Anderson: Terrorism Adds To Hazardous Waste Rules

John Wolz

There is a new hazardous waste requirement to deal with, Thomas Anderson of Mid-South Wire warned WireExpo 2004 conferees.
“Go around your plant and see what materials a terrorist could use to disrupt your company or steal to make a bomb,” Anderson urged.
The Department of Transportation requires initial training and recurrent training every three years for those responsible for packaging, labeling, marking, completing shipping papers, selecting shipping names, loading, unloading or placarding vehicles for transporting hazardous materials.
“When the inspector comes in be cool, calm,” Anderson advised. “I”ve been in this for 32 years. Most of them are people just like you.
“Give them what they want.”
What they want is paperwork to see that you have been doing your job, Anderson pointed out. “They love documentation.”
“Keep all documents in one place,” Anderson advised. “Any manual is available for any inspector.” Normally if the paperwork is in order the plant does well in the inspection.
Anderson cited a recent inspection at one of his plants, which exposed some problems, but “three were knocked out in the same day and a fourth within a week.”
Personnel training can lead to the most violations. “Facility personnel must successfully complete a program of classroom instruction or on-the-job training that teaches them to perform their duties in a way that ensures the facility”s compliance. The training program must included emergency procedures,” he added.
“Think of training as annual rather than once and forgotten,” Anderson forewarned. “There are a lot of [outside sources] companies offering training.
“Ultimately the best thing to do is to abide by the law,” Anderson recommended. “One way or another they are going to get you.”
“At a minimum there are federal regulations, and you may face state, county and city requirements. States can meet or exceed federal regulations.”\ �2004 FastenerNews.com