Recently Valley Box Company helped a manufacturer solve an issue raised from their EHS department specifically pertaining to their Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). The #1 goal of a SWPPP is to eliminate water from contacting objects such as yard machinery, storage areas, or dead asset storage that may harbor pollutants on their surfaces. Go to State Water Resource Control Board for more information
SWPPP Challenge
The manufacturer had open storage crates used to store metal parts in their facility. For ease of access to the parts the crates were design as open tops, however the EHS department discovered that this design allowed for rain water to collect inside and eventually leak out the bottom into stormwater run off. This run off increased their iron levels and therefore needed to be remedied. They needed a quick, cost effective and easy to install solution.
SWPPP Solution: Vinyl Covers
Rather than redesign the crates to include a cumbersome wood lid, Valley Box Company suggested the use of custom vinyl covers. Jim Becker, packaging expert at Valley Box Company, explained that "Industrial vinyl covers can route runoff away from pollutant sources helping companies comply with SWPPP".
The manufacturer agreed that this was an easy solution to implement. The custom vinyl covers would successfully keep the metal parts from coming into contact with rain water and subsequently the stormwater run off. The orange 18 oz vinyl covers are weather, UV resistant, chemical resistant, virtually impossible to tear and have a life span longer than ten years outdoors. Employees set the covers on top of the metal part in the opening, pull down the sides, then tighten the drawstring to keep the cover snug. Keeping the vinyl cover tight is the key to prevent water from pooling on top.
Keeping up with SWPPP
If you feel like keeping up with SWPPP & OSHA regulations, constantly monitoring job sites for hazards, training English and Spanish-speaking workers and documenting safety programs can be overwhelming. Try checking out a company like Frog Environmental
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) departments are entities commonly found within companies that consider environmental protection, occupational health and safety at work as important as providing quality products, and which therefore have managers and departments responsible for these issues. Typically this department is in charge of the SWPPP Compliance.
NAEM is a professional association that empowers corporate leaders to advance environmental stewardship, create safe and healthy workplaces, and promote global sustainability defines EHS as:
| "Companies that aspire to be better environmental stewards invest in strong environmental, health and safety management, otherwise known as EHS. From an environmental standpoint, it involves creating a systematic approach to managing waste, complying with environmental regulations, or reducing the company’s carbon footprint." |
Still confused? Check out EHS Compliance, Inc. a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation who provides education and safety compliance solutions to other non-profit corporations and small businesses regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), other federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to the environment and worker health and safety.
