How To Choose The Right Emissions Monitoring Contractor

Choosing the Right Monitoring Contractor can be tough. We here at Envirocare want to make the process as simple as possible:

You can download our full Selecting the Right Emissions Monitoring Contractor for You PowerPoint presentation here.

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 You 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 Is 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

Are They Suitably Accredited To Undertake The Work?

• “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)

What Added Value Can The Emissions Monitoring Contractor Bring?

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 contactor or a project partner?

A good contractor will hold your hand as much or as little as you would like.

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

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

Cheap Contractors are Cheap for a Reason

• If your choice of contractor is based solely upon cost, everything I have said up until this point is largely irrelevant
• When comparing quotes, check that they are like-for-like
• Is the contractor offering anything over and above that which is required?

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 deciding how to choose the right emissions monitoring contractor, but please consider the companies Health & Safety and Accreditation status, not making your choice on costs alone and always give yourself plenty of time.

At Envirocare we are UKAS & MCERTS accredited for Stack Emissions Monitoring with over 14 years of expertise and experience within the field. We also offer Ambient & Workplace Monitoring, Environmental Consultancy and Training.

You can contact us either by telephone on 01274 738668 or by simply filling in our Online Enquiry Form.