The Portable Sanitation Association International is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Certification Program. This is just one of the cornerstones of PSAI membership.
The Certification Program began in 1992 in an effort to set the standard for skills and knowledge in our industry. Since then, over 1,200 individuals have taken the course and successfully passed the certification test.
RAISING STANDARDS
Certification is voluntary and all participants must attend 5-6 hours of educational training and review. At the conclusion of the classroom portion of this training, each participant must pass a written test of technical skills and industry knowledge. If the participant is a restroom company employee, they earn a certificate of compliance. If the participant is a PSAI Associate Member they earn a certificate of education. The training is the same for both, however the portable restroom operation meets the compliance of an approved disposal facility, while an Associate (supplier) Member would not. It is important to note that the individual is certified, not the company.
The PSAI Health and Safety Manual has evolved over the years to include 114 pages of training and reference material as well as a glossary of over 125 industry terms. Sections on industry standards and equipment include portable restrooms (pre-inspection, cleaning, delivery, placement, pickup), hand-wash stations, freshwater flush units, recirculating flush units, and restroom trailers. Other topics include disposal, winter service procedures, and spill handling procedures. The PSAI has produced a service video shown in training and provided to regulatory agencies on a worldwide basis.
Training goes beyond day-to-day job responsibilities of a service technician to include treatment at the wastewater treatment facility, and gives insight into the science of this process. In addition, the manual covers the Americans with Disability Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis information as these issues pertain to our industry.
PSAI Certification is the accredited licensing education for portable sanitation companies and/or their employees in Alabama, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and elsewhere. Other states such as Georgia are reviewing this program for accreditation.
Certification is valid for three years before renewal. With different continuing education requirements, the renewing process will require a full classroom session within six years. Once a person has active certification, there is never a need to re-test.
REACHING OUT
The program was translated into Spanish in 1993. History was made in May at the PSAI Board of Directors Meeting in Cali, Colombia, as individuals from South American portable restroom companies participated in PSAI Certification. The premise was these managers will now be able to train their service technicians and certification can grow even larger in these countries. In addition, this was one of the largest gatherings of an international audience for training outside of the U.S. and represents the international growth and scope of this program.
After 20 years, it is fair to say that this program is raising the standards throughout the world. If you have additional questions, please visit the PSAI website at www.psai.org, call 800/822-3040 or email info@psai.org.
