Environmental Risk Evaluation And Control

Question 1

Define environmental Aspect

Answer 1

Any element of an organisation’s activity, product, or service that interacts or can interact with the environment

Question 2

Define environmental Impact

Answer 2

Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partial resulting from an organisation’s environment aspect

Question 3

How can an organisation identify their aspects and impacts?

Answer 3

Those that the organisation can control - likely from direct activities associated with emissions from processes and compliance issues

Those that the organisation can influence - mainly include indirect issues such as suppliers, contractors and customer activities. These can be influenced by communication and supply chain pressure

Question 4

Why is the source, pathway, and receptor approach important

Answer 4

For the evaluation of environmental risk

Question 5

Techniques to identify Aspects and Impacts

Answer 5

Initial environmental review
Life cycle analysis
Environmental impact assessment
Environmental audit

Question 6

The 3 steps in identifying and evaluating Aspects and Impacts are

Answer 6

Based on criteria such as the scale, severity, and duration of the impact, the likelihood of the event occurring, the risk of prosecution, etc.

1. Select an activity, product or service
2. Identify environmental aspects and impacts of the activity, product or service
3. Evaluate the significance of impacts

Question 7

How to determine the significance of an Aspect

Answer 7

A semi-quantitive assessment will often use a matrix or scoring system to establish the level of likelihood and severity, then combine these to attach a score that determines whether or not an impact is significant.

Question 8

What is meant by BEST PRACTICABLE ENVIRONMENTAL OPTION (BPEO)

Answer 8

BPEO involves the analysis of alternatives.

The preferred option is that which minimizes harm to the environment as a whole, taking into account what is affordable and practicable

Question 9

Factors that influence the choice of control measures

Answer 9

Long-term/ Short term - wherever possible , risk should be designed or engineered out

Applicability - the relevance of a control technique can be described in law (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

Question 10

What is Cost-benefit analysis (CBA)

Answer 10

Seeking to compare the value of monetary benefits compared to the value of monetary cost.

Benefit = anything that increases human well-being

Cost= anything that decrease human well-being

Question 11

4 Phases of Life Cycle Analysis

Answer 11

1. Definition - Define the goal and scope of the study
2. Live cycle inventory analysis - gather information for modeling
3. Life cycle impact assessments - understand the relevance
4. Life cycle interpretation - evaluate the relevant importance