Does your organization generate, store, transport, treat, or dispose of hazardous waste? If you answered yes to any of these possibilities, then you must comply with the regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). What you don’t know can hurt you, which is why environmental training is so important. Staying in compliance with environmental regulations can save your organization time and money and help you avoid civil and criminal penalties. At Environmental Works, Inc. (EWI), we offer environmental training for organizations in a variety of industries, helping them train staff and employees on issues facing their business. If you still doubt the importance of environmental training, scroll down to explore the many ways that you can strengthen your organization through education and hands-on training.
Environmental training will increase the level of knowledge within your organization. Your employees will better understand environmental regulatory issues affecting the organization, which will help your company comply with rules and regulations. Federal regulations are likely not your only concern; most states have adopted compliance rules that are more strict than federal rules in stringency and comprehensiveness, so it is critical that you carefully review both state and federal requirements.
Environmental training is recognized as an investment in your business. Improved environmental management can lead to cost savings if you are able to reduce your organization’s environmental liability. Taking part in an educational program and consulting with Environmental Works, Inc. can lead to the generation of ideas on how to improve your business’s current procedures. Most importantly, routine training will keep your business up to date and give you the best chance at maintaining environmental compliance and adopting best practices.
In some cases, environmental training is not a choice; it is a regulatory requirement. For example, nearly all environmental permits, plans, and approvals require annual training, including Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), generators of hazardous waste must also submit to regular training. If you aren’t sure whether your employees require training, contact an environmental consulting firm.
By properly educating and training your employees, you can ensure that your organization complies with the EPA’s regulations. Ignorance is not a defense if an inspector or other official finds that your organization is non-compliant with legislation.
Even though some of your employees may have undergone training in the past, this does not relieve your company from the requirements of training for years to come. Changes that occur within your organization result in the mandatory need for scheduled training to address the alterations. For example, if you modify a facility, renew a permit, update a plan, or hire new staff members, a training program may be needed. It is important for employees to stay up to date any time regulations are updated, changed, removed or replaced.
Environmental training is not just an investment in your organization; it is also an investment in your employees. With training, you can increase your employees’ engagement and help them better understand what the organization is doing and why. Your employees are more likely to follow best practices if they understand the importance of compliance. Knowing that you feel investing in them is worthwhile, your employees may feel more valued, which can lead to better retention rates. Remember that it is important for your employees to refresh their skills and knowledge on a periodic basis, especially if your employees deal with or are exposed to hazardous materials.
EWI is proud to offer comprehensive environmental training as well as health and safety training services. We offer a variety of programs to satisfy different organizations’ unique needs, and we design our classes to make the best use of your time. To enhance the training experience, we provide hands-on learning opportunities, and all of our programs are taught by knowledgeable and friendly EWI staff members.
Our courses are offered in a variety of methods to fit any client’s needs and can be created, customized, and presented to a specific companies’ training preferences by our team of regulatory experts. We promise to maximize the convenience and value of the program so that you can enjoy decreased regulatory misunderstandings and stress.
Specially tailored courses that are designed specifically for a client’s individual needs can be presented on site at their facility. This can be helpful when training is needed for more than a few employees or when training is required for a unique, upcoming project.
In industry, time is becoming increasingly more valuable, so we are pleased to offer an online training option. Similar to the on-site training, these online virtual classrooms can be created and customized to meet a client’s particular needs. They can also be designed as supplemental material to in person training.
We offer a full catalog of online and on-site environmental, health, and safety training classes.
This class is mandatory for workers who may be exposed to hazardous substances. This includes workers involved in clean-up operations, voluntary clean-up operations, emergency response, and the storage or treatment of hazardous substances. This class covers the dangers inherent to hazardous waste and safe handling procedures.
Do your workers participate in clean-up operations involving hazardous waste? This class is for them.
This course meets the requirements for eight hours of annual refresher training for individuals who have already taken the 40- or 24-hour HAZWOPER training class.
This two-hour course is designed for a wide variety of industry professionals who handle universal waste. The class covers correct identification, storage, and disposal techniques.
This two-hour course covers the basics of different types of regulated wastes and proper handling. This is not a substitute for 40 or 24-hour HAZWOPER training; however, it is specifically designed to provide a general awareness of RCRA regulations, employee responsibilities, and waste recognition.
This class is intended to help industrial facilities maintain compliance with their National Pollution Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs). Additionally, this class will satisfy the employee training requirements in accordance with stormwater permits issued by state or federal environmental regulatory agencies.
This three-hour course provides an overview of the SPCC and related pollution and prevention regulations.
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At EWI, our experts are able to prepare custom training solutions for each individual client. We’re passionate about keeping you and your employees safe and compliant. If you have questions about environmental, health, and safety training, Environmental Works is here to help. To learn more, please click here to contact us online or fill out a request for custom training options.
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