What is the best-selling book in our industry? The Portable Sanitation Association International Health & Safety Certification Manual. Written in 1992, the manual has become the standard for our industry. Now over 120 pages, it is constantly expanding as our industry grows and changes.
PSAI Certification is the secret to successful companies in our industry because it sets the standard for service and education.
Licensing requirements, accredited continuing education hours and/or re-certification, is different in each state, province or country. The certification program sets the official standard of skills and knowledge for professionals in our industry. The purpose is to ensure that portable sanitation companies are operating at a specific standard of excellence. This program provides industry-specific education, eliminating criteria that doesn’t apply to the portable sanitation industry, but might be currently required by regulatory and legislative agencies.
1,000 CERTIFIED WORKERS
The certification program doesn’t issue a license, but a Certificate of Compliance and Certification is voluntary. This amplifies its importance, as currently there are approximately 940 PSAI health and safety certified workers worldwide who hold active certification status. This includes representatives of the U.S. Army and NASA. These certified workers represent some 1,070 companies. Since 1992, 1,085 individuals have participated in the certification program and 35 participants have obtained a 100 percent test score.
The educational criteria were established to improve the health, welfare, dignity and safety of both the customers served and industry workers. The certification program provides minimum standards to regulatory agencies and legislative bodies to develop regulations surrounding the use of certified portable sanitation contractors. And it ensures the industry acts at all times to maintain and improve operations for protection of the environment.
With approximately five hours of educational training and review, program participants must successfully pass a written test of technical skills and industry knowledge to gain certification. Verification of portable sanitation work experience and listing of an approved disposal facility is mandatory. Once all criteria have been met, certification is valid for three years and then must be renewed.
The PSAI certification manual includes sections on Industry Standards, Portable Restroom Pre-inspection, Cleaning, Delivery, Placement, Pickup, Disposal, Wastewater Treatment, Winter Service Procedures, Spill Handling Procedures and Maintenance of Pumping Equipment. The manual also has segments on Americans with Disabilities Act, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and HIV/AIDS and hepatitis information, as these issues pertain to our industry. The U.S. Center for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Health and the University of Minnesota Epidemiology Department reviewed health concerns and provided subsequent informational criteria.
In 2007, sections on hand-wash stations and portable restroom trailers were added to reflect changes in our industry. In 2005, the manual was translated into Spanish for more widespread acceptance and use.
New for 2009 will be sections on freshwater flush and recirculating flush units. This latest addition has taken over a year to complete with a lot of hard work from the Certification Committee as well as numerous portable restroom manufacturers.
EXPERIENCED COMMITTEE
The PSAI certification program is the accredited educational licensing program for portable sanitation companies and employees in Alabama, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota. Sioux City, Iowa, and Rhode Island require portable sanitation operators to be PSAI-certified and/or have sanitation units meet certification requirements. The provincial department of environment in Nova Scotia, Canada, requires testing on PSAI certification servicing standards to maintain a regulatory license. PSAI certification is accepted for continuing education credits in all states requiring credits for licensing purposes. Copies of the certification manual and the service video are provided to regulatory agencies worldwide.
The Certification Committee includes some of the most experienced and knowledgeable members in our industry. Flay Anthony of Porta-Jon of the Piedmont is a PSAI past-president and was on the original committee that authored the manual in 1992. Another PSAI past-president, Larry Moore of A Company Inc., and current PSAI President Jeff Wolfart of Mr. John of Pittsburgh, serve on the committee. Other members include James Elliot of Ellco Rentals Ltd., John Simison of Bouse House Enterprises Inc., and Millicent Carroll, PSAI Industry/ Regulatory Standards.
The PSAI Certification Program is presented annually at the PSAI Convention & Trade Show and Nuts & Bolts Workshop, and can also be company-administered. For additional information, contact the PSAI office at 800/822-8320 or through its Web site, www.psai.org.
Jeff Wigley of Pit Stop Sanitation Inc., Marietta, Ga., is chairman of the PSAI Certification Committee.
