Maintaining hazardous waste management is essential to avoiding dangerous problems for your workers, customers, and the environment. From a financial and legal viewpoint, the lack of an acceptable hazardous waste management solution could cause your firm to get into trouble leading to huge fines. Read on to find out more about how to correctly maintain dangerous waste containers, and in particular the importance of regular inspections.
Legal requirements for proper hazardous waste management
The UK Environment Agency is strict about the handling of hazardous waste. They have a comprehensive guideline that details waste storage, handling and segregation at regulated facilities. Key legal requirements to be aware of include:
- The need for safe hazardous waste management by ensuring waste handling is done by the most competent employees using the appropriate gear.
- Clear documentation of designated storage spaces and storage capacity, as well as the use of appropriate storage infrastructure.
- Regular monitoring and inspections of stored hazardous waste to maintain its integrity and avoid contamination or spills.
- Proper storage of containers ensuring not stacking containers more than two meters high.
Why are regular inspections of waste containers necessary?
An essential part of responsible industrial hazardous waste management is regularly inspecting waste containers and other storage and dealing with any arising issues. These daily inspections are conducted to assess if the waste containers are in good condition and provide no risk. Any problems that occur, including leaks, spillages, cracks and dents, and other quality issues, must be fully documented and resolved immediately.
What should be included in an inspection?
When planning a hazardous waste container inspection, you should include detailed information about the following:
- Details of any thorough visual inspections of the hazardous waste container’s state, noting any stains or leaks.
- Checking the structural integrity of the container to see if it has any bulging, dents, or corrosion, and noting any that you find.
- Inspecting the labelling to ensure it contains the relevant information on waste type and other essential information such as the risks it may cause as well as how to deal with any arising issues. The inspection should also cover management practices like container stacking and aisle space.
Without daily inspections and a maintained hazardous waste management system, it is easy for minor container issues to become bigger problems. Additionally, ensuring that the daily inspections are thorough will help you note any unusual container changes and allow adequate time to resolve arising issues.
Why work with an industry expert like Robert Hopkins Environmental?
Even though some organists conduct in-house container inspections, others find it more valuable to outsource this important duty to experienced firms for a more comprehensive hazardous waste management solution. An industry expert can save you time and money while ensuring your hazardous waste containers stay in top condition.
At Robert Hopkins Environmental, we offer a comprehensive hazardous waste management solution that allows organisations to identify risks and prevent potentially dangerous problems quickly. It is always best to prevent risky chemical spills instead of striving to conduct clean-ups after an unfortunate and preventable mess occurs. Contact us today to get your custom hazardous waste management solution.
