Environmental Risk Evaluation and Control Flashcards
Define Environmental Aspect
Any “element of an organisation’s activities or products or services that interacts or can interact with the environment”
Define Environmental Impact
Any “change to the environment whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organisation’s environmental aspects”
Does ISO14001 require identification of aspects and impacts of an organisation
Yes
Why does ISO14001 require identification of aspects and impacts of an organisation
so an organisation can:
> control - from direct activities associated with emissions from processes and compliance issues
> influence - much broader and refers to indirect issues (suppliers, contractors, and customer activities) .
Can be achieved by communication and supply chain pressure.
What is the Source Pathway Receptor (or Target)?
it is of fundamental importance in the evaluation of environmental risk and works on the premise of:
> identification and quantification of sources of hazards (eg chemicals, noise)
> determination and possible quantification of transport (pathway) processes and mechanisms (eg air, soil, water)
> characterisation, distribution and responses of sensitive receptors, such as humans, plants and animals
What are Nuisances - in relation to Effects on Quality of Life?
matters that interfere with the normal common-law enjoyment of use of land or property (eg odour)
Explain Visual Amenity - in relation to Effects on Quality of Life?
refers to colour and design of buildings, landscaping, tree-planting, advertising signs and is normally managed through planning development control responsibilities.
What are the Environmental Issues Associated with transportation - in relation to Effects on Quality of Life?
> emissions
> noise
> dust
> congestion
> changes to the landscape
> land-take (for new buildings, roads, etc)
> the effects of refueling etc
What are the impacts of waste disposal?
> nuisance caused by
- noise from waste transportation and site activities
- odours from landfill sites or waste incineration
- dust and litter
> release of methane-containing landfill gas (causing climate change and fire and explosion risk)
> Leachate discharged from a landfill causing water pollution
What are the Techniques to Identify Aspects and Impacts?
> initial environmental review
> life-cycle analysis
> environmental impact assessment
> environmental audit
Techniques to Identify Aspects and Impacts what needs to be considered in addition to initial environmental review, life-cycle analysis, environmental impact assessment and environmental audits?
> scale of the impact
> severity of the impact
> duration of the impact
> the likelihood of the event occurring
> risk of prosecution
> cost of avoiding the impact
What are the steps in identifying and evaluating aspects and impacts?
> select an activity, product or service
> identify environmental aspects and impacts of the activity, product or service
> evaluate significance of impacts
Explain a semi-quantitive assessment scoring system.
often uses a matrix or scoring system to establish the relative value of likelihood and severity.
then combines these attributes to attach a score that determines whether or not an impact is significant.
What factors need to be considered when assessing environmental impact significance?
> data on environmental problems
> sources of information (from regulators, local authorities, government departments, and professional bodies)
> biological indicators
The RA will look at existing controls and whether they are considered inadequate in relation to the risk.
The findings of the assessment must be recorded in an accessible manner for those who need to access the information
What would be of importance when reviewing an aspects and impacts assessment, if monitoring or other forms of performance evaluation identify what?
> an incident relevant to the assessment has occurred, particularly if there appear to be inadequate controls
processes and/or equipment changes
staff changes, particularly experienced or historical knowledge lost
there has been a lapse of time since the last review
What is Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO)?
it involves the analysis of alternatives.
The BPEO is that which minimises harm to the environment as a whole, taking into account what is affordable and practicable.
In terms of BPEO - What must operators how to successfully obtain a permit?
> their proposals represent the Best Available Techniques (BAT) to prevent and minimise pollution from the organisation
> No significant pollution is caused
How is BAT be determined?
conducting an Options Appraisal of candidates techniques
What is the methodology involved in conducting an Options Appraisal of candidates techniques?
six stages:
> define the objective of the assessment and the options for pollution control
> quantify the emissions from each output
> quantify the environmental impacts of each option
> compare options and rank them in the order of the lowest environmental impact
> evaluate the costs to implement each option
> identify the option that represents the best available technique taking costs and benefits into account
In relation to Principles of Operational Planning and Control - What factors should be utilised for appropriate operational controls?
seven factors:
> control hierarchy (the following strategy should be adopted)
- elimination
- substitution
- reduction/changes to the process
> reduction of emissions and changes to the process
> process design
> use of competent workers
> procedural controls
> monitoring and measurement
> documentary information
In relation to Principles of Operational Planning and Control - What factors affect the choice of control?
> long term / short terms - wherever possible risks should be designed or engineered out
> applicability - the relevance of a control technique can be described in law (eg BAT)
> Practicability - control measures chosen must be usable and practical if they are to be effective
> cost - the cost of risk reduction is often detailed in law
What are possible solutions to a positive solution to an environmental problem that then causes a negative consequence?
> address the most significant environmental risks of products or services at the design stage
> employing competent people and obtaining competent advice where necessary
> environmental professionals should have access to proper training in key principles of hazard and risk identification and assessment
> the person involved should understand how their work might impact on the environment
In terms of Risk Control Measures - what are they?
> Physical
- bund walls
- spill kits
> Human Controls
What are the elements of human controls in risk control measures?
> information
instruction
supervision
training
