Improper handling of materials and misgiuded activities can allow pollutants to enter sewers and stormwater systems. Such pollution can be prevented and reduced by training staff and conducting activities in safe environments. Staff will be more likely to follow directions if they are also educated about the objectives of best management practices.
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Train employees upon hiring and annually thereafter about stormwater discharge prohibitions and spill prevention. Supply them with reference materials and keep a copy of these materials on site.
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Provide all training and materials in the first language of employees.
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Keep training records with date, instructor and attendee information.
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Maintain information about any toxic chemicals that employees may encounter. This should include whether a chemical is hazardous, flammable, etc. and how to handle spills.
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Choose best management practices appropriate to your business by searching this database.
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Explain the purpose of best management practices and give employees a brief explanation of the consequences of pollution in our waterways. People are more likely to comply with directions if they understand why they are important and how they can personally benefit from keeping our creeks, rivers, and ocean clean.
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Post important safety information where BMPs must be used. Keep spills clean up information with clean up materials near storage areas, for example.
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Make compliance with BMPs convenient. Provide appropriate disposal containers, sufficient working equipment and time at the end of the shift for clean-up, etc.
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Ensure that there are open lines of communication for employees to ask questions. Before training, find out what issues employees wish would be covered.
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Consider what incentives you might give employees for BMP compliance.
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If problems are observed, address corrections and review it with employees. Document the corrections in your stormwater training records.
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Empower employees to suggest ideas for implementing effective best management practices and practical solutions.
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Consider sending employees to seminars to supplement their in-house training. Courses are offered through community workshops and business assistance centers for stormwater issues.
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