250 likes | 418 Views
Selecting the Right Emissions Monitoring Contractor for You. How to Meet Your Needs & Exceed Your Expectations. Adam May. Business Development Manager – Envirocare Technical Consultancy Ltd. Eight Years experience in the stack emission monitoring industry
E N D
Selecting the Right Emissions Monitoring Contractor for You How to Meet Your Needs & Exceed Your Expectations
Adam May • Business Development Manager – Envirocare Technical Consultancy Ltd. • Eight Years experience in the stack emission monitoring industry • MCERTS Level 2 Team Leader (Three Technical Endorsements • Member of IES & IAQM
Objectives when Choosing a Monitoring Contractor • Provision of accurate & reliable data • Meets regulatory requirements • On-time • On-budget • Clearly reported • Source a trusted partner • Development of an on-going relationship
What Questions should I be Asking? • What do I value most from my suppliers? • Do I want the best quality data at any cost? • Is my decision based solely on financial cost? • Do I want/need a knowledgeable partner? • Do I want to distance myself from the ‘hassle’ of monitoring? • Have you got experience of working in my sector?
Health & Safety • The single most important aspect to consider • Safe & sensible contractors on the host site • Safety of contractors • Safety of host employees • Damage to host property • Unnecessary time wasted on paperwork • All contractors should have up-to-date and relevant health & safety training • Risk Assessment & Method Statement
Accreditations • “Emissions monitoring from chimney-stacks should only be carried out by accredited test laboratories, using certified staff...” • Environment Agency (EA) requires monitoring to be undertaken by ISO/IEC 17025 for MCERTS accredited organization • Can the contractor honour what is required by your permit (legal document) • Look for the contractors’ UKAS scope of accreditation (www.ukas.org – for more information)
Added Value • Is accredited monitoring just a commodity? • UKAS & The EA put stringent requirements on what contractors can and can’t report • What about added value to the service? • Liaise with your regulator • Negotiate on your permit • Project design • Are you looking for a contractor or a project partner? • A good contractor will hold your hand as much or as little as you would like
Experience • Process & Sector knowledge • Applying methodologies can vary between processes • Whilst methodologies apply across the board, many contractors have sectors of speciality • Talk to other companies in your industry • Referrals are an important source of new business • Relieve your own anxieties • Reputation • What do other companies say about a contractor
Peace of Mind • Confidence in your contractors’ abilities • Will the job get done safely? • Will the job get done properly? • Will you get the best quality data? • Is the contractor focussed on you or getting in & out and on to the next job? • Will keep you in the loop at all times • There will be no come back • Will work with the minimum of inconvenience to you and your staff & processes
Response & Flexibility • How quickly can you come in/report by? • When do you need us/it? • How long will it take? • How much time have you got? Design a suitable schedule to meet your needs • Changes to agreed monitoring plan • After sales service • Do you continue to receive good service after the project has concluded
When Things go Wrong! • Emissions monitoring is not immune to difficulties. • Sample destruction/Accidental damage • Data loss/corruption • Process failure/Scheduling issues • How will your contractor respond?
The Fee! • If your choice of contractor is based solely upon cost, everything I have said up until this point is largely irrelevant • Cheap may be cheap for a reason • When comparing quotes, check that they are like-for-like • Is the contractor offering anything over and above that which is required?
The Cost of Getting it Wrong • Cost is clearly important, particularly if you make the wrong choice • Have you got value for money? • Do you need to pay again to correct a mistake? • Have you got accurate emission data? – What are the implications • Costs may not just be financial • Has it taken away your valuable time? • Has it affected your regulators view of you? • Has it altered your perception of contractors?
Summary • There are many aspects to contemplate when making the right choice, but please consider: • 1. Health & Safety and accreditation status • 2. Not making your choice on costs alone • 3. Give yourself plenty of time
Caring for the Environment & Creating Safer Workplaces • MCERTS Stack Emission Monitoring • Ambient & Workplace Monitoring • Environmental Consultancy • Training • Health & Safety Monitoring & Consultancy • Telephone: 01274 738668 • Website: http://envirocare.org