Over 80 Certified as Visual Emission Observers

More than 80 persons have been certified following the successful completion of the Visual Emission Observer Training Programme, commonly referred to as the ‘Smoke School’.

Jointly conducted by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and Eastern Technical Associates (ETA), the programme was designed to train and certify participants in measuring the opacity and density of emissions released from stationary sources, including manufacturing plants, mining operations and generators.

Over the course of three days, participants were equipped with the skills to visually determine emission opacity using the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Method 9 – an internationally recognised air quality monitoring tool adopted under Jamaica’s air quality regulations.

Manager of NEPA’s Air Quality Management Branch, Jody‑Ann Marston, told JIS News that the participants represented a wide cross‑section of stakeholders, including individuals from various industries, ministries, departments and agencies, as well as the sugar, power generation and bauxite sectors.

She noted that since the onset of the COVID‑19 pandemic, the programme’s theoretical component has been delivered through an online webinar format, thereby improving access and participation.

“The webinar reduces the number of days that officers and operators have to be away from the job, and it has allowed more persons to participate. The theory is a very critical part of the training, because if you are not taught the proper procedures to record your observations, the measurements would not be valid,” the Manager explained.

Mrs. Marston added that feedback from industry participants has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly in relation to cost savings and operational efficiencies.

“Before this partnership, facilities had to send operators overseas to be trained at a very high cost. Bringing the training to Jamaica has reduced those costs and provided a quick and effective way for facilities to monitor their emissions sources,” she pointed out.

The programme is conducted twice each year, with the next session scheduled for July 2026.

Interested persons are encouraged to contact the National Environment and Planning Agency or visit https://www.eta-is-opacity.com/ for further details.