How Environmental Compliance is Necessary to Ensure Sustainable Construction
The construction industry is one of the largest industries and uses ample resources from building materials, equipment, to machines and natural resources. Apart from ensuring the construction of modern design infrastructure, there is one growing concern on the impact of construction on the environment.
A few decades ago, awareness of the impact of construction on soil and surroundings was limited, and research on the subject was scarce. However, the increasing number of floods, hurricanes, rain, forest fires, and volcanic eruptions is due to climate change caused by unsuitable construction methods.
In recent years, there has been a significant emphasis on renewable materials and methods in the construction industry. Apart from sustainable techniques, there is a particular focus on reducing waste and minimizing the extravagant use of natural resources.
The Importance of Environmental Courses
Contractors are responsible for managing every small and large construction task and ensuring that the process complies with federal rules and regulations. There are dozens of courses that a contractor needs to enroll and pass to manage government and private contracts.
Environmental compliance is one major component of construction that calls for the use of sustainable practices that ensure
- Minimum waste
- Improved operational efficiency
- Less use of natural resources
The environmental compliance course helps contractors understand all the laws, codes, and regulations proposed by the government to protect the environment. The purpose of the course is to let the contractor ensure that all the standards and requirements are followed that do not harm the environment.
The construction company and its contractors must adhere to regulations and follow safe operating procedures. The environment includes soil, air, and water. Enrolling and passing the environmental compliance course allows a contractor to
- Know about the existing environmental codes and regulations
- Identify the environmental rules
- Develop a compliance plan tailored to the scope and extent of a specific construction contract.
- Develop a checklist that includes all the essential codes, permits, and the amount of material, labor, and equipment required for the construction.
- Make a calendar to track all the progress, contract renewals, and permits
The primary advantage of online environmental compliance courses is to provide contractors and environmental managers with additional and valuable knowledge for managing the construction process. The program helps individuals know all about the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), compliance rules, and regulations.
eCertify is one established name that offers a wide range of certified online environmental compliance courses, such as
- Turbidity Monitoring for Dredging Operations
Dredging is an essential process for construction in ports and coastal harbors. The process involves the removal and treatment of large volumes of sediments. This course aims to provide individuals with the information to identify and mitigate the impacts of turbidity that can affect the marine ecosystem. Completing the Certificate will enable you to gain vital knowledge, effectively monitor, and make timely decisions to ensure safe water quality levels for wildlife and ecosystems.
- Sea Turtle Monitor for Construction
This course was designed to provide students with all the requirements and information necessary to become a Qualified Sea Turtle Monitor on Construction Projects. Some of the valuable aspects of the course include
- Identifying the type of Sea Turtles
- Knowing the living and feeding habits of the turtles
- The existing threats to the natural turtle habitat
- Monitoring the impact of dredging on the sea turtle activity
This course, developed by the USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) and dredging experts, considers all protocols to minimize the impacts of dredging on the sea turtle population.
- West Indian Manatee Observer
The West Indian Manatee is regarded as one of the most endangered marine mammals along the US coastal waters. The course includes all the details and requirements for becoming a Qualified Manatee Observer.
The course consists of three modules.
- Module 1- Background and details on Manatee
- Module 2- The threat and dangers to the Manatee population
- Module 3- The Manatee Observer requirements
This course is mandatory for individuals seeking to obtain a certificate and monitor the activity of the West Indian Manatee Observer during dredging and construction in coastal waters.
- Eastern Indigo Snake Observer
The Eastern Indigo Snake is found in Georgia and Florida, but is categorized as an endangered species due to habitat loss and degradation. The course complies with the updated USACE environmental regulations and helps individuals become Qualified Observers of Eastern Indigo Snakes. The topics covered in the course include
- Information and background on the Eastern Indigo Snake and its habitat
- How to locate and protect the Eastern Indigo Snake
- Displaying posters and distributing brochures on construction sites
- The environmental requirements are Pre-Construction, During Construction, and Post-Construction
This course is valuable for Site Safety and Health Officers (SSHOs), Quality Control Managers, and Superintendents who seek to enhance their career portfolios. For many, this course is compulsory, such as contractors working on government contracts in Georgia and Florida.
- Piping Plover Monitor for Beach Construction
Apart from sea and land animals, the environmental regulations also cover endangered birds. One such species is the Piping Plover bird, which is threatened due to environmental changes.
The Piping Plover Environmental Consideration course is specifically designed for contractors and individuals involved in government contract projects. The modules of the courses include
- Detailed information about the Piping Plover
- Living and Eating habitat of the bird
- Classification between Endangered and Threatened species
- Growing concern about the declining Piping Plover population
- Critical habitat and steps to improve it
The course is best suited for Environmental Managers, SSHOs, and also useful for workers responsible for dredging and those managing waste disposal.
Final Thoughts
The government-backed regulatory organizations constantly monitor whether construction complies with environmental rules. The most significant cause of concern is the removal of waste, and the potential addition of pollutants to lake or river waters.
The way the construction company disposes of hazardous materials is also crucial, and the compliance rules must be checked to see in which category the construction falls. Environmental managers also need to provide necessary training to their workers and employees.
It is essential to be aware of environmental compliance rules, particularly for individuals working in the construction field. eCertify offers online courses that you can complete to fulfill your training requirements. You can easily make an account and take the lesson at your convenience. Once you have taken all the classes and completed the course, you can download and print the certificate.
