SOIL PROTECTION ON CONSTRUCTION SITES: A TASK THAT REQUIRES SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS.

Construction sites involve heavy machinery and soil is moved from one place to another. Soil protection consultants advise construction specialists on how to avoid damage to the soil and loss of soil fertility on construction sites.
The Swiss Soil Science Society (SSSS) strives for high quality standards in the area of soil protection. With this aim in mind, the society has issued rules on the conferment of the “SSSS Construction Site Specialist” title and was involved in the setting up of a course for these experts by the ‘sanu’. This procedure was developed in close collaboration between the SSSS, cantonal soil protection authorities, construction specialists and the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN.

List

The list of all specialists who have up to now obtained the “SSSS Construction Site Specialist” title can be found in the German or French versions of this website.
Construction site specialists with additional expertise in other fields can be found in the SSSS service database (german or french).

Recognition procedure

Recognition requirements for the “SSSS Construction Site Specialist” title are laid down in the regulations. The candidates must possess sufficient qualifications and experience. Credentials and references must be presented as proof of qualification. Particularly the passing of an exam according to article 6, paragraph 2 is a prerequisite for recognition. Persons who wish to be recognized as “SSSS Construction Site Specialists” must submit their dossier by July 1 of each year. The dossier will be examined by the selection and recognition committee.

Supporting regulation

The current regulations, on the basis of which recognition by the SSSS is granted, were modified and approved during the 2005 and 2009 general assemblies.

The legal basis for chemical and physical soil protection (during construction) can be found here:

• SR 814.01 (german) Federal Act on the Protection of the Environment (Environmental Protection Act), of 7 October 1983 (Status as of 27 November 2001)
• SR 814.12 (german) Ordinance relating to Impacts on the Soil, of 1 July 1998
• SR 814.600 (german) Technical Ordinance on Waste, of 10 October 1990
• SR 814.680 (german) Ordinance relating to the Remediation of Polluted Sites (Contaminated Sites Ordinance), of 26 August 1998

On the national level, soil protection falls within the competence of the Soil Division of the FOEN. The carrying out of soil protection is largely under the responsibility of the cantonal soil protection offices.