What are the benefits of on-site testing?

DEFRA has recently estimated that £210 million per annum is spent unnecessarily on UK remediation due to poor site investigations. There are several reasons for this, but the high uncertainty created when constructing the conceptual site model by using the analytical results from very small number of samples is a major reason. On -Site analysis can be used to increase to number of samples taken, allow on site staff to direct where samples should be taken rather than making an educated guess and identify the contamination type and possible source. Significant savings can also be made during the remediation and soil treatment process.

Site Investigations

The On-Site methods used by QROS can produce analytical results within minutes of taking a sample. The speed at which results are generated from samples can be a huge advantage when investigating contaminated land. The primary advantage is that the investigators can react to data as it is generated. If an area is identified as being contaminated the sampling pattern can be adjusted to accurately follow the contamination plume and completely delineate the extent of the contamination. This removes the expensive requirement for multiple returns to the site to undertake further investigation to effectively complete the investigation.

On Site analysis techniques can analyse more than 50 samples a day. The more samples that are taken the better the conceptual model for that site becomes. Having a good conceptual model reduces the risk associated with uncertainty and inevitably leads to a lower overall remediation cost. This does not mean laboratory analysis should be ignored, because between 5 and 10% of samples taken should be analysed by an accredited laboratory to verify the on site results. The combination of fast results to manage the investigation and a higher sampling density allows an effective site investigation to be completed that has a robust conceptual site model that minimises the unexpected. The cost to do this is also much lower than using just laboratory analysis alone. On Site analysis is typically 4 - 5 times lower in cost than laboratory analysis.

Remediation and or disposal

QROS has undertaken numerous projects where remediation of the soil was required with the rapid results allowing the contractor to fine tune their equipment/techniques and be confident that the treatment process was working to its full potential. In the case of hydrocarbons the information that QROS provides can also be used to indicate the suitability of the material for the remediation  process. It was this approach conducted by QROS that primarily allowed the Olympics Groundworks Enabling Scheme to be completed three months ahead of schedule.

The old way of stockpiling potentially contaminated material on site or, if space is limited, sending the spoil off as contaminated can increase cost significantly. Waiting for laboratory results, even for 24 hours, means plant can remain idle, excavations left open or even temporarily refilled requiring re-excavation. Using QROS allows decisions be made within 10 minutes of the soil sample being taken.

The rapid nature of the testing provided by QROS also allows the contractor/consultant to decide if spoil can be sent off site or to an on site treatment process as it is excavated and/or loaded. If being sent off site, the soil can be correctly designated as hazardous, contaminated or inert.

With landfill costs running at up to £500 per lorry load for polluted soil and £3,000 per lorry for hazardous waste, it pays to make sure that each lorry load is what you think it is before it goes off site.

The validation of a remediation can also benefit from on-site analysis. On Site results can show that the area previously identified as contaminated has been removed and give confidence that the laboratory testing will also confirm that the area has been cleaned. Backfilling or concrete pouring can continue immediately minimising down-time for plant machinery or workforce. Soil going through an on site treatment process can be checked and used immediately, removing the need for more stockpiling.

Who will come to site?

QROS's on-site analysis is conducted by highly trained and experienced staff using instruments that have been tried and tested and even developed by ourselves. All our operatives will have generally in excess of 1 years experience of using the instruments and be familiar with any interpretation levels required.

All on-site chemists will have CSCS cards, general PPE and be familiar with site environments and working around plant machinery.

We can, depending on your requirements, either take samples ourselves from an agreed location or work alongside your own site staff analysing samples presented to us. All sampling conducted by us will be according to our sampling protocol.

What do you require from us?

We have very little site requirements to carry out our analysis. As our power requirements are low we can work from our vehicles and only require a safe place to park. If vehicles are not permitted on site or you would prefer us to be within your accommodation we would only require a small workspace (desk/table) and a 240V power outlet.

Do we hire out our instruments?

Yes we can, but a few points should be made first. There are two main considerations. The first is down to user training. As the on-site analysers become more sophisticated, the actual level of user input increases. Even relatively simple analysers need a significant amount of technical ability to get the best out of them. To get the best out of an instrument, the user must be well trained because it is relatively easy for an inexperienced user to miss instrument errors or to generate invalid data. Generating incorrect data usually leads to an increase in costs to the project and such data may not be obvious to an inexperienced user. To build up sufficient experience, a hirer would require as a minimum several days training on an instrument using real samples. This usually means the instrument would have to be hired for a few more days than is needed on site and the operator taken from their usual job and allowed to spend time familiarising themselves with the instrument. Alternatively the hirer would have to attend a suitable off-site training course. It is never good practice to hire an instrument, turn up on site and then read the manual and hope to be an expert.  Additionally, hoping that a person who has done some training 3 months ago can pass on this information to a second person rarely works either. For effective use of an instrument, it is paramount that the user is completely familiar with the technique by repeated and continual use. Moreover, for many instruments the data generated is retained by the instrument and needs downloading and converting into a useable format. This process can take many hours for a person who does not have the appropriate software and adds significantly to the time required to complete the work. This all adds to the basic cost of hiring an instrument. QROS chemists undergo at least 3 months training on an instrument before going unaccompanied on site because experience has shown it takes this length of time to gain the required competency.

A second consideration is the hidden cost of hiring a single instrument to do the job. The full benefits of on-site analysis are only realised if results can be generated within the day or faster. Hiring a single instrument does not include the contingency of instrument failure or damage. A failed instrument can lead to a delay of several days as the instrument is replaced or repaired and the benefit of the rapid on-site analysis is lost. Staff will be hanging around waiting for equipment to arrive or samples will need sending to a lab for the highly expensive rapid turnaround option. This can significantly increase project costs.

Consequently the way QROS operates is for the on-site chemist to come out, set up and operate on your site. Such an arrangement will give you reliable data, a level of independence from the results and a much higher certainty that the job will be completed within the required timeframe. If after reading this, hiring of an instrument is still what you need, please contact QROS for more information.