In life, you might come across situations where you simply cannot rely on guesswork. For instance, you might be dealing with old equipment, land excavation, construction debris, or even unexpected hazardous materials; understanding when you must step back and get in touch with trained professionals can help prevent serious, even lethal accidents.
With that said, it is in your best interest to understand the early warning signs so you can protect yourself, your property, and your employees.
Read on to learn more.
Call Explosive Experts When You Detect Suspicious Materials
Here is the thing: one of the biggest tell-tale signs that it is time to call professional explosives experts is when you detect unidentified materials on your property. Yes, you read it right! We are referring to rusted objects, strange materials, and unidentified objects, especially on abandoned buildings and construction sites.
These suspicious materials can actually be the remaining parts of old mining operations, military equipment, and industrial remnants. The worst you can do is to pick up the items. It is in your best interest to keep your distance and contact professionals.
You Detect Chemical Fumes & Smells
You should know that if you detect strong chemical odors, especially acidic or metallic scents, there is a high chance you have dangerous and unstable materials nearby. These potential smells can be caused by leaking industries, old detonators, reactive substances, and degrading explosives.
You should know that strong smells like these should always be treated very seriously. The best you can do is to turn off any nearby equipment and alert trained professionals who actually know how to deal with hazardous materials without causing a dangerous reaction.
You Detect Sudden Vibrations or Ground Disturbances
Another tell-tale sign to watch out for is when you detect sudden shaking or trembling in specific areas. You might want to watch out for sinking soil, as it might indicate buried explosive remnants and underground chemical reactions. You should know that sudden vibrations are incredibly common on construction sites to the point that even small disturbances can be a warning sign that something more dangerous is happening beneath the surface.
Experienced professionals can rightfully evaluate the area with their specialized equipment and keep everyone safe.
You Detect Old Equipment or Structures Being Demolished
Now, here is the thing: if you are demolishing an older building or a storage site, you are at a higher risk of coming across hazardous materials, especially forgotten explosives or unstable chemicals. With that said, before you knock anything down, it is smart to bring in professionals who can perform a safety analysis.
The team of professional experts can rightfully identify the problematic materials, which can help secure the site properly. With that said, the team can also ensure that the demolition goes according to the plan and that no one has to go through unpleasant surprises.
Final Thoughts
You must also watch out for sites that have a history of previous use of explosives, such as an industrial site. Any site that was once used for military storage, mining, and industrial manufacturing can still contain dangerous leftovers.
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