Innovative Solutions Make Rideshare Reporting Easier
by Capaccio Environmental Engineering, Inc.
Companies with facilities
in Massachusetts meeting criteria regarding numbers of employees and
facility air permits are required, by November 15, to file a report
satisfying the Rideshare regulation (310 CMR 7.16). Complying with the
provisions and requirements of that regulation can be an onerous task with
few rewards. However, if you know what your goals are, and are aware of
the tools available to you, the task can be made considerably easier, and
you may uncover some useful information.
There are three major
parts to the Rideshare reports: obtaining data, processing the data, and
filling out the reports. Web-based tools and various computer software
programs can ease the burden of all three of these tasks, and give you
other options as well.
Obtaining information
from employees is a major requirement of the regulations. With today’s
heightened sense of security and sensitivity, this activity itself is
fraught with peril. A properly designed Web-based questionnaire can be
completed at the employee’s convenience in a more comfortable setting than
an interview. The employee does not have to feel like they are being
pressured to provide personal information, and can simply choose not to
answer any question they feel particularly uncomfortable about. While
there is a small downside to this “hole” in the information, it is more
beneficial than risking alienation of the employee.
Processing the data can
require a substantial effort on the part of the employer, or, Web-based
tools in conjunction with other software can be used as a particularly
effective way of turning data into information. Although a Web-based
questionnaire is the least labor-intensive way of collecting data, in
Rideshare this census option requires a large number of responses.
Considerable effort may go into data consolidation and manipulation, but
with right tools, it is possible to feed employees’ responses directly
into a database that is specifically designed to process the data you
need. This can help you not only complete the filings required by the
Rideshare regulation, but allow you to glean useful information that may
be helpful for company planning purposes as well. For instance, going
beyond database software, Geographical Information System software can
help you coordinate an effective program of ride-matching, and help solve
parking problems at certain facilities.
The final task of
Rideshare, filling out the forms, can also be done with the use of
computers. The DEP has provided Word forms on their Web site that can be
downloaded to your computer. For many people, filling out a Word document
by computer is less onerous than typing documents by hand.
Taken together, these
computer and Web-based tools can substantially decrease the amount of
effort needed to fulfill Rideshare requirements. If you have questions
about how to create some of these useful tools or need assistance filing
the Rideshare report, CAPACCIO can help. Call Lori Harrington at (508)
970-0033 ext. 131.
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