Among all the regulations that facility managers must follow, those dealing with hazardous waste are some of the most important… and the easiest to fall afoul of.
The main hazardous waste regulation that is often overlooked is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), a.k.a. the “cradle-to-grave” law. In simple terms, hazardous waste must be accounted for throughout its entire life cycle (generation, accumulation, transportation, treatment, disposal and post-disposal).
You could have the most stringent environmental, health and safety program at your facility, but unless you have these four core requirements in place, it will inevitably fail at some point.
The result could be…
A lot of people—maybe you’re one of them—put off going to the doctor for a checkup, an annual physical, or one of those screenings or tests that are so important as you get older.
It’s understandable. There’s a fear of finding out there’s something wrong, a comfort in not knowing. But avoiding the test can allow a medical issue to get even worse.
It’s the same at your facility. Even if you think everything is running smoothly, there may be issues in your processes, facility layout or features, equipment, or practices. These unrecognized issues can quickly turn into expensive liabilities.
As a facility or plant manager you are busy. I don’t have to tell you that. But I want to show you an easy and inexpensive way to take some of the load off and give you some peace of mind.
I saw an article in an International Facility Management Association (IFMA) publication a few years back that listed out all the daily tasks and responsibilities that fall to a facility or plant manager. They compiled over 36 items… and it was still growing… when they decided to stop counting.
