Hazardous waste disposal usually involves working with a professional environmental contractor who has the ability to safely and efficiently remove hazardous waste from your property while staying in compliance with local regulations. However, not all contractors are the same and there are certain things you need to check and ask your contractor before starting any hazardous waste disposal work on your job site Here are the top 5 questions you need to ask your environmental contractor:
- Do you carry liability insurance?
Every reliable environmental contractor needs to carry liability insurance. It would be impossible to offer clients and workers full protection without this type of insurance. Hazardous waste disposal is not a job that anyone can do. It requires specific skills and profound knowledge of the province’s regulations. It entails a lot of risks, which can only be minimized by carrying liability insurance. Although you may be seduced by lower prices for hazardous waste disposal, you should never work with a contractor that is not covered by liability insurance.
- Can you show me your waste management licenses, permits, etc?
All environmental contractors need licenses and permits to function as such in your area, which is the authority that creates the regulations for hazardous waste disposal. Your contractor needs to have a waste disposal certificate and, of course, all the necessary permits and license to conduct hazardous waste disposal in your province. Regulations are different for each province, which means that you need to make sure that your contractor is current with your province’s protocol.
- Are you WSIB covered?
What do you do if an accident occurs on your property and your contract is not current with WSIB? WSIB requirements are much stricter for hazardous waste disposal contractors than for other type of contractors. That is because hazmat disposal involves a variety of risks to the health and safety of the workers and the community. Why do you think you can’t remove and dispose of hazardous materials yourself? Why do you think such contractors require special permits and training? Hazardous waste disposal is dangerous and only qualified professionals can do it safely, which means that your contractor needs to be current on WSIB to reduce the risks of their employees.
- Do you have evidence of comprehensive procedures for disposal of waste?
You need to know that your contractor respects the law and follows a set of comprehensive procedures specific for hazardous waste disposal can only reassure you that you have made the right choice. They need to follow a protocol for each specific case and you are allowed to see that protocol. You are also allowed to ask questions if you suspect that your contractor may go around the procedures and violate that protocol.
- Do you have a list of clients already using your services?
Recommendations are always important in this line of business. Many companies get their clients from referrals, especially those with a good reputation. It is important to talk to current or former clients of the contractor and check work history in all respects. Online reviews may also be a reliable source of information and unbiased opinions, but it is always best to check with former clients on the phone or in person.
FERRO Canada takes pride in being a full trained, licensed and insured hazmat removal company. Our experienced team will give you the peace of mind you need when you need hazardous materials removed from your home or business. Call our C.R.A.S.H. Team at 1-877-429-7760 for 24/7 on-call service for hazardous waste disposal.
