You are here

Navigating Local/State Chemical Requirements (Conclusion)

Help for laundry operations to navigate local/state regulations

CHICAGO — Chemicals are necessary when it comes to the laundry process, and with the potential for personal and environmental harm, numerous regulations have to be followed regarding usage, storage and safety.

Federal requirements are often top-of-mind with chemicals, so operators might overlook local and state regulations.

There can be wide variations in chemical storage and use regulations, but most general requirements are based on national or international building and fire codes, says Eli Cryderman, director-technical services for laundry chemical provider Gurtler Industries Inc.

These regulations will specify the amounts of hazardous chemicals that can be stored on-site; the type of building, containment and fire protection required; and any other storage and use considerations. 

“Every state is different and it would require that an operator research what standards their local state agencies follow and who those state agencies are,” says Vaughn Minissian, director of operations for chemical solutions and water technologies company Norchem Corp.

“Local/state/federal requirements are varied, and operators should always employ a bottom-up strategy, focusing on local requirements first,” adds Ryan Cotroneo, chief technology officer for chemical manufacturer UNX Industries Inc.

“These requirements will likely involve the most audits (wastewater) and are specific to the community and the infrastructure (human/mechanical) they have in place.”

HELP FOR LAUNDRY OPERATIONS

Cotroneo says that a laundry operator’s “first line of defense” in navigating local/state chemical requirements is its vendor partnerships.

“Local requirements are generally not aggregated in singular place online,” he adds. “Operators will need to search for a specific requirement along with their county’s name and the associated regulatory body.”

“The local building, water and fire departments will be able to answer any questions and some will even provide a liaison to help ensure compliance with local laws and regulations,” shares Cryderman. “It’s best to have an initial discussion at the inception of the relationship and regular dialogue between operator and vendor with regard to regulatory compliance. 

“And vendors may want to ask questions of their own to prompt discussion about what is needed at the plant.” 

He shares that some questions that may help both operator and vendor understand the situation could include:

  • What type of training is needed to handle and use these products?
  • Is my facility equipped with the proper PPE and facility safety equipment? 
  • How will the containers be moved around the plant? 
  • Where will they be stored? 
  • Are there limits to the amount of chemical I can store on my property?
  • Are there limits to how much I can use or that can be in my discharge? 
  • Are there any special reporting requirements for this product? 
  • Is the facility permitted by the local wastewater treatment authority? 
  • What are the permit details? 
  • What is the local fire code in force? 
  • Do I need to notify the local fire department of the quantity and type of hazardous materials on-site?

Common mistakes at the local and state level are usually incidental to “unknowns,” the items that an operator doesn’t even know exist and is in violation of, Cryderman says. 

“An annual fire inspection may reveal that the operator is storing product in a room that is not designed to house chemicals, nor have the proper sprinkler density or environmental protections,” he shares. “A change in regulatory language could make a normally compliant use invalid overnight. Or a revised SDS includes a new hazard and concomitant change in PPE use. 

“Ignorance of the law does not absolve liability, and as such an operator should be proactive as part of their regulatory compliance tasks and partner with their vendor, local authorities and regulatory bodies to stay abreast of the current regulations.”

One of the areas that laundries should consider is the regulations of the local fire department, according to Steven Tinker, senior vice president of research & development, marketing, for Gurtler Industries Inc

“Fire departments will have requirements to provide information concerning the types and amounts of hazardous (corrosive) chemicals that may be stored on-site, especially bulk containers,” he says. 

“These regulations, permits and reporting requirements are generally fashioned after the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards. The regulations are designed to protect firefighters in case of an incident in the laundry that may cause a spill of a hazardous chemical.”

“Every operator should know their POTW and their state and local agencies that regulate hazmat storage,” Minissian says.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A proactive approach where both the vendor and operator collaborate is the best method for achieving local/state requirement compliance, according to Cryderman. 

“Chemical suppliers need to sit down with laundry operators and design the chemical program to be compliant with their facility and local wastewater regulations,” Cotroneo says. “Generally, a chemical supplier will have multiple programs for the same job in order to ensure that the operator is compliant while maintaining quality.”

“Always work with chemical vendors who can offer products that are compliant with local and state requirements,” advises Minissian. “Find chemical vendors that offer safer chemical storage, less hazardous discharge, safer chemical handling, and other risk factors that can be mitigated.”

“A vendor cannot supplant an operator’s environmental health and safety department, but they can provide technical information and help sleuth out local regulations and interpret the text,” Cryderman points out. “An operator can also help by providing information such as wastewater permit details, building occupancy ratings and aspects of their health and safety programs. 

“Together, they can help identify the requirements and determine the method to achieve compliance before any regulatory burden is unduly imposed.”       

Miss Part 1 on wastewater and handling-usage? Click HERE to read it. To read Part 2 on safety data sheets, click HERE.

Navigating Chemical Requirements

(Image licensed by Ingram Image)

Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].