Site visits

Some of the candidate tollers practices, records and documents can not be assessed using only a questionnaire form. A site visit to one or more of the short-listed candidate tollers is usually indicated. This is especially helpful if an unfamiliar toller is competing against a toller that is currently being used. Candidate tollers can use the information in this section to prepare for a site interview when one is requested. 

If an on-site visit is required at this stage, review personnel can usually obtain the information from the client through a brief visit. It consists of six parts  

At larger sites, it is sometimes more efficient for two reviewers to interview candidate toller personnel. In general, the senior site manager should be involved in the interview session unless the toller s facility is extremely large with several layers of operations management. It is assumed interviews will include the toller s technical personnel or specialists related to the proposed toll. 

An essential part of the on-site visit is the physical inspection of the toller facility—the walk-through. It offers the opportunity to confirm interview responses, observe work practices, interview employees, and note general housekeeping, soil contamination and safety issues. 

Field notes should be taken during the inspection to use in preparing a report on the visit. Observations should include the following  

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J. H. Ashworth, Y. M. Bihun, and M. La2ams, Universe of U.S. Commercial-Scale Anaerobic Digesters Results of SERJ/ARD Data Collection, Solar Energy Research Institute, Golden, Colo., May 30,1985 J. H. Ashworth, Problems With Installed Commercial Anaerobic Digesters in the United States Results of Site Visits, Rev. ed.. Solar Energy Research Institute, Golden, Colo., Nov. 6, 1985. 

The safety review report is distributed to the committee which meets to work its way through the report, section by section, discussing safety concerns and potential improvements to the process or procedure. An individual must be designated to take minutes at the meeting and record suggested modifications. If the review concerns an existing process, the committee should perform a site visit to examine the actual equipment. 

The company selecting a toller evaluates the data provided from each candidate and identifies which firms are qualified for a site visit. 

The company then uses the specific toller s completed questionnaire again during the site visit to verify that accurate information was provided and resolve open issues. 

Some companies have more detailed forms for the site visit. One example of an assessment questionnaire is provided in Appendix A, Sample Toller Pre-Assessment Qjiestionnaire. 

Ultimately, assurance of selecting an environmentally responsible toller relies upon research, the site visit and inspection. One on one communication with the tollers management and technical staff can help answer detailed questions about ... 

The confidential nature of individual records must be respected. During the site visit, the assessor may have to rely on the assurance of the toller s personnel manager to make a selection judgment. Some questions to ask when assessing a toller s personnel capabilities follow ... 

The candidate tollers security policy should emphasize the importance of protecting people, property and the operational practices against loss by intentional destruction or theft. During the site visit, check to see if appropriate methods are taken to control entiy and movement of people and vehicles as a security measure. One telltale sign is that you may be denied access to an area because of another company s confidential process. Though an interference, it affirms a sound security practice. Determine whether security inspections are being held during off-duty hours. 

It may be appropriate, based upon the hazards of the materials processed, for the client company to make a final site visit during the toll shutdown activities to review the toller s methods and completeness of process termination. This review could include termination status such as removal of all hazardous wastes and verification of associated documentation, and the adequate cleanup of equipment and the process area. 

During the site visit, auditors should identify any potential groundwater contamination sources or unusual odors observed at the facility. If any, explain. 

This annex of the Rules contains a flowchart identifying the key stages in the audit process from the initial request for certification through to issue of the certificate. Pre-audit is not a documentation audit. Supplier must provide all required data prior to site visit. 

Despite their limitations, surveys can play a role in assessing PSM program status. Surveys can be used in advance of each site visit to gather information that you subsequently review with facility staff and verify during a visit. This may reduce the time needed on-site. 

Encourage auditors and assessors to review and organize their notes as soon as possible after completing an interview or site visit. It s easy to lose track of insights and observations if too much time elapses, particulady when an assessment involves multiple sites. 

If you decide to collect information through on-site visits, it s useful to begin with a written interview format to help ensure that you collect the information you need. Using such a format also enables you to gather information consistently from location to location in addition, it improves continuity, especially if more than one person will be conducting the interviews. 

Site visits - Invitation to contractor to visit site to see for himself any possible site problems. A disclaimer against extras in the event that the contractor does not appreciate obvious site problems. 

The revamp objectives, constraints, and requirements must be clearly stated in a statement of requirement document transmitted to the engineering contractor. The document should be sufficiently detailed and require minimum interpretation so as to avoid oversights and unnecessary site visits. 

Relevant communications other than site visits... 

Emmel TE, Lee BB. 1983. Control technology assessment of petroleum refinery operations In-depth site visit report, Getty Refining and Marketing Company s Delaware Refinery, Delaware City, Delaware. Report to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cincinnati, OH by Radian Corp, Salt Lake City, UT. NTIS publication no. PB84-146901. 

Emission rates, modes, locations, and times must be described for each species studied. The emission work was done by Hydroscience, Incorporated (HI), of Knoxville, Tennessee. Emission characterization involved review of trade literature, files of the various states, EPA reports and data, and site visits and correspondence with staff of specific sources. 

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