CESSWI CERTIFICATION PART 1 – Questions/Answers

CESSWI CERTIFICATION PART 1 – Questions/Answers

CESSWI Certification ✔️Ans - Identifies Professional with a comprehensive
knowledge and understanding of erosion, sediment and stormwater
regulations.

Certified inspectors ✔️Ans - Recognized by state and federal regulators as
qualified professionals in their fields

NPDES ✔️Ans - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

Regulations Governing Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater ✔️Ans
- The Clean Water Act (CWA)
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
State and Local Regulations

CESSWI Onsite Roles ✔️Ans - 1. Being the Official representative onsite
2. A Fact Finder and Record keeper
3. An Enforcement Case Developer
4. A Technical Instructor

CESSWI Inspector Duties ✔️Ans - Must understand the measure necessary to
prepare for, conduct and report on an inspection and ensure the presence
documentation and exercise good professional judgement.

Safety Communication ✔️Ans - Talk to onsite supervisor before doing
Inspection

Safety ✔️Ans - First Consideration before going on any inspection site.
- Safety Plan and Current Site Hazards
- Hazardous Materials

Confined Space Inspections ✔️Ans - May be necessary when inspecting
industrial or post construction BMPs for stormwater collection and treatment
or underground vault systems

Never perform these inspection alone and always follow confied-space entry
procedures with Qualified Personnel

,Who, What, Why, Where and How ✔️Ans - - Who do you contact before
starting inspection?
- What hazards do you need to be aware of for the site you are inspecting?
- Why is safety important?
- Where do you need to go to if there is an onsite emergency?
- How do you learn more about safety?

Communication ✔️Ans - Understanding how to properly communicate with
people will determine your degrees of success as an inspector

Good Communications ✔️Ans - Professional, Courteous, Impartial, and
Consistent, Honest, and Accurate

Arrival Introductions (First Time) ✔️Ans - - Credentials and ID
- Purpose of your Visit
- Expectations, Compliance and Personal
- Follow Up Schedule

Preconstruction Meetings ✔️Ans - Clarify issues related to compliance and
demonstrating how each individual plays a role in maintaining site
compliance is important.

Precon Meeting Objectives ✔️Ans - -Clarify Stormwater Objectives
-Designate a Contact Person
-Determine if SWPPP will work for Schedule, and Work Activities
- Ensure Everyone reviews the SWPPP
-Remind Everyone that BMP are performance based and could require change
-Conduct Meeting Onsite
-Verify Schedules
-Discuss Maintenance Requirements for controls identified in SWPPP
-Discuss Containment, Storage and Spill Procedures of on-site Pollutants,
-Establish Open Communication

Inspector Duties (Communication) ✔️Ans - -Be Fair and Consistent
-Use Good Visual Observations
-Use Good Written Documentation
-Use Verbal Communication
-Follow up with Findings (Written/Verbal)

,Communication Issues ✔️Ans - -Investigate Issues (Never assume)
-Written Communication (Record Facts)
-Document - Maintain Written Communications by Law
-Control the inspection
-document all observations
- Do not be descriptive
-Provide Completion Dates for Corrective Actions
-Follow up Expectations

Difficult People ✔️Ans - -Act like a Professional
-Clarify the issue
-Handle the problem immediately
-Allow the person to be part of the solution
-Agree on a solution

Why is Documentation Important? ✔️Ans - Because of possibility of legal
action related to erosion and sediment control and stormwater activity, it's
critical to have accurate and thorough records. Your only proof of site
Conditions are pictures and written records.

Inspection Report Objectives ✔️Ans - -Formalize inspection criteria
-Be Fair, accurate and Consistent in assessments
-Follow up and expect results

Notes Taken During Inspection ✔️Ans - - Be Specific, Facts not opinions
-Identify proper personnel
-Avoid Vague Terminology
-Record Critical data
-Initial and Date all Revisions
- Use ink and markers, not pencils
-Store Documentation in Central location

Photos During Inspection ✔️Ans - Picture worth a thousand words
- Document date, time, & Location
-Note Location point and direction from which picture is take from site map
-Use video to capture motion
-Take all pictures necessary to document site conditions
-Geo Reference or Photo Log specifying location

, May be used as evidence in legal proceedings

Reporting ✔️Ans - The creation and implementation of a reporting system is
the first step to accurately reflect site conditions.

Sample Inspection Forms ✔️Ans - EPA Website or Appendix B of General
Principles Review Manual

Good Reporting Practices ✔️Ans - - Complete and Factual Records
- Support Potential Enforcement Action
- Communicate with others
- Document what you see, do not speculate or assume
-Report What you observe on that day
-Make Objective observation only
-Do not make personal observations about people
- Provide Copy of Findings to appropriate parties

Conclusions of Inspection Report ✔️Ans - -Use Simple, short, direct
sentences
-Record Accurate and Specific Details when possible
- Consult Key Individual if unsure of observations

Corrective Actions ✔️Ans - - Be General to Address entire site
- Be Specific on Areas of Deficiency
- Not overly Prescriptive
-Not Propose product by name brand
- Recommend a qualified professional, as necessary

May or may not be part of the Inspection Report

Site Drawing (Map) Management ✔️Ans - The Presence of an approved
erosion and sediment and stormwater site drawing is required on site.

Map: to scale, tracking tool for BMP installations and locations throughout life
of the project, reflect actual site conditions at the same time of inspections

-Marked up drawings with changes, dates, inititals
-Clearly defined legends, specific BMPs, their location, and date of installation