Module III
   
 
Lesson Five: Baseline BMPs
 
             

Examples of Good Housekeeping Practice

Good Housekeeping: Operation and Maintenance

  • Maintain dry and clean floors and ground surfaces by using brooms, shovels, vacuum cleaners, or cleaning machines

  • Collect and remove trash and wind-blown debris. Sweep paved surfaces as needed to remove accumulated dust and particulate matter

  • Regularly pickup and dispose of garbage and waste material

  • Cover open 55-gallon drums and palletized materials that may be exposed to weather

  • Make sure equipment is working properly

  • Routinely inspect for leaks or conditions that could lead to discharges of chemicals or contact of stormwater with raw materials, intermediate materials, waste materials, or products

  • Ensure that spill cleanup procedures are understood by employees

  • Report all spills. Promptly and completely clean and/or repair any spills or material leaks

  • Use automatic shut off valves for all fuel pumps

  • Do not top off tanks when filling

  • Install and maintain oil absorbent boots in applicable stormwater drains

Back to Top

Good Housekeeping: Engine Maintenance and Repair Areas 

  • Keep Engine maintenance and repairs indoor

  • Clean minor spills with rags, sorbents, or other dry methods

  • Keep an organized inventory of materials used in the maintenance shop

  • Dispose of greasy rags, oil filters, air filters, batteries, spent coolant, and degreasers properly

  • Label and track the recycling of waste material (i.e., used oil, spent solvents, batteries)

  • Drain oil filters before disposal or recycling

  • Store cracked batteries in a nonleaking container

  • Promptly transfer used fluids to the proper container; do not leave full drip pans or other open containers around the shop

  • Do not pour liquid waste down floor drains, sinks, or outdoor storm drain inlets

  • Inspect the maintenance area regularly for proper implementation of control measures

  • Train employees on proper waste control and disposal procedures

Back to Top

 Good Housekeeping: Material Storage Practices

  • Mix paints and solvents in designated areas away from drains, ditches, piers, and surface waters

  • Locate designated areas preferably indoors or under a shed

  • Storing containers, drums, and bags away from direct traffic routes to prevent accidental

  • Stacking containers according to manufacturers’ instructions to avoid damaging the containers from improper weight distribution

  • Storing containers on pallets or similar devices to prevent corrosion of the containers which can result when containers come in contact with moisture on the ground

  • Assigning the responsibility of hazardous material inventory to a limited number of people who are trained to handle hazardous materials

  • All chemical and/or hazardous waste containers are clearly labeled. Hazardous waste labels indicate the contents of the container and appropriate personnel to contact in case of a problem or emergency. Emergency information is posted in areas where hazardous waste is stored

  • All flammable materials will be stored in identified protected areas away from ignition sources

  • Inventories of hazardous materials are taken weekly

  • All stored and containerized materials (fuels, paints, solvents, waste oil, antifreeze, and batteries) must be stored in a protected, secure location away from drains and plainly labeled

Back to Top

 Bulk Fuel Tanks: (in Good Housekeeping: Material Storage Practices) 

  • Store permanent tanks in a paved area surrounded by a dike system that provides sufficient containment for the larger of either 10 percent of the volume of all containers or 110 percent of the volume of the largest tank

  • Maintain good integrity of all storage tanks

  • Inspect storage tanks to detect potential leaks and perform preventive maintenance

  • Inspect piping systems (pipes, pumps, flanges, couplings, hoses, valves) for failures or leaks

  • Train employees on proper filling and transfer procedures

Back to Top

Containerized Material Storage:(in Good Housekeeping: Material Storage Practices)

  • Store containerized materials (fuels, paints, solvents, etc.) in a protected, secure location away from drains

  • Store reactive, ignitable, or flammable liquids in compliance with the fire codes

  • Identify potentially hazardous materials, their characteristics, and use

  • Control excessive purchasing, storage, and handling of potentially hazardous materials

  • Keep records to identify quantity, receipt date, service life, users, and disposal route

  • Secure and carefully monitor hazardous materials to prevent theft, vandalism, and misuse

  • Educate personnel on proper storage, use, cleanup, and disposal of materials

  • Use temporary containment where required by portable drip pans

  • Use spill troughs for drums with taps

Back to Top

Outdoor Loading & Unloading : (in Good Housekeeping: Material Storage Practices)

  • Confine loading/unloading activities to a designated area indoors or in a covered area

  • Consider covering loading/unloading area with permanent cover (e.g., roofs) or temporary cover (e.g., tarp aulins)

  • Close storm drains during loading/unloading activities in surrounding areas

  • Avoid loading/unloading materials in the rain

  • Inspect the unloading/loading areas to detect problems before they occur

  • Inspect all containers prior to loading/unloading of any raw or spent materials

  • Using appropriate containment such as berm, curb guard, or dike in loading/unloading areas

  • Use dry clean-up methods instead of washing the areas down

  • Train employees on proper loading/unloading techniques

Back to Top

Good Housekeeping: Material Inventory Controls

  • Identify all chemical substances present in the workplace. List all of the chemical substances used in the workplace, and then obtain the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each chemical

  • Label all containers to show the name and type of substance, stock number, expiration date, health hazards, suggestions for handling, and first aid information

  • Clearly mark on the inventory hazardous materials that require special handling, storage, use, and disposal considerations

  • Improved material tracking and inventory practices, such as instituting a shelf-life program, can reduce the waste from overstocking, reduce the disposal expired materials, and increase the efficient materials use

Back to Top

Good Housekeeping: Employee Participation

  • Incorporate information sessions on good housekeeping practices into the training program to motivate employees to reduce waste generation

  • Discuss good housekeeping at employee meetings

  • Publicize pollution prevention concepts through posters

  • Post bulletin boards with updated good housekeeping procedures, tips and reminder

Back to Top

 
 
 
 

 

Copyright @ January,2005 Prepared by Transportation Environmental Resource Center (TERC)