I was supervising the installation of a groundwater monitoring well on a highly contaminated, hazardous waste site. The crew is dressed out in Level C protective clothing. Vapors were very strong, requiring respirators. The water contained behind the drill rig by the plastic is extremely contaminated and dangerous. Some of the water was splashed onto me and soaked through my protective clothing, and I didn't wash it off soon enough. I had a headache that wouldn't go away for 2 weeks, and a jabbing pain in my kidneys about 2 times a day for a week!

Here is my helper (a real human backhoe) uncovering an underground home heating oil storage tank. There wasn't enough room for a backhoe, so I decided to try removing it by hand. I will never do it this way again! unless I have to. We did get it out. Fortunately for the property owner, the tank had not leaked.