Stack testing involves significant hazards, particularly working at height. Proper safety measures and health checks are crucial for preventing accidents and ensuring legal compliance.
Hazards are not necessarily prohibitive so long as their risk can be managed and mitigated to an acceptable level. If the job cannot be done safely it should not be done at all, independent of all other factors, irrespective of all other pressures. As an industry we are pleased to report that there have been no fatalities associated with monitoring emissions from stacks this century, but there have been accidents and plenty of near misses. The law tells us that the single most important priority for all parties is health and safety.
Aside from the moral aspect of keeping people safe there is the financial cost of investigating accidents/incidents as well as any fines imposed. If that wasn’t enough to motivate you then there is also the possibility of going to jail!
Please make yourself aware of the contractor’s health and safety credentials. Any stack emissions monitoring contractor should be sending staff to your site who, as a minimum, have been deemed competent by the relevant professional body.
Experts in monitoring emissions
Envirocare are able to offer UKAS and MCERTS accreditation for every Environment Agency ‘Standard Reference Method’ and many more besides.
For more information please visit our Stack Emissions Monitoring service page, call us on 01274 738668 or fill out our quick and easy Envirocare Enquiry Form for any queries regarding Stack Testing, Emissions Monitoring, Sampling and Analysis or if you feel that you could benefit from our services in this field.
This article is part of an editorial written by Envirocare’s Technical & Quality Manager / Stack Testing Association Chairman Ray Pullen for the STA Annual Guide 2014.
