Controlling emissions throughout a refinery requires more than state-of-the-art artificial intelligence or monitoring equipment. In fact, detailed documentation is a massive component of any LDAR system. Read on to learn three LDAR program record-keeping best practices that can optimize your operations.
Create Clear Record-Keeping Protocols
The most successful LDAR programs feature clear protocols that anyone can follow and are compliant with relevant regulations. To achieve this, your LDAR program must answer three specific questions—which records require storage, where does each record go, and how often does that information need updating? Furthermore, encouraging highly detailed record-keeping practices helps individuals better understand the correct record-keeping actions for different LDAR components and systems. Combined, these two best practice tips enhance your LDAR program’s accessibility and usability among technicians, auditors, and other operators.
Update Records According to Regulation Revisions
Rules and regulations concerning LDAR programs are always changing. Therefore, your program must possess the proper infrastructure to support regular record-keeping updates to comply with congruent law and regulation revisions. Keep your LDAR technicians updated on new components requiring LDAR monitoring, record keeping, and more, and utilize a user-friendly software system that allows for simple record-keeping revisions at any time.
Self-Audit Your LDAR Records
Self-auditing is a common process within the industry that incentives businesses to identify and rectify compliance issues independently, avoiding intervention from the EPA or other agencies. Overall, a self-audit saves both the EPA and the business itself significant amounts of money and time. Furthermore, incentivized internal investigations often produce more successful results than third-party inquiries. Self-audit your documents and record-keeping procedures regularly to eliminate compliance issues effectively. As a bonus, these internal record-keeping investigations greatly prepare your refinery for a third-party audit from the EPA.
Follow these LDAR program record-keeping best practices to ensure a successful, compliant, and safe operation overall. Another way to enhance the performance and capabilities of your LDAR system is to invest in quality equipment and software. Our team at LDARtools has the ideal devices and solutions for your emissions control needs. Order top-of-the-line LDAR testing tools to optimize your operations today.
