If your company handles or produces hazardous materials or hazardous waste, you are required to follow all of the rules and regulations set forth by Federal, State, and local governments.
If your company handles or produces hazardous materials or hazardous waste, you are required to follow all of the rules and regulations set forth by Federal, State, and local governments. Non-compliance carries heavy fines and sometimes drastic environmental impact. Here are 3 of the most common violations found during hazardous waste facility inspections and tips for avoiding them.
Determining and Documenting the Status of the Waste
You must define all of the waste that ends up on your site. Although you might handle waste that has come from another site, you still bear some responsibility for its ultimate fate. If you are unsure of what something is, then be sure to mark it as hazardous waste. Keep all necessary documents for both hazardous waste and non-hazardous waste. That way, it will be much easier to classify what size of waste generator you are for regulatory purposes. By doing this, you can make sure you are complying with the rules that you need to follow. You won’t accidentally cause any liability issues that could make your company look bad.
How Wide are Aisles in Storage Areas?
Storing waste is another part of the process. Sometimes, the waste can’t be destroyed right away. This means you will need sufficient space to store the containers until you can dispose of them. Making the storage aisles too narrow is another common violation. Make sure the aisles are wide enough to not present a problem during an emergency. Then, verify that all materials that are incompatible with one another are kept far apart.
Perform Regular Inspections of Your Site
You must also ensure that inspections take place every week. Ignoring or neglecting these rules could lead to future problems down the line that you can’t predict. One easy way to make sure you avoid this violation is by finding a good day of the week on which to get it done. Avoid Mondays and Fridays. It should either be Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Designate more than one inspector in case someone gets sick or is unable to come in on their assigned day. Keep a detailed inspection log that is easy to find and easy to read and understand.
WE CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR HAZARDOUS WASTE TRAINING AND DISPOSAL. CONTACT US TODAY!
No matter what kind of environmental issue you may have, AEG Environmental can help. We handle every situation with care, dedication, and a commitment to exemplary customer service. When you have an emergency, you can rely on us! Need training? We can handle that too! We train in a wide variety of environmental management areas so that your company can remain compliant with EPA, DOT, and OSHA. Make sure to check out our blog for the latest and greatest in the waste management world! You should also follow us on social media for updates.
Contact us today! Call Toll-Free: 1-877-876-1100
24 HR EMERGENCY RESPONSE: 410-494-7587