Environmental Audit Services - Action Plans and Corrective Actions

One of the most important aspects of any environmental audit is getting, not just the results (findings), but also the action plan (corrective actions).   Developing and completing the action plan is often the most complicated and time consuming part of the whole process.  The completed audit is truly only half the battle.

It can take a week or longer to put together a good action plan and too often this gets put on the "back burner" because of other priorities.  The resulting action plans are many times not worth the paper they are printed on.  Worse still, the problems identified in the audit do not get corrected and procedures are not put in place to prevent them from reoccurring in the future.

With ARS Environmental Reviews^TM, 100% completed action plans with corrective actions, regulatory standards, SOPs, references, target completion dates and responsible person(s) are generated at the closing conference before the auditor leaves.  As a result, work on the action plan can begin immediately.

All problems areas discovered during the audit are delineated on the action plan, along with:

• Detail Regarding Exactly What the Deficiences Were
• Corrective Actions (professionally developed by experienced experts)
• Responsible Person(s) assigned to implement the corrective actions
• Target Completion Date
• Actual Completion Date
• References to Company SOPs, Policies, Contracts, Manuals, etc.
• References to Regulatory Standards (DOT, OSHA, EPA, ADA, etc).

The action plan is a working document saved as a Microsoft Excel worksheet that can be edited by management staff. 

Everyone involved knows what has to be done, when it has to be done, why it has to be done and exactly who is responsible for each and every deficiency found on the audit. 

This 100% completed action plan helps to ensure that corrective actions are understood and are actually implemented so that the problems do not reoccur. 

For more information about Environmental Audit Services at The Carel Corporation, please checkout our website at:

Environmental Audit Services

Environmental Audit Services - Getting Your Audit Data Out is Easy

With any database application, entering your data is only half the battle.  Many database applications may handle data entry (inputs) reasonably well (or not), but then fail when it comes to quickly and easily producing meaningful results in the form of reports, charts/graphs, exports, etc (outputs).  Unfortunately, applications all too often look like something only your IT department would love to use. 

The learning curve just to figure out how to enter your audit data can be steep enough, but then you go to print something (to get the data out) and discover you have to fight the application all over again just to print even the simpliest report.  You will often be asked to enter "Parameters", "Date Ranges", "Generate" something called a "Query", etc., before you can even know what the report will look like.  Even frequently used standardized reports can require considerable training and expertise to generate (something the vendor will be happy to offer and charge you for). 

With ARS Environmental Reviews^TM, printing reports, charts/graphs and exporting data is just as quick and easy as entering the data was in the first place.  A single click on a button is all it takes to produce any type of output.  One-click Reports.  One-click Charts/Graphs.  One-click Exports.  One-click Screenshots.

Also, everything is automatically previewed first so you know exactly what you are getting before you produce the report, chart/graph, export, etc.  This makes learning how to use ARS Environmental Reviews^TM a snap. It also nicely accomodates the laptop user who may not always want to carry a printer around with them everywhere they go.

This "expertise" and "skill set" carries over to each and every report, chart/graph or export throughout the entire application.  Once you have mastered clicking on one button, you will have completely mastered the process for ALL of them.  In addition, it makes generating any kind of output a very rapid fire process you can learn with little or no training or reference to a user guide or, heaven forbid, the dreaded and never used F1 Help emergency option! 

Top 10 Things to Know About ARS Environmental Reviews^TM Reports, Charts/Graphs and Export Options:

1. With a Single Mouse Click on a Button You Can Produce Any Type of Output
2. Outputs are Always Previewed First (Nothing Goes Directly to a Printer)
3. Outputs can be Printed, Emailed, Saved as PDF Files or Converted to Image Files (BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, TIF), etc.
4. You Can Export Your Data to Excel and Create Your Own Reports and Graphs, Databases, etc.
5. A Printer is Not Required
6. Customization of Reports, Charts/Graphs, Exports, etc., is Available
7. Top N Reports, Charts/Graphs and Exports Take Only Seconds to Produce
8. Presentation Quality Output is Available for Use in PowerPoint Presentations, Word, etc.
9. Even Screenshots Can Be Used as a Report with a Single-Click on a Button
10. Very Little or No Training is Required to Learn How to Get Your Data Out!

To learn more about Environmental Audit Services at The Carel Corporation, please check out our website at:

Environmental Audits

1.  

Environmental Audit Services - Our Application is Simple and Easy to Use

You will be pleasantly surprised to learn that ARS Environmental Reviews^TM, despite the breadth and complexity of the material/subject matter covered by the audit, is very simple and easy to use.  Working with the application is by far the easiest part of the the entire audit process.

Even people who have never used or worked with a database application before can learn everything they need to know to use ARS Environmental Reviews^TM effectively with just a few hours of training.  Data entry into any of the modules is a simple straight forward process that typically takes only a few minutes.

Although there are over 75+ audit area data-entry modules, hundreds of reports, charts/graphs, etc., learning how to use any one of the modules immediately gives you complete mastery over all the rest.  The skills you learn using one, carries over to all the other modules because of the standarized layout.  Even printing sophisticated Top N reports and graphs is accomplished with just the click of a button.

All questions are answered exactly the same way throughout the entire application:

Y - Yes
N - No
D - No Detail Provided
A - N/A
X - Not Examined

The remainder of the data entry typically consists of a series of checkboxes that require clicking on the appropriate choices with your mouse.

For more information about Environmental Audits Services, please checkout our website at:

Environmental Audits

DOWN IN A HOLE

Your proposal was approved, the monitoring wells were installed, and everything has been running smoothly.  The next sampling event rolls around with no issues...until your field personnel approaches one of the perfectly installed wells and notices it is now leaning some.  Upon further inspection, the slope adjacent to the well has failed.  Put two and two together, and this situation has the potential to compromise the structural integrity of the well.  So what do you do now?

The Carel Corporation has recently faced a similar issue and while the solutions can be many and varied, we chose a down-hole submersible video camera.

The GeoVision down-hole submersible camera is a small camera on the end of a long, flexible cord designed to fit in the casing of the well.  The cord may be attached to a winch for more control in lowering the instrument down the hole and it can rotate 360 degrees for an all around inspection of the well casing.

Video is streamed instantly and the technician can immediately diagnose problems as the image appears on the screen, as well as save the data for later review.   

The video our field personnel shot by the down-hole  submersible camera was reviewed for any secondary damage that might have occurred from the slope failure.  The entire length of the inner casing was visually checked, paying particular attention to the casing joints.  Luckily, no structural damage to the well casing was observed, and the next step, repairing the pad, can be broached.

Environmental Audit Services - Top 10 Reasons to Use ARS Environmental Reviews

Top 10 Reasons to Use The Carel Corporation and ARS Environmental Reviews^TM

1. Audits are based on over 30 years experience and 1,500+ audits
2. Conducted in the same method an expert witness would review a case in preparation for court
3. Customized for your company's internal programs, SOPs and policies
4. Helps identify and focus on areas of opportunity for improvement
5. Consistently reduces environmental regulatory compliance and violation issues
6. Generates a complete Best Practices action plan at the close of the audit
7. Maximizes environmental, regulatory and other internal training programs
8. Reduces the inefficiency of paper and spreadsheet based data collection systems
9. The best way to ensure a company's internal safety programs are propertly implemented and maintained
10. Saves lives, serious injuries and $$ millions

For more information about Environmental Audit Services at The Carel Corporation, please checkout our website at:

http://www.thecarelcorporation.com/environmentalaudits.htm

Environmental Audit Services - Areas Covered by the Audits

Our Environmental Audit Service covers the following areas in a thorough and comprehensive manner:

Waste Management and Recycling

• Outside Housekeeping
• Inside Housekeeping
• Solid Waste Inventory
• Product Substitution
• Records and Reports
• Waste Transportation
• Recyclers and Destination Facilities
• Manifests and Bills of Lading
• Emergency Plans
• Universal Waste
• Recyclable Materials
• Lead Acid Batteries
• Appliance and Equipment Filters
• Vehicle Filters
• Spent Oil
• Aerousel Solvents
• Wipes, Rags and Towels
• Hazardous Spills
• Scrap Metal
• Used Tires
• Traps and Separators
• Electronic Waste
• Asbestos Containing Materials
• Hazardous Workplace Chemicals
• Bulk Storage

Storage Tanks

• Gasoline Tanks
• Diesel Tanks
• Hazardous Substance Tanks
• Used Oil Tanks
• New Petroleum Products Tanks
• Waste Tanks
• Propane Tanks
• Natural Gas Tanks
• Piping
• Dispensing
• Loading and Unloading
• Spills and Releases
• LPST and Corrective Action

General Administration

• Environmental Record Keeping
• Environmental Filing System
• Environmental Incidents
• Records Retention
• Staff Questionnaires
• Employee Training

Storm Water Management

• Pollution Prevention Plan
• Pollution Prevention Team
• Facility Description
• Site Plans
• Potential Contaminants
• Storm Water Controls
• Storm Water Monitoring
• Records and Certifications

Spill Prevention (SPCC Plans)

• Applicability
• Tier I Template
• Tier II Plan

Water Quality

• Sanitary Discharges
• Direct Discharges
• Groundwater/Wells

Air Quality

• Inventory of Stationary Sources
• Estimates of Emissions Inventory
• Fleet Idling
• Criteria Pollutants
• Dispensing Fuel
• Unloading Fuel
• MVAC Refrigerants
• Parts Cleaning and Solvents
• Paint Booth
• Surface Preparation
• Generators
• Halogenated Solvents
• Space Heating
• Building HVAC

In addition, the items being audited can be customized for your company to include standard operating procedures (SOPs), contract requirements, union rules, training programs, etc.

We can also help you with your Storm Water Management and SPCC Plans.

To learn more about our Environmental Audit Services, please checkout out website at:

Environmental Audits

New Service Offering - Environmental Audits

The Carel Corporation is pleased to announce a new service:

Environmental Audits

The Carel Corporation has partnered with Austian's Risk Services, Inc., to use ARS Environmental Reviews^TM to perform the audits. 

The Carel Corporation is also an authorized reseller of ARS Environmental Reviews^TM.

ARS Environmental Reviews^TM is the most powerful/effective tool to train a company's environmental and operation's management team so they can fully comprehend their internal environmental program and regulatory compliance.

ARS Environmental Reviews^TM is the best way to ensure a company's internal environmental program and regulatory compliance are properly implemented and maintained for maximum $$ results.

We will bring you more information about our Environmental Audits Service in future blog posts.

For more information about Environmental Audit Services on our website, please checkout:

http://thecarelcorporation.com/environmentalaudits.htm

For more information about our other Services, please checkout our Services page at:

http://thecarelcorporation.com/services.htm