By: Mike Arozarena
Since its inception in 2005, EHS Support has been a virtual environmental consulting firm – we are used to working remotely. Knowing that companies will still be required to keep up with regulatory training despite the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have the resources to help you virtually.
SPCC Training Regulation Requirements
The Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations require annual training of your oil-handling staff.[1] Training content must address the operation and maintenance of equipment to prevent discharges; discharge procedure protocols; applicable pollution control laws, rules, and regulations; general facility operations; and the contents of the facility’s SPCC Plan. Regulated facilities must schedule and conduct discharge prevention briefings for oil-handling personnel at least once a year to assure adequate understanding of the SPCC Plan developed specifically for the facility. Such briefings must highlight and describe known discharges or failures, malfunctioning components, and any recently developed precautionary measures.
There is tremendous flexibility in the specific content and method of training. As long as the training program addresses the required content and achieves the regulation’s goals, the regulated facility can decide how best to convey the training to its staff.
Virtual SPCC Training
For safety reasons, consider conducting annual SPCC training virtually rather than in person. Our experienced scientists and engineers routinely develop and certify SPCC Plans, and do SPCC audits for our industrial clients – we know the SPCC regulations inside and out. As a virtual company, we are prepared to provide remote training of your personnel, reducing their potential exposure to others. We can prepare or conduct the training (or both).
With some input from you, we can tailor an SPCC training program to your site to make the training presentation feel more personalized for your employees. For example, with your help, we can include photographs of stormwater outfalls, oil sources, and structural controls.
Bottom line – EHS Support understands all businesses are different and we are here to provide customized solutions to meet your needs remotely.
For more information on conducting your SPCC plan virtually, contact Mike Arozarena today at 513-773-5364 or mike.arozarena@ehs-support.com.
[1] 40 CFR §112.7(f)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michael Arozarena has over 33 years of technical and project management experience in the environmental field. His diverse work background includes environmental consulting, private industry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research Center. His areas of experience include plant-level regulatory compliance; EHS compliance audits; environmental permitting; stormwater and wastewater monitoring; aboveground storage tank testing; ambient air monitoring; and hazardous waste treatment technology evaluations… Read More
