Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) and Specialty Technical Consultants (STC) Publish Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Audit Protocol for the European Union

USA - English

• USA - English

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- 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 the European Union. 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 now 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 50 jurisdictions. The protocol documents are written in English 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 developed protocol include:

• "Directive (EU) 2018/844 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amended Directive 2010/31/EU" on the energy performance of buildings and "Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency." The amending Directive introduced changes to heating and air-conditioning systems inspections. Among other things, effective output of the heating and air-conditioning systems was increased to 70 kW as a threshold requirement for carrying out regular equipment inspections. In addition, a requirement to equip nonresidential buildings with building automation and control systems was introduced for heating systems or systems for combined space heating and ventilation with an effective rated output of more than 290 kW. The covered requirements were amended.
• "Directive (EU) 2018/850 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 1999/31/EC" on the landfill of waste was adopted and Member States must transpose these amendments by 5 July 2020. The adopted changes further the efforts to ensure a progressive reduction of landfilling of waste and transition to circular economy. Among other things, the Directive strengthens the targets for reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills to 10% or less of the total amount of municipal waste generated (by weight) by 2035. Also, waste suitable for recycling or other recovery cannot be not landfilled as of 2030. In addition, the Directive sets forth new rules on the calculation of the attainment of the targets, early warning reports drawn by the Commission to Member States, and program reporting by Member States reporting. The Directive also requires Member States to use economic instruments and other measures to provide incentives for regulated entities to apply the waste hierarchy (prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling, other types of recovery, and disposal). The adopted changes did not impact covered content other than citation references and clarification in one Guide Note.
• "Directive (EU) 2018/849 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 May 2018" amended "Directive 2000/53/EC" on end-of-life vehicles, "2006/66/EC" on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, and "2012/19/EU" on waste electrical and electronic equipment. The adopted changes, however, in most part do not impact private industry. The changes affect reporting carried out by Member States. The only change that may impact private sector is the requirement imposed on Member States to make use of economic instruments and other measures to provide incentives for the application of the following waste hierarchy (prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling, other types of recovery, and disposal). Member States must transpose these amendments by 5 July 2020.
• "Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 May 2018" amended "Directive 2008/98/EC" on waste. "Directive 2018/851" introduced changes that aim to improve and transform waste management into sustainable material management, with a view to protecting, preserving and improving the quality of the environment, protecting human health, ensuring prudent, efficient and rational utilisation of natural resources, promoting the principles of the circular economy, enhancing the use of renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency, reducing the dependence of the Union on imported resources, providing new economic opportunities and contributing to long-term competitiveness. "Directive (EU) 2018/851" must be transposed by Member States by 5 July 2020. In terms of covered scope changes were made in a Guide Note to add information that Member States must set forth textile collection programs by 2025 and ensure the establishment of sorting systems for construction and demolition waste at least for wood, mineral fractions (concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics, stones), metal, glass, plastic, and plaster by 2020.
• "Regulation (EU) 2017/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on mercury, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1102/2008" became effective on 1 January 2018. This Regulation establishes measures and conditions concerning the use and storage of and trade in mercury, mercury compounds and mixtures of mercury, and the manufacture and use of and trade in mercury-added products, and the management of mercury waste. Introductory Notes and multiple questions were added to cover the scope of this new Regulation.
• "Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5 December 2013" laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation, and repealing "Directive 89/618/Euratom, "90/641/Euratom," "96/29/Euratom," "97/43/Euratom," and "2003/122/Euratom" establishes uniform basic safety standards for the protection of the health of individuals subject to occupational, medical and public exposures against the dangers arising from ionising radiation. This Directive repealed and replaced "Directive 89/618/Euratom," "90/641/Euratom," "96/29/Euratom," "97/43/Euratom," and "2003/122/ Euratom" from 6 February 2018, that is the date by when Member States had to transpose its requirements. This Directive updates, broadens, and consolidates coverage of issues related to ionizing radiation. In particular, it takes into account latest scientific findings, technological development and operational experience; covers all radiation sources; covers all exposure situation (planned, existing and emergency); integrates protection of workers, members of the public, patients and the environment; and harmonizes to the extent possible numerical values with international standards. Introductory Notes and all questions in subsections related to ionising radiation and high-activity sealed sources and orphan sources were updated to align with this new Directive.
• "Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the Protection of Workers from the Risks Related to Exposure to Carcinogens or Mutagens at Work" was amended by "Directive (EU) 2017/2398 of the European Parliament of the Council of 12 December 2017 amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the Protection of Workers from the Risks Related to Exposure to Carcinogens or Mutagens at Work." The amendments introduced occupational exposure limits (OELs) for the following additional substances: chromium (VI) compounds and chromium; refractory ceramic fibres; respirable crystalline silica dust; ethylene oxide; 1,2-epoxypropane; acrylamide; 2-nitropropane; o-toluidine; 1,3-butadiene; hydrazine; and bromoethylene. This Directive also changed OELs for two existing substances: for hardwood dust and for vinyl chloride monomer (Directive (EU) 2017/2398, Annex III). As the OELs are listed in an Annex to the Directive no changes were made to the covered content.

For more information on all International EHS audit protocols offered by STP and STC click 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.

SOURCE Specialty Technical Publishers