At one time or another, businesses, contractors, government organizations, and even schools need the services of a professional waste management company. When waiting for a professional waste management company to arrive and dispose of toxic or hazardous materials, there are a few steps individuals should and should not perform. Here are a few do's and don'ts while preparing for environmental cleaning services to arrive on the scene.

Do:

Sequester the affected area.

Because it could take the environmental cleanup crew a few hours to arrive, in the meantime you should make the premises as safe as possible. One of the most effective ways to do this is by blocking off the area affected by hazardous waste. Use whatever markers or other equipment at your disposal to make it as clear as possible that nobody should step foot near the contaminated area.

Keep everyone calm.

After an accident where potentially hazardous chemicals or waste was released, you want to be firm and direct about passersby not wandering into the affected area, but you also should be as reassuring as possible. Communicate to them that help is on the way and make sure the situation does not slip into an unnecessary state of panic. 

Don't:

Try cleaning up yourself.

Unless you're a highly trained professional, cleaning up hazardous waste can be extremely dangerous. One of the worst moves you can make with toxic waste is trying to dispose of it yourself. Such a measure could have a multitude of negative health and even legal consequences.

Ignore or delay.

Whether you're dealing with an accidental spill or cleaning up a worksite, you want to make sure the environmental waste disposal crew arrives in a timely fashion. Don't delay reaching out to waste management professionals — it will only increase the risk of unintended consequences, including people inadvertently walking through the affected area.

Since 2001, Pacific Commercial Services has been providing businesses, universities, and even government departments working in the state of Hawaii with top-notch industrial cleaning and waste management services. For over 17 years, businesses and organizations across Oahu have come to trust their team to carry out their waste management needs with professionalism and expediency. Visit the environmental remediation team's website to learn more about their hazardous waste management services, or call directly at (808) 545-4599.