An Introduction to Pollution Prevention

Jim Newton, P.E., DEE

Course Outline

This six hour course provides valuable information for those individuals who operate and maintain a variety of industrial operations.  Completion of this course will provide the student the necessary information and testing to meet the continuing education requirements in order to renew their licenses.  It was designed by an instructor who has developed and implemented numerous similar training courses.  A companion course looks more closely at P2 opportunities at an industrial facility.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Understand the evolution of pollution prevention;
• Understand the benefits of P2;
• Understand the impediments to P2 use;
• Understand the steps in P2;
• Understand how P2 is defined;
• Understand the definition of sustainable development;
• Understand how to integrate P2 into core business practices;
• Understand who should implement P2;
• Understand when to begin the P2 process;
• Understand the lessons from past P2 efforts;
• Understand P2 program planning;
• Understand how core values affect P2;
• Understand how to select P2 program elements;
• Understand the P2 tools available;
• Understand the system approach tools for P2;
• Understand how to use P2 checklists;
• Understand how to establish a P2 program;
• Understand how to write a P2 plan;
• Understand how to implement a P2 program;
• Understand how to maintain a P2 program;
• Understand how to combine the traditional P2 approach with a systems approach;
• Understand how to address P2 in a very small organization;
• Understand what other P2 implementation approaches are available;
• Understand how to use an EMS approach to P2;
• Understand how to incorporate P2 into an environmental policy;
• Understand EMS planning;
• Understand EMS implementation;
• Understand EMS monitoring and measurement;
• Understand how to use a quality model to implement P2;
• Understand the seven quality model criteria;
• Understand the eleven quality model guiding principles;
• Understand the five step process to improve the P2 plan;
• Understand the extent of P2 planning;
• Understand P2 leadership considerations;
• Understand setting P2 goals;
• Understand focusing on P2 results;
• Understand using information and analysis in your P2 program;
• Understand process management considerations;
• Understand employee participation ion the P2 process;
• Understand how to focus on interested parties; and
• Understand P2 guiding principles.

Intended Audience

The intended audience for this course is any professional who is involved in the design, regulation, installation, operation or maintenance of an industrial facility.

Benefit to Attendees

Attendees of this course will understand how basic P2 concepts and how to implement P2 approaches.

Course Introduction

Pollution prevention (P2) is one of the cornerstones of an ISO 14001 certified environmental management system (EMS).  P2 has been evolving from a specialized environmental initiative to a mainstream business activity.  P2 offers significant benefits to an industrial operation and can result in significant cost savings affecting the bottom line of the organization.    P2 activities can also result in a safer work environment.

 

Course Content

This course is based upon the US EPA document “An Organizational Guide to Pollution Prevention”, EPA Document No. EPA 625-R-01-003, August 2001.

A companion CD-ROM is available from the US EPA as document number EPA 625-C-01-003.  This CD provides additional handbooks, manuals, worksheets and checklists and links to other P2 websites.  It is not provided as a part of the course material.

The link to the course material is as follows:

An Organizational Guide to Pollution Prevention (EPA Document No. EPA 625-R-01-003) (PDF file, 2 MB)

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

 

Course Summary

This course discusses the elements of a pollution prevention program including the basic concepts and various implementation approaches.   A companion course looks more closely at P2 opportunities at an industrial facility.

 

Related Links

For additional information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

US Environmental Protection Agency

 

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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