MHB were as appointed by a utility provide to assistance with contamination encountered during emergency excavation repair works for traffic light cable repair in the Shawfield area of Glasgow.
Given the sites location, Shawfield and Rutherglen area has extensive history with legacy contamination from the former J & J Whites Shawfield Chemical Works. Chromite Ore Processing Residue (COPR) product from the chromate production process and was used as landfill material in the south-eastern areas of the city as it has no commercial value. COPR contains high levels of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) which is a known human carcinogen of significant mobility. While most areas of Rutherglen and Shawfield are covered in buildings or hardstanding, which prevent people being exposed directly to the contamination, it has been leaching into groundwater and into culverted streams and sewers which have been flowing into the River Clyde for decades.
MHB undertook site works within a few hours of being notified with soil and groundwater samples being obtained for laboratory testing and contamination and waste assessments. Following the assessment and repair works, the excavation and carpark surface were reinstated.
