5 Common Hazardous Waste Violations to Avoid

In one of our previous newsletters "The Basics of Hazardous Waste Management - A Guide for Small Businesses", we covered the essentials of properly identifying, storing, transporting and disposing of hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). However, even with the best intentions, it's easy for industrial facilities to fall into common compliance pitfalls that can result in hefty fines of up to $37,500 per day from the EPA.

Here are 5 frequent hazardous waste violations to watch out for:

Not Securely Closing Waste Containers

Hazardous waste containers must be secured and kept closed at all times when not actively transferring waste. Leaving funnels in or containers open can lead to spills, releases of vapors, and failure to meet RCRA container management standards.

Improper Waste Labeling

All hazardous waste containers require clear labeling with the contents, hazard warnings, and accumulation start date. Using vague labels like "Chemical Waste" is not sufficient. Proper labeling ensures wastes are identified and managed appropriately.

Rushed and Incomplete Inspections

Required weekly inspections of hazardous waste storage areas should be thorough, checking containers, containment systems, emergency equipment etc. Simply walking through and checking a box leads to missed issues.

Inadequate Personnel Training

General hazardous waste training isn't enough - employees must be comprehensively trained on managing YOUR facility's specific wastes, including proper handling, storage, inspection and emergency procedures.

Illegal Disposal Down Drains or Regular Trash

Due to lack of training, personnel may be dumping hazardous wastes incorrectly, contaminating water sources or general trash. All hazardous wastes require proper containerization and disposal through permitted treatment/disposal facilities.

Don't get complacent and keep these common missteps at top of mind as you manage your day to day industrial waste activities. Make sure your training is updated and consistent with current onsite operations, and make sure it contains (at a minimum) container management, labeling, inspections and comprehensive personnel training. Let's make hazardous waste compliance a top priority and not a compliance program we might not be taking as serious as we should!

Not sure what's going on or if your waste is hazardous? We're here to help. Schedule a free consultation call with Premier Safety Resources and we'll get a quick intro call on the books. Learn more on our website or send an email to [email protected] to get the ball rolling!