Emergency Response: Oversight Turn-Key

Specialty Consulting, Inc. (SPC) was engaged by City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) to perform an emergency cleanup and removal of asbestos-containing material (ACM) at Harold Washington College. This emergency arose when a general contractor disturbed suspected ACM without following proper procedures. SPC promptly tested the material, confirmed its ACM status, and devised a cleanup and removal plan.

SPC’s responsibilities included contacting regulatory authorities and securing immediate approval to commence asbestos work to maintain the aggressive construction schedule. An abatement contractor was hired, and the project was successfully completed within the specified timeline and budget. SPC provided comprehensive services such as asbestos testing, remediation design development, asbestos abatement, abatement oversight, and air monitoring, all on a rush turnaround basis.

A unique challenge of this project was the urgent nature of the contamination, requiring expedited procedures while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. SPC addressed this by preparing contamination cleanup procedures and abatement designs through a licensed asbestos project designer. The swift hiring of an abatement contractor enabled the rapid execution of cleanup and removal activities.

Through efficient planning and execution, SPC successfully managed the emergency asbestos remediation at Harold Washington College, ensuring the safety and compliance of the affected area.