Back to the Basics: “Common Sense” Reminders for Operating Systems

From time to time, we all become complacent in our daily duties, or maybe it seems like there are too many objectives to accomplish in a workday. However, working in the public health and environmental protection business is a significant responsibility!

Here are some key points to keep in mind when operating systems:

• Check the process - Monitor quality control parameters often! If the only concern is compliance sampling without knowing what’s happening throughout the treatment process, we’re setting ourselves up for failure.

• Use your senses - If it doesn’t look, sound, or smell right, it probably isn’t!

• Know your requirements - Missed samples are an embarrassment to the operator and the company. Pull your permits, know the sample schedules, and follow through. Sample early in the monitoring period and allow some breathing room!

• Read your lab results - Reviewing compliance data a week after the close of the previous month for reporting is a frequent practice, but a prime example of “wrong”. Review your lab results as soon as they’re available, compare them to your QC data, and adjust as warranted. We are the cause of most of our violations!

Remember that there is a wealth of experience on the CWS team - take advantage of it. Asking a question when you’re not sure is not an indication of weakness, but a trait of an excellent operator!