Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) and Specialty Technical Consultants (STC) Publish Local Language Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Audit Protocol for France
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (PRWEB) March 22, 2018 -- Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) and Specialty Technical Consultants (STC) announce the availability of the newly updated International Audit Protocol Consortium (IAPC) EHS audit protocol for France. This protocol is STP's first to be fully updated in both the local language and English. Leading companies around the world use IAPC EHS audit protocols to understand the scope of their EHS regulatory obligations and rapidly collect, share, archive, and export audit findings in a cost effective manner. IAPC EHS audit protocols are prepared by STC in partnership with STP and continue to focus on those national (plus, in some cases, regional or provincial) EHS requirements that have site-specific application for manufacturing operations. As a leading EHS management consulting firm with a global network of experienced EHS teaming partners, STC has indepth knowledge and technical expertise of local/regional EHS requirements.
STP and STC maintain leading-edge EHS audit protocols for more than 30 jurisdictions. The protocol documents are written in English (some others will also be updated in the local language), and are available in MS Word, Adobe Acrobat and Excel formats, as well as through STP’s web-based portal or can be integrated into an existing company platform. Using the protocols’ custom templates and advanced functionality features, auditors can easily track audit findings and manage data over time to improve compliance, risk management and safety performance. In addition, STP’s formatting is compatible with leading risk management and sustainability platform providers.
Highlights of selected legislation covered in the newly updated protocol include:
• “Technical Note of 27 July 2017 on the Implementation of the Environmental Authorization Reform” was added to the protocol section for General Environmental. The Note, addressed to local authorities, summarizes the major changes in the procedure pertaining to the authorization of classified installations, which are implemented in amendments to the “Environmental Code” and other legislation.
• “Order of 29 February 2016 on Certain Refrigerants and Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases” was added to the protocol section for Air Emissions. It establishes requirements on tightness testing of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment containing refrigerants. It also establishes provisions regarding the disposal of refrigerants and equipment containing refrigerants. “The Order of 7 May 2007 on Tightness Testing Ensuring the Containment of Refrigerants Used in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment” was repealed as of 11 March 2016.
• “Order of 25 January 2016 regarding Greenhouse Gases Subject to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting” was added to the protocol section for Air Emissions. It updates the list of greenhouse gases under Article R. 229-45 of the Environmental Code and must be quantified, recorded, and submitted to the prefect by facilities with more than 500 employees in France. This Order repealed “Order of 24 August 2011 on the List of Greenhouse Gases Subject to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting as of 5 February 2016.”
• “Order of 31 October 2012 pertaining to the Verification of the Declarations Made in the Course of the Exchange System for Greenhouse Gases for the Time Period 2013 – 2020” was added to the protocol section for Air Emissions. It establishes the rules for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions, verifying greenhouse gas emissions declarations, and establishing monitoring plans.
• “Order of 26 November 2015 on the General Requirements for Installations using Hydrogen Gas in Classified Installations for the Protection of the Environment when Supplying Hydrogen Gas Powered Forklifts when the Amount of Hydrogen Present in the Establishment is submitted to Declaration under Heading No. 4715” was added to the protocol section for Air Emissions. This Order prescribes the provisions for facilities using forklifts powered with hydrogen gas.
• “Order of 23 May 2016 relating to the Production of Heat and/or Electricity using Non-Hazardous Waste as Recovered Solid Fuels in Installations Provided for this Purpose, Whether or Not Associated with Another Fuel and Classified under Heading No. 2971 of the Nomenclature of Classified Installations for the Protection of the Environment” was added to the protocol section for Air Emissions. The Order establishes the requirements pertaining to installations producing heat or electricity from non-hazardous wastes.
• “Order of 23 May 2016 pertaining to the Treatment of Recovered Solid Fuel for Use in Installations Classified under Heading No. 2791 of the Nomenclature of Classified Installations for the Protection of the Environment” was added to the protocol section for Air Emissions. It establishes the requirements pertaining to the preparation of non hazardous waste used as fuel in installations producing heat or electricity.
• “Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on Industrial Emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control)” was added to the protocol section for Air Emissions. This Directive establishes rules on integrated prevention and control of pollution arising from industrial activities. It also establishes rules designed to prevent or reduce emissions into air, water and land and to prevent the generation of waste, to achieve a high level of protection of the environment taken as a whole.
• “Order of 15 February 2016 Regarding Storage of Non-Hazardous Waste” was added to the protocol section for Solid and Hazardous Waste. The Order sets general requirements for Classified Installations storing non-hazardous wastes and replaces the “Order of 9 September 1997 On Domestic and Comparable Waste Storage Installations as of 1 July 2016.”
• “Order of 15 December 2015 on the Collection of Waste Tires” was added to the protocol section for Solid and Hazardous Waste. This Order establishes the requirements for the collection of used tires and replaces the “Order of 8 December 2003 as of 25 December 2015.”
• “Order of 19 December 2011 on the Evaluation of Building Demolition Waste Management” was added to the protocol section for Asbestos. This Order establishes the requirements regarding the waste evaluation prior to demolition of buildings with more than 1,000 m² that were formerly used for industrial purposes (including storage of hazardous substances). It also details the content of the evaluation report.
• “Order of 12 December 2012 on Evaluation Criteria for the State of Conservation of Materials and Products Containing Asbestos included in List B and the Content of the Survey Report” was added to the protocol section for Asbestos. It sets specific requirements for building owners concerning their obligation to conduct surveys of asbestos-containing materials and to identify and report certain materials. The legislation detailing List A was previously included in the Protocol.
• “Order of 14 December 2012 Establishing the Certification Conditions for Companies Performing Asbestos Removal or Encapsulation Work or Work on Asbestos-Containing Materials, Equipment or Articles” was added to the protocol section for Asbestos. This Order details provisions on certifying companies for asbestos removal, encapsulation work and other work involving asbestos-containing materials, equipment or articles with additional details on the accreditation of certifying organizations and the certification of training organizations.
• “Order of 7 March 2013 on the Selection, Maintenance and Testing of Personal Protective Equipment Used during Operations Involving Exposure to Asbestos Risks” was added to the protocol section for Asbestos. It establishes provisions on use of PPE during operations that involve asbestos exposure, such as providing respiratory protection devices to workers and training workers on the proper use and maintenance of these devices.
• “Order of 8 April 2013 on Technical Rules, Preventative Measures and Collective Means of Protection to be implemented by Companies during Operations Involving Exposure to Asbestos” was added to the protocol section for Asbestos. This Order applies to employers and workers who carry out work of removal or encapsulation of materials containing asbestos or who carry out work on materials likely to cause the emission of asbestos fibers.
• “Ordinance No. 2017-1386 of 22 September 2017 on the New Organization of Social and Economic Dialogue in Companies and the Promotion of the Activities and Responsibilities of Trade Unions” was added to the protocol section for General Health and Safety. This Ordinance comprehensively modifies the “Work Code” regarding (among others) the organization of health and safety services and the designation and activities of worker representatives within companies.
• “Decree No. 2017-1819 of 29 December 2017 regarding the Social and Economic Committee” was added to the protocol section for General Health and Safety. This Decree implements “Ordinance No. 2017-1386” and modifies the “Work Code” with respect to the set up and objectives of the Social and Economic Committee (SEC), which replaced the Health, Safety and Working Condition Committee (HSWCC) as of 1 January 2018.
• “Instruction No. DGT/DSS/SAFSL/2016/178 of 20 June 2016 on the Establishment of the Personal Account for the Prevention of Hardship at Work” was added to the protocol section for General Health and Safety. This instruction specifies how to implement an account regarding hardship prevention as introduced by “Law of 20 January 2014.” It specifically establishes the provisions for 2015 and 2016 and replaces the Instruction “DGT-DSS No. 1 of 13 March 2015 on the Establishment of Personal Account Regarding Hardship Prevention in 2015.”
• “Order of 20 November 2017 regarding the Inspection During Use of Pressure Equipment and Simple Pressure Containers” was added to the protocol section for Equipment, Machine and Electrical Safety. This Order implements Article R. 557-14-1 of the “Environmental Code” and specifies the general conditions for the installation and use, the declaration and commissioning, the inspection during use and periodic requalification of pressure equipment, as well as the modification and/or repair work performed on such equipment. It presents the obligations for operators of pressure equipment to perform a monitoring of their pressure equipment either through recognized inspection service (Service d’Inspection Reconnu) or through a risk based inspection. As of 1 January 2018, it repeals and replaces “Order of 21 December 1999, Order of 15 March 2000, Order of 18 August 2010,” and “Order of 14 December 1989” that previously established various requirements regarding pressure vessels.
• “Order of 11 April 2017 on General Requirements for Warehouses Classified under Heading No. 1510, and submitted to Authorization, including Warehouses under one or more of Headings 1530, 1532, 2662 or 2663 of the Nomenclature of Installations Classified for Protection of the Environment” was added to the protocol section for Fire Safety. This Order establishes general requirements for fire prevention in warehouses that fall within the specified headings of Classified Installations (see Section 2.0 - General Environmental). This Order repeals and replaces the “Order of 5 August 2002, Order of 23 December 2008, and Order of 15 April 2010.”
• “Order of 11 December 2015 pertaining to the Calculation Methods of Physical Parameters Indicating the Risk of Exposure to Noise and the Conditions for the Measurement of Noise Levels at the Workplace” was added to the protocol section for Industrial Hygiene. This Order presents the calculation methods for the measurements and evaluation of noise level at the workplace.
• “Decree No. 2016-344 of 23 March 2016 Setting a Binding Limit Value for Occupational Exposure to Styrene” was added to the protocol section for Industrial Hygiene. This Decree presents an exposure limit pertaining to styrene for all worker potentially exposed to hazardous chemical agents.
• “Order of 5 December 2016 pertaining to the Physical Quantities Represented by the Occupational Exposure Threshold Values and the Action-Triggering Values Describing the Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields at the Workplace” was added to the protocol section for Industrial Hygiene. This Decree establishes the requirements relating to electromagnetic exposure at the workplace.
• “Instruction of the Government of 30 July 2015 on the Reinforcement of the Safety of Seveso Sites against Malevolent Acts” was added to the protocol section for Chemical Management. This instruction prescribes the harmonization of information and alert systems, the required regular relationships between industry and the security forces, the development of prevention plans regarding technological risks, the relationship between the demand for transparency and the confidentiality of data pertaining to characteristics and operation on Seveso sites among others. It also required an inspection of each Seveso site by the authorities before the end of 2015.
Get more information about the range of International EHS Audit Protocols here.
About Specialty Technical Publishers
Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) produces technical resource guides covering environmental, health & safety, transportation, accounting, business practices, standards and law, offering comprehensive guidance on key compliance and regulatory issues. STP is a division of Glacier Media Inc., a Canadian information communications company that provides primary and essential information in print, electronic and online media. Glacier’s Business and Professional Information Group publishes directories, technical manuals, research and development materials, medical education, electronic databases, investment information and specialty websites.
About Specialty Technical Consultants
Specialty Technical Consultants, Inc. (STC) is a specialized management consulting firm working to enhance environmental health and safety (EHS) performance. Through its consulting services, STC partners with clients to strengthen management systems' design and implementation, and identifies needs and implements solutions to meet business objectives. Services provided include: EHS compliance support; risk assessment; EHS auditing; corporate responsibility and sustainability; EHS management systems development and implementation; EHS regulatory information tools; and EHS training.
STC is certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the Supplier Clearinghouse for the California Public Utilities Commission, and as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.
Lorraine O'Donovan, Specialty Technical Publishers, http://www.stpub.com, +1 6049833434, [email protected]
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