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NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate > Definitions > Flashcards

Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Define ‘Environment’

A

The surroundings in which an organisation operates, including air, land, water, resources, flora & fauna and their interrelations and interactions. Surroundings can extend from within an organisation to a global system.

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2
Q

Define ‘Pollution’

A

Introduction of substances or energy into air, water or land which is capable of causing harm/adverse effects to humans, living organisms & the environment.

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3
Q

Define ‘Source’

A

Substance/energy which has the potential to cause harm (the pollutant)

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4
Q

Define ‘Pathway’

A

Means or routes the source can migrate to to afffect a receptor.

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5
Q

Define ‘Receptor’

A

Something which could be harmed by source e.g. human health, water sources.

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6
Q

Define ‘Waste’

A

Unwanted/undesired materials/substances. Something which has no further use and requires disposal.

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7
Q

Define ‘Waste Management’

A

The systematic control of collection, treatment and disposal of wastes.

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8
Q

Define ‘Light Pollution’

A

Excessive/obtrusive light created mainly by humans, causing nuisance.

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9
Q

What is meant by a positive feedback loop?

A

When an impact causes further impact e.g. warming of the earth (Global Warming) causes further warming.

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10
Q

What is Ozone?

A

Essential barrier that minimises UV passage to Earth. Formed by hydrocarbons and nitrogen compounds in the presence of sunlight.

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11
Q

Define ‘Deforestation’

A

Harvesting/felling of natural wood. Depletion of forestry for agricultural use, cattle grazing etc.

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12
Q

Define ‘Despoliation’

A

Taking everything valuable and beautiful from a place e.g. open cast mining of coal; coal=value, land= lost and ruins landscape.

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13
Q

What is the main goal of Agenda 21?

A

Plan of action taken in every area in which humans impact on the environment. (Locally, nationally & globally).

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14
Q

What is meant by the International Environmental Law?

A

Looks at the sovereignty between nations (legal comity, mutual respect) that will recognise the validity of another’s acts & judicial decisions.

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15
Q

What is a treaty?

A

A written agreement that nations use to legally bind themselves. Can be bilateral and multilateral.

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16
Q

What is a protocol?

A

A treaty/international agreement that supplements a previous treaty. Can be amended & add provisions.

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17
Q

What is a convention?

A

Relates to multilateral agreements which can create an international organisation/body that implements the agreement e.g. CITES.

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18
Q

Define ‘Sustainability’

A

The right to development must be fulfilled as to equitably meet the development and environmental needs of present and future generations.

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19
Q

Define ‘Sustainable Development” (Brundtland)

A

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

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20
Q

Define ‘Biodiversity’

A

The variability among living organisms from all sources (marine e.g.) and the ecological complexes of which they are part of. Relates to within species, between species and in ecosystems.

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21
Q

Define what is meant by ‘Social Progress’

A

The change necessary with community groups to recognised what is needed for the well-being of everyone.

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22
Q

What is meant by Best Available Techniques (BATs)?

A

Use of techniques to avoid/reduce emissions and environmental impact caused from organisation activities.

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23
Q

What is meant by Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO)?

A

A set of procedures (UK) with the goal to manage waste and other environmental concerns.

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24
Q

What is meant by Civil Law?

A

Regulate disputes between individuals over rights and obligations people have when dealing with each other.

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25
Q

What is meant by Tort Law?

A

Aimed at redressing wrongs committed by one person against another e.g. nuisance

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26
Q

What is an Environmental Management System?

A

Used to set goals and objectives (from highest level of organisation) to demonstrate business commitment and maintain continuous improvement to deal with environmental aspects and impacts.

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27
Q

What is the ISO14001 standard?

A

A EMS standard which provides a framework for an organisation to control environmental impacts from activities, products & services and to continually improve environmental performance.

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28
Q

What is the EU Eco-Management Scheme (EMAS)

A

Voluntary market-based instrument to encourage better environmental performance of organisations.

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29
Q

Define ‘Stakeholder’

A

Anyone who has interest in the matter and those with whose support the organisation would cease to exist.

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30
Q

What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?

A

A self-regulating mechanism to ensure adherence to law, ethical standards and international social responsibility. Inclusion of public interest in decision making and eliminating practices that may cause harm to people and the planet.

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31
Q

What is the ISO26000 standard?

A

Framework to build long-term responsibility strategy. International recommendations for social responsibility covering human rights, work practices etc.

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32
Q

What is the PDCA/Deming Cycle?

A

A 4-step management method to control & continuous improvement of processes & products.

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33
Q

What is the BS 8555?

A

Standard to help improve environmental performance. Use 6-phase approach to implement EMS. Makes particular reference to small-medium enterprises.

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34
Q

What is the difference between objectives and targets?

A

Objectives= overall goals of company, Targets = specific goals.

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35
Q

Define an Audit

A

A systematic, critical examination of an organisation’s systems to determine extent of compliance with a set agreed of standards.

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36
Q

Define an inspection

A

Examination of a workplace or equipment in order to identify hazards/risks and determine if effectively controlled.

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37
Q

General Workplace Inspection

A

Carried out by first-line managers on workplace to identify any potential hazards.

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38
Q

Statutory Inspection

A

Examination of equipment carried out by specialist competent persons e.g. boiler.

39
Q

Preventive Maintenance Inspection

A

Carried out by maintenance staff for maintaining fixtures, equipment and facilities etc.

40
Q

Pre-use Checks of Equipment Inspection

A

Carried out by user to inspect equipment before use.

41
Q

What is Active Monitoring?

A

Monitoring extent of compliance and check if EMS correctly implemented. Tells the organisation the effectiveness of their systems.

42
Q

What is Reactive Monitoring?

A

Monitoring undertaken in response to an incident or complaint, usually to investigate causes and impact.

43
Q

What is a Near Miss?

A

An event/incident which didn’t result in measurable environmental impacts.

44
Q

Define what is meant by Qualitative Disclosure

A

When a company refers to key environmental topics in annual report/accounts. Most organisations do this.

45
Q

Define what is meant by Quantitative Disclosure

A

Disclosure of an absolute quantity e.g. tonnes of CO2

46
Q

Define Continual Improvement

A

An ongoing series of environmental improvements which are done discreetly and over long periods.

47
Q

Define Continuous Improvement

A

The aim to improve natural consequences of products & activities rather than the actual product/activity. Constant improvements which correlate with processes.

48
Q

What is an Environmental Policy?

A

A policy setting out the organisation’s commitment to the environment. Must be implemented correctly, maintained and communicated to all persons working as well as public.

49
Q

Define ‘Environmental Aspects’

A

Elements of an organisation’s activities, products or services which interact with the environment e.g. air emissions, water consumption.

50
Q

Define ‘Environmental Impacts’

A

Any change, beneficial or adverse, partially or wholly resulting from an organisation’s environmental aspect e.g. air degradation, water source depletion.

51
Q

What is meant by a direct impact?

A

Immediate effect/impact e.g. water contamination.

52
Q

What is meant by an indirect impact?

A

Caused by the initial action and are later in time/further removed in distance that initial effect but still foreseeable e.g. use of herbicide on weeds, makes soil unusable for 6 months for farming.

53
Q

What is meant by a global impact?

A

Changes to global ecology e.g. fossil fuel use.

54
Q

Define ‘Ecosystem’

A

A defined area/unit that includes all organisms that are interrelated and interact with each other and the environment, providing trophic structures and cycles.

55
Q

What is an Environmental Impact Assessment?

A

A tool to identify environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. Helps predict possible impacts early on to mitigate.

56
Q

What are Fugitive Emissions?

A

Emissions less readily collectable (into hoods, flues e.g.)

57
Q

What are Volatile Organic Compounds?

A

Compounds with boiling point of or less than 250 degrees. Dangerous to human health.

58
Q

Define Safe Drinking Water

A

Water of sufficient high quality meeting standards that can be available for human consumption without the risk of immediate or long term harm.

59
Q

Define Groundwater

A

Source of water located beneath Earths surface in rock fractures. Also known as aquifers.

60
Q

Define Surface Water

A

Water collected on ground or river, lakes etc. Replenished by rainfall and melted snow and ice.

61
Q

Define Desalinisation

A

The removal of salts from water and land. Very energy intensive.

62
Q

Define Vacuum Distillation

A

Removed dissolved salts by boiling water, leaving salt behind. Water then condensed to form pure water.

63
Q

Define Reverse Osmosis

A

Use of semi-permeable membranes and pressure to separate salts from water.

64
Q

What is Process Water?

A

Water used in manufacturing, treatment or actual product e.g. washing, rinsing.

65
Q

What is sewage?

A

Domestic, municipal or industrial liquid waste products.

66
Q

Define Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)

A

Technique to remove suspended matter e.g. oils & solids.

67
Q

Define what is meant by Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)?

A

A chemical test measuring amount of O2 consumed by material in water under controlled conditions.

68
Q

Define what is meant by Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)?

A

A test measuring O2 demand resulting from dissolved pollutants in a water course. Measure level of organic pollution and for environmental sampling e.g. river quality.

69
Q

Define what is meant by Total Oxygen Demand (TOD)?

A

The utilisation of pure O2 in an electronic catalyst at high temperatures to oxidise and analyse waste water. Provides continuous measurement and treatment. Doesn’t equal the sum of BOD and COD.

70
Q

What is a Bund?

A

An area contained by a rectangular wall built upon concrete slav to stop any spillages/leaks.

71
Q

Define Filtration

A

Separation of suspended particles. Cake filtration, deep-bed filtration and membrane filtration= examples.

72
Q

What is centrifugal separation?

A

Use of centrifugal force to accelerate emulsion separation e.g. milk that would likely pass through other filtration methods.

73
Q

Define Hazardous Waste

A

Waste that, owing to its toxic, infectious or radioactive properties, poses a potential or actual hazard.

74
Q

What is the Waste Framework Directive?

A

Identifies environmental protection principles behind waste regulation and which principles are covered and which aren’t.

75
Q

Define Inert Waste

A

Chemically inactive/non reactive waste. If doesn’t undergo any significant physical, chemical changes or reacts adversely.

76
Q

What is Leachate?

A

A liquid which passes through landfills which contains substances extracted from landfill.

77
Q

Define Wave Power

A

Utilisation of ocean surface waves to form energy

78
Q

Define Tidal Power

A

Draws on gravitational attraction energy from Earth-Moon orbit to produce energy.

79
Q

Define Geothermal Power

A

Thermal heat extracted directly from ground, mainly near tectonic plate boundaries e.g. Iceland, Philippines.

80
Q

Define Nuclear Power

A

Use of radioactive material to produce fuel rods which when combined in nuclear reactor cause particle collisions, forming energy.

81
Q

Define Combined Heat & Power (CHP)

A

Utilise waste heat through production of lower temp steam. Produces different sources of usable energy at one time.

82
Q

Define Biodigesters

A

Convert organic waste into fertiliser and biogas. Biogas system traps methane from organic waste breakdown to be used to heat and elec.

83
Q

Give examples of noise control methods

A

Isolation (elastic element in path of vibration), absorption (porous material absorbs some of noise energy), insulation (use a barrier e.g. wall) and silencers.

84
Q

What are Booms?

A

Absorbent material designed to isolate drains or divert/contain spills.

85
Q

What is a chemical asphyxiant?

A

An agent that prevents delivery of O2 due to having a higher affinity e.g. carbon monoxide has a higher affinity to haemoglobin than O2.

86
Q

What are Persistent Organic Pollutants?

A
  • Organic compounds which resist biological degradation.

- Semi-volatile and characterised by low water and high potential for accumulation.

87
Q

What is Trade Effluent?

A

Any liquid either with/without suspended particles which is produced in course of any trade or industry.

88
Q

Define Biodegradable

A

Something capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

89
Q

What is Private Nuisance?

A

Considered as the interference with the claimant’s enjoyment of their land and it need not be deliberate e.g. noise. Must be significant interference and impracticability if preventing the nuisance is taken into account. Actionable under civil law.

90
Q

What is Public Nuisance?

A

Considered when the nuisance affects the public generally rather than an individual. Affects the convenience & comfort of a class of people (health, lives, property). Actionable under civil law and as a crime where prosecution can take place.

91
Q

Define Negligence

A

You must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions when you can reasonably foresee what would be likely to injure your neighbour

92
Q

What is the law for Tort of Negligence?

A
  • Based on the common law of duty to care.
  • When a defendant’s legal duty to take care has been breached and resulted in damage to claimant.
  • To prove case, injured party must show that there was an owed duty of care, it was breached and loss/damage occurred.
93
Q

What is the role of Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations(COMAH)?

A
  • Ensure businesses take all measures necessary to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances.
  • Limit the consequence to people & environment of any major accidents which do occur
94
Q

What is groundwater overdraft?

A

The depletion of groundwater resources due to over extraction

NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate (4 decks)

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