Don't Forget the EPA 608 Requirement

When a law has been on the books for so long, it's possible for it to be taken for granted, or even unknown to new maintenance managers. Since the mid-1980's, the government of the United States has required that all persons who open a system or container holding a controlled refrigerant must be certified.

Persons who work on stationary equipment or use refrigerant designed for these systems can become certified by passing a proctored EPA Section 608 examination. The most reputable HVAC training providers often provide this proctored testing for no or little charge in conjunction with regular maintenance training.

Candidates for this test can be certified in any of the three equipment categories below, plus Universal.

Type I - A Type I technician primarily works on small appliances such as domestic refrigerators, window air conditioners, PTAC's and vending machines.

Type II - Primarily works on equipment using a high pressure refrigerant such as HCFC-22. The equipment includes residential air conditioners and heat pumps, supermarket refrigeration and process refrigeration.

Type III - Primarily works on equipment using a low pressure refrigerant such as HCFC-123 or CFC-11. The units are primarily chillers.

Universal - Any candidate passing all three of these EPA types is certified as UNIVERSAL.

To pass any EPA type, the candidate must pass a CORE section, plus the desired Technician section. The test is four sections (CORE, I, II, III) of 25 multiple choice questions each. All must be passed to achieve UNIVERSAL. Each section is graded separately and a passing score is at least 70%.

No one would say this is an easy test. Study and preparation are required. And, again, a reputable HVAC course training company will often provide a study guide for the test upon enrollment. Require that from your trainer, and you'll have a certified team!

When Training Enters the Safety Equation

Doing things right is often the most cost efficient and safest way to go through life. Is there really any need for near daily workplace accidents? Is there really any need for expensive non-compliance fines? Is there really any good reason to avoid standards for equipment installation and use?

Too many injuries, too many deaths, too many fines, too many shortcuts by managers. And, that costs everybody more in the long run.

Some very basic training can go a long ways to helping out, also. At a low per person costs, knowledge is incredibly valuable. What, for instance, should every facility employee know about electrical safety? OSHA has an idea, and it is all spelled out by NFPA 70E and OSHA CFR 1910.331-335. A simple electrical safety training course based on that, helps fulfill the employer's obligation.

Electrical Safety Training should be designed to save lives and prevent injuries, as well as prevent damage to plants, buildings and equipment. Trainees need and can acquire an immense respect for the power of electricity. They need to be trained on personal safety for working on or around electrical systems and equipment, how to use proper materials and procedures working...and the potential consequences for themselves or others if they don't.

If you are considering training for yourself, or your team, be sure the course covers the following, at minimum:
How to identify electrical hazards
Definitions of "qualified" and "unqualified" electrical workers
Safe approach distances to exposed electrical conductors
Improvements in PPE
"Hot Work" rules
Working rules in wet spaces
Lockout/Tagout
Safety requirements for installations
Damage potential for people and equipment
How OSHA rules apply to the workplace
And, all about OSHA penalties and compliance

It just makes sense. And, it's the Professional way.

If I Ran a Plant...

I would audit it. I would audit the operations, the personnel, the business climate, the business forecast, the hiring forecast, or even the shutdown schedule. And, at the very base of every one of those audit items, I would have a check-off box for training.

Because, if I don't have a workforce trained to do their jobs in a safe, productive and efficient way, I should close the doors. Many plants are doing just that now. Shutting their doors. For all types of reasons. And, even in that process, equipment and facilities left un-maintained are of little or no value, either for salvage or re-use later.

Because, if I don't have a workforce trained well for their tasks, I can't run an efficient operation. And, I can be selfish. If I can't run this thing well, why should anyone want me to run anything? But, everybody on the team benefits when the machine runs right.

Because, if I need to hire new people, I don't have time to wait for them to "get it." We need help now to keep this operation in form. Bring me trained people...or give me a way to get them trained...quickly and economically. Training is a faith...and great plant managers put their faith in training. Source it in, or source it out. But, source it!

Call an expert in facility maintenance training today! Here's one: 303-718-1365!