Page 52 - CARILEC CE Industry Journal_Oct_2019

Following the inventory, N.V. EBS took part in the prevent PCB from entering soil and water, reallocation of
environmental programs of the GoS regarding the new and out of service transformers for an efficient flow of
Stockholm Convention. As part of the GEF 5558 work as well as creation of storage for PPE and
Development and Implementation of Sustainable equipment waste contaminated with PCB oil. In addition,
Management Mechanism for Persistent Organic pictograms and safety signs are part of the reorganization
Pollutants (POP’s) in the Caribbean: “Rapid Assessment of the storage place.
and inventory of PCB oil and contaminated equipment for
disposal in Suriname” a mission was held in December LESSONS LEARNED AND
2016 in collaboration with the Basel Convention THE WAY FORWARD
Regional Centre for the Caribbean (BCRC- Caribbean)
and the GoS which was represented by the Coordination During the last ten years of developing, implementing and
Environment of the Cabinet of the President of the improving the management system, the N.V. EBS has
Republic of Suriname. The purpose of this mission was to learned that managing PCB is not an easy task.
identify PCB transformers and PCB oil by collecting Experience learn that training as well as open and
samples to analyze abroad with a GC. As mentioned transparent communication needs to be an ongoing
earlier two transmission transformers where found to process in order to educate the workers and make them
have a PCB concentration of respectively 570 and 164 aware of the important aspects that come along with
ppm and one drum of waste oil had a concentration of 53 working with PCB. Continues awareness raising of senior
ppm. The next stage of this project involves staff and management is of eminent importance in order
implementation of the recommendations made by BCRC to review the PCB management system and to make
such as tagging, storage and disposal of known PCB- resources available. It is important to integrate the
contaminated equipment and oil. management of occupational health aspects such as
providing personal protective equipment relevant to PCB
PCB AWARENESS RAISING and testing PCB concentration in workers. Integration of
occupational health and safety as well as environment
The second phase of N.V. EBS PCB management system will lead into the performance of a holistic approach.
focused on the “Do” phase which consists among other
things of communication, awareness and training, N.V. EBS has also learned that in order to phase out the
document control and operational control. With respect to transformers, an in depth inventory is relevant focused on
awareness raising, various awareness sessions are held the testing of all “old transformers” and the analyses of
for employees who work closely with “old transformers” PCB concentration. Since the GC is the only instrument
and PCB contaminated oil. Target groups are the line that gives the accurate concentration of PCB it would be
workers and transformer maintenance workers who are effective to have one up and running within the country.
directly exposed to PCB contaminated oil through for In order to keep improving the management system and
example maintenance in “old transformers” and removal finally phase out all “old transformers”, financial
of out of service “old transformers” in the distribution resources and a dose of collaboration, patience, support
network. Regarding awareness sessions, these are and understanding of all internal and external
focused on impact of PCB on human health and stakeholders is needed. To phase out the PCB
environment, risks analyses, waste handling and safety transformers within the company the N.V. EBS strives to
measures to comply with such as personal protection analyze all “old transformers” and will keep working in
equipment (PPE) to use when handling PCB’s as well as close collaboration with the GoS and BCRC.
training on sampling and analyzing oil samples.
CONCLUSIONS
PCB WASTE MANAGEMENT Overall, it may be concluded that until now a
All sorts of waste are produced during the activities management system conform the PDCA model has
regarding transformer maintenance and PCB analysis such shown to provide a systematic way of handling PCB
as absorption and cleaning rags, waste PPE’s such as gloves within the company to eventually lead to the phasing out
and used test kits. Prior to disposal of waste contaminated of all PCB containing materials. Through the data
with PCB, it has to be stored in according the standards. gathered during the inventory, it may be concluded that
up until now that one highly contaminated transformer
Because of the fact Suriname does not have waste has been found within N.V.EBS. However, there are still
facilities to destruct PCB waste, all produced waste has approximately 600 “old transformers” that need to be
to be stored according to standards in order to prevent tested on PCB. Continues training and awareness raising
contamination. At the moment, the N.V. EBS is in the have led to improved support and collaboration of all
phase of reorganizing a storage place for “old stakeholders for implementation of the PCB
transformers” and PCB contaminated oil. The management system in order to protect the environment
reorganization consist of placing an impermeable floor to and human health.

References
1 ABS Environmental Statistics 2018
2 https://archive.epa.gov/epa/aboutepa/epa-bans-pcb-manufacture-phases-out-uses.html
3 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dioxins-and-their-effects-on-human-health
4 National Implementation Plan Stockholm Convention 2011
5 Soil quality investigation report at the storage side at the NV EBS Livorno property by ILACO. 2016
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