5 Mike Tanaka is scheduling the concrete delivery for a tilt-up office project in a suburban location. The job site has been set up so that the concrete washout area will be convenient for trucks leaving the site. However, it seems that the washout container was undersized and is close to overflowing with several trucks still scheduled. Mike makes a snap decision to have the concrete trucks switch to washing out into an unlined roll-off container that is being used for construction waste. The roll-off is located adjacent to the roadway that provides access in and out of the jobsite. Mike feels fairly confident that the concrete washout will safely dry in the roll-off without causing any issues and besides, once it’s in the roll-off it will be the trash hauler’s responsibility.

• What decisions might have led to having an undersized washout container? Who is affected and who should bear the cost of remediating the situation?

• As long as the roll-off container doesn’t leak, are there any issues with using it for concrete washout?

• Are there any other options that Mike could consider?