ERI Environmental Resolutions

Every ERI technical and field employee has completed a 40-Hour Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training course. The course meets the requirements for intermediate level training under the U.S. Department of Labor. Topics covered in the courses include physical, chemical, and toxicological properties of hazardous materials; hazard evaluation and control; selection and use of personal protective equipment (including Level A protection [self-contained breathing apparatus and fully encapsulating suits]); safety sampling and monitoring techniques; and site entrance, decontamination and emergency response procedures.Ê Every employee receiving 40 hour training is familiar with the emergency response incident command system in the event of an active hazardous materials release. This training, along with 8-Hour refresher and supervisory courses, enables ERI to meet stringent OSHA training requirements for contractors working at hazardous waste sites.Ê All ERI field personnel undergo entrance and annual physical examinations paid for by the company.

In addition to the required 40-Hour Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training, ERI has successfully implemented a behavioral based safety program (BBS). The guiding principle of BBS is that every employee is responsible for his or her own safety. Employees are empowered at any level to stop work activity they feel may be a hazard to personnel, property or the environment.

We provide our employees with both verbal and written tools to help maintain a high vigilance against unsafe acts. One tool used is a verbal risk assessment where personnel on a job assess what risks are inherent to performing their work and how to remove those risks. Another tool used in implementing the BBS is the creation of written hazards analysis developed by a cross functional team that identifies hazards and determines how to correct them. As part of the BBS, we identify track and promote corrective actions in response to near losses and losses to minimize future reoccurrences.

As part of ERI's Injury Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), ERI requires employees as a condition of employment to follow all ERI and client required safety programs. It requires each employee to not only be responsible for their own actions, but their fellow employees' actions as well.

ERI highlights safety via a monthly newsletter and safety alerts/bulletins. These ERI publications discuss safety performance and focus on safety trends and incidents of near losses or losses within the company or experienced by other environmental firms. The sharing of these trends and events help employees recognize where extra safety attention needs to occur. ERI distributes safety alerts and bulletins both to employees and subcontractors to quickly spread the message to the people who need it to remain safe while doing their job.

ERI employees receive ongoing job-related training through over 100 ERI developed classes. These web-based and classroom courses developed by internal ERI staff who are experts in each subject allow employees to learn new skills and refresh their knowledge from past training. It also helps new employees to come up to speed faster and learn the ERI approach. For safety issues, this is extremely important.

One of the biggest risks to employees is the common act of driving to, from and for work. ERI addresses this high risk activity by requiring all employees who drive for company business to complete the Smith Driving program within the first six months of employment. The Smith System helps to improve employee driving skills with a focus on collision prevention through hands-on training.