging materials are used to lift the equipment safely and securely. Comparatively, if storage tanks are removed, excavation will be required if they’re fully or partially underground, which means that the site will also need to be backfilled once the tank is safely removed.
5. Site Restoration
The final step is restoring the site—a significant factor of equipment decommissioning is ensuring the process is carried out with as little environmental impact as possible.
Following the equipment removal, soil and groundwater testing are conducted to properly assess environmental hazards that may have occurred while the equipment was present. If any contamination is found, efforts are made to remediate the soil or treat the groundwater according to industry guidelines.
Another important aspect of this phase is to keep thorough records to provide to OSHA, EPA, and other governing bodies, including permits, testing samples, and disposal documentation.
Partnering With a Professional
Decommissioning and removing heavy equipment is a complicated process. That’s where Archview Services can help. We’re a value-added contractor dedicated to helping businesses in the Midwest maintain safety and compliance through our extensive experience in decommissioning and demolition, environmental site remediation, storage tank removal, EHS training and consulting, and more.
Visit our website to learn more about our capabilities, or contact us today to learn more about how we can help you during your next equipment decommissioning project.