Small Business Self Assessment Tool (SBSAT 1.0)

Small Business Self Assessment Tool

(SBSAT 1.0)

Akhil Kadiyala

Ashok Kumar

Abhilash Vijayan

The University of Toledo

Objectives

The purpose of the project is to create a tool for small business owners to check if they are in compliance with regulations and laws that are applicable to them.

This tool helps small businesses in understanding the degree of compliance achieved and the areas they need to focus on to become compliant.

It awards an index to the businesses which helps in understanding the different avenues for improvement.

Methodology

Ohio EPA has issued a self assessment guide for Small Businesses to check if they are compliant or not.

The questionnaire from the self assessment guide is used to develop this tool.

Points are allotted to the business if they are compliant with the regulations.

Recommendations are provided to become compliaant in the end along with scores.

Tool Development

A tool has been created which gives a performance index to the small businesses and also provides suggestions on how to become compliant.

The tool consists of six sections namely water pollution control, air pollution control, wastes, spill prevention, emergency planning and toxic wastes.

Each section has a set of questions and for each compliance related question a score of either “1” or “0” is awarded.

Total scores in each section are tabulated.

Home Page of the Tool

Questions on Water Pollution Control

Identifying where the sanitary waste water is discharged.

Identifying where the process-related waste water is discharged.

Regulatory permits – NPDES permit

– Permit to Install (PTI)

– Permit to operate (PTO)

– 401 water quality certification

Keeping permits up-to-date

Screenshot of Questions under Water Pollution Control

Questions on Air Pollution Control

Identifying the air emission sources.

Permit exemptions for air emission sources.

Construction activities

Open burning

Regulatory permits – PTI

– PTO

– Notification of Asbestos activities

Screenshot of Questions under Air Pollution Control

Questions on Wastes

Disposal of recyclables and solid wastes.

Evaluation of solid wastes as hazardous wastes.

Classification based on hazardous waste generated.

Used oil and Universal waste

Maintenance and Storage facilities

Screenshot of Questions under Wastes

Questions on Spill Prevention

Quantity of oil stored.

Secondary Containment.

Employee Training.

SPCC plan and its review

Screenshot of Questions under Spill Prevention

Questions on Emergency Planning

Classification of chemicals as hazardous and extremely hazardous.

Notification of stored chemicals or spills

Toxic Release Inventory.

Cessation of Regulated Operations (CRO) program.

Screenshot of Questions under Emergency Planning

Questions on Toxic Substances

PCB items.

Maintenance.

Storage.

Disposal of PCB’s.

Screenshot of Questions under Toxic Substances

SBSAT 1.0 Specifications

• To run SBSAT 1.0 Microsoft Excel is needed

• SBSAT 1.0 can be downloaded from http://p2tools.utoledo.edu/ppistools.htm

• NOTE: “Development of an Environmental Compliance Tool for Small Businesses” has been published in Environmental Progress in December 2007 edition (online 5th November, 2007).

Evaluation Method The overall small business evaluation score is obtained by adding sectional

scores.

The sectional scores and overall scores can be seen below in the Scores screenshot.

Screenshot of Suggestions for Waste Water Pollution Control

Screenshot of Suggestions for Air Pollution Control

Screenshot of Suggestions for Wastes

Screenshot of Suggestions for Spill Prevention

Screenshot of Suggestions for Emergency Planning

Screenshot of Suggestions for Toxic Substances

Conclusion

• A user friendly tool that consists of YES/NO type questions has been developed.

• The tool provides a summary of all the applicable regulations that the company is in compliance and not in compliance with.

• The sectional score helps in the detailed evaluation of compliance related issues and take corrective measures to become compliant.