Exam Techniques and Questions Flashcards
Action verb: ‘Define’
Give a recognised or accepted definition
Action verb: ‘Describe’
Word Picture/Description
Action verb: ‘Explain’
Clear account of or reasons for
Action verb: ‘Give’
Give answer without explanation
Action verb: ‘Identify’
Select and name
Action verb: ‘List’
A list without explanation
Action verb: ‘Outline’
Give the most important features. Less in depth than explain or describe but more than a list
Action verb: ‘Sketch’
A simple drawing which labels most important features
Action verb: ‘State’
Less than define
Identify 4 different ways an office-based company may affect the environment (4)
- Use of energy, paper and other resources
- Waste production
- GHG emissions from energy use
- Global Warming contribution
- Excessive water use; depleting water availability
Describe 4 practical measures that an office-based company could consider to mitigate potential damage to environment (8)
- Energy efficiency measures
- Waste minimisation measures
- Water efficiency measures
- Transport issues
- Flexible working practices
- Ethical sourcing of materials
- Education/training of employees
Outline reasons why an organisation needs to manage its effects on the environment (8)
Legal; comply with law to ensure best work practice and to avoid sanctions
Moral; duty of care to protect the environment and to meet society expectations e.g. green consumerism
Economic; cost savings through reduced bills, energy and waste disposal, lower tax charges, relations with investors/stakeholders could be affected
Outline key actions to be taken to protect the environment in even of a serious fire breaking out on industrial premises (8)
- Have an emergency response plan in place which can be activated
- Control centre established to ensure effective operation in an emergency and to protect people and the environment
- Contact with emergency services, EA and local authority
- Alert neighbouring premises so they are aware
- Drainage Plans in place for fire water run off
- Action on ground to control spread of fire and water contamination
- Regular training and practice drills to ensure if worst happens that risks are mitigated
- Disposal of wastes correctly to avoid any mixing of potentially hazardous materials
Identify 4 means of generating energy other than from fossil fuels (4)
- Solar energy
- Wind turbines
- Hydroelectricity
- Geothermal
- Nuclear
- Biofuels
- CHP
- Wave/tidal
Outline why alternative energy technologies need to be adopted (4)
- Need to reduce dependency on finite fossil fuels
- Reduce GHG emissions
- Reduce costs
- Energy security
- Lower pollution as opposed to fossil fuels
- New opportunities for businesses
- Job creation
Local residents are being kept awake at night due to noise emitted from ventilation fans at a nearby factory. Outline civil actions that may be available to residents (6)
- Initially complain to factory
- Take actions under tort of nuisance (private or public)
- Have to demonstrate noise is causing unreasonable interference with enjoyment of land
- If reasonable measures had not been taken to prevent reoccurrence
Local residents are being kept awake at night due to noise emitted from ventilation fans at a nearby factory. Identify 2 possible remedies that the courts could impose if the residents were successful in their action (2)
- Injunctions/abatement notices
- Damages or compensation
Outline the meaning of the term ‘Reactive Monitoring’ (2)
Monitoring undertaken in response to an incident or complaint, usually to investigate causes and impact.
Outline 3 issues that may be identified by reactive monitoring AND outline how these issues can be rectified (6)
- Lack of training; refresher training
- Inappropriate equipment; conduct regular statutory inspections
- Lack of maintenance; conduct regular maintenance inspections
- Lack of understanding of an emergency plan; regular drills to prepare for in plan needs to be activated
Outline the principles of a LCA (4)
Cradle to grave assessment of inputs and outputs and direct/indirect impacts at different stages from supply to disposal.
Addition of environmental costs or burdens at each stage and need to get results in some measure of equivalence.
Outline 2 situations when a LCA study may be of benefit (4)
- For product design or manufacturing to minimise environmental impact
- Comparing product choice against each other to get most environmentally friendly
- Aspects assessment for ISO14001
Outline how a bag filter works (4)
Large particles are removed through the bag filter as the filter medium pores or smaller than particles. This traps the particles on filter and clean air passed through. Flow rate will reduce when solids build up on filter so will need replacing
Give 2 examples of pollutants which can be removed using a bag filter and identify the appropriate process industry (4)
- Wood dust in saw mills or wood processing factories
- Metal dusts in engineering works
- Cement dust in manufacturing plants
- Textile fibres in mills
Outline the main possible sources of water pollution from industrial sites (8)
- Surface water drainage contaminated by spills
- Sewage
- Effluent discharges
- Inappropriate disposal of waste
- Spillages, contaminating ground water
- Fire water
- Leaking drains
- Process water
- Cooling water
An organisation is committed to achieving a target of recycling 50% of wastes from manufacturing operations. Outline performance monitoring information that the organisation should maintain to demonstrate that is has reached it’s target (3)
- Weigh all waste produced on site and weight send to landfill or weight of waste recycled to get percentage
- Tracking waste through time to establish trends and movement to target
An organisation is committed to achieving a target of recycling 50% of wastes from manufacturing operations. Outline the steps to be taken to improve on the target (3)
- Waste segregation and treatment
- Training
- Use of incentives
- Identify markets for recycled goods
- Analysis of waste produced
An organisation is committed to achieving a target of recycling 50% of wastes from manufacturing operations. Outline why a target based on a % figure may be more appropriate than a target based on weight of waste recycled (2)
- Wastes weigh different amounts so wouldn’t be fully accurate
- Help change production volumes on total waste arising to minimise impact
- More measurable in percentage as can easily measure the difference
Identify the main ways in which contaminated land can pollute the environment (8)
- Direct contact with land
- Dust blowing
- Wildlife can be harmed from ingestion (bioaccumulation)
- Odours
- Visual impact
- Damage to buildings
Identify 4 suitable methods of noise control and outline how these prevent noise nuisance (8)
- Isolation; use of elastic element to control noise vibrations
- Absorption; porous material to absorb some of energy
- Insulation; barrier e.g. wall to control/reduce noise
- Regular maintenance; to ensure machinery as quiet as possible
- Double glazing; reduce sound
- Controlled hours of working; no disruption to sleep patterns etc.
Describe the main features of a ISO14001 EMS (10)
- Policy; ensure it is within the scope of the EMS and is implemented, maintained and communicated to all
- Documentation to describe main elements of EMS
- Implementation; ensure is it implemented correctly and maintained for continuous improvement
- Operational control; to cover all areas to ensure meet environmental policy and objectives
- Checking to ensure compliance
- Corrective actions to ensure EMS is running effectively and to mitigate any impacts
- Management review to periodically review effectiveness of EMS
Identify 5 benefits and 5 limitations of introducing an EMS based on ISO14001 into the workplace (10)
Benefits:
- Improved risk management
- Reduced costs
- Opportunities to minimise waste and reduce env. impacts
- Better PR and relations with stakeholders
- Provides audit trail
- Reduced insurance premiums
Limitations:
- Time and financial commitments to introduce and maintain them
- Possible resistance from staff
- Lack of knowledge/skills for implementation
- There is no public reporting requirement
- May not be much improvement/scale of business not feasible for EMS