BSBCMN 413 A    IMPLEMENT AND MONITOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES

IDENTIFY POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS

The environment is an ecosystem consisting of living organisms that exist inside and outside your facility.

The living organisms, which include humans, animals, birds, plants and aquatic life, can be threatened by the discharge of pollutants into:

• Air
• Soil
• Surface water
• Ground water

Waste audits should be used to identify every gas, liquid and solid waste stream that is discharged.

The environment can accommodate a very minimal amount of contamination, but when the concentration and quantity of containments reaches a certain level in a certain time period, the contaminants will impact upon the environment.

The severity of the environmental threat depends on:

• Type of waste discharged

-         Material Safety Data Sheets list the hazards of each type of chemical pollutant

• Concentration and quantity discharged

-         Regulations limit the quantity and concentration of pollutants entering the environment

• Type of environment

-         Environments sensitive to pollution include:

• Wetlands, waterways, lakes, bays and oceans
• Wildlife and vegetation species
• Town water supplies
• Residential areas
• Ground water supplies
• Agricultural land

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Threats to the environment can be in the form of:

• Water pollution
• Air pollution
• Land pollution
• Noise pollution
• Visual pollution

WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution results from chemicals entering waterways due to:

• Discharges that are above regulated limits
• Dumping of chemicals into drains or sewerage systems
• Spills
• Faulty waste water treatment plants
• Fallout from atmosphere pollution
• Seepage of chemicals through soil into waterways
• Seepage of chemicals through the soil into ground water supplies

AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution results from the release of gas, vapour, smoke or dust from:

• Flare
• Vents
• Engine exhausts
• Fugitive emissions from process equipment

LAND POLLUTION

Land pollution results from toxic chemicals contaminating land due to:

• Dumping into landfill sites
• Leaks from tanks or other equipment
• Leaking of chemicals from liquid waste disposal site into the soil
• Spills
• Fallout of air pollutants onto land

NOISE POLLUTION

Noise pollutions can have serious health effects on personnel and local residents.

Common sources of noise pollution are:

• Compressors, blowers and fans
• Pumps
• Gas turbines
• Leaks in high pressure lines
• Flares

VISUAL POLLUTION

Visual pollution can result from poor housekeeping if the environment is cluttered with industrial waste such as:

• Discarded equipment
• Refuse
• Empty drums
• Stagnant water ponds with oil slicks

ODOURS

Odours can result from:

• Gases such as H2S
• Waste water treatment plants

POLLUTION SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS

Environment features that are sensitive to pollutants are:

• Wetlands, waterways, lakes, dams, bays and oceans
• Wild life and vegetation species
• Marine life
• Town water supplies
• Residential areas
• Ground water

Procedures and work practices must aim to reduce all discharges and to ensure that any discharge is controlled to be within allowable limits to prevent environmental pollution.

LIQUID POLLUTION

Liquid pollution if discharged into waterways can:

• Kill vegetation
• Kill marine species
• Poison wildlife that use the waterway
• Poison town water supplies
• Poison agricultural land irrigated by the polluted water
• Seep into the soil, making it hazardous
• Accumulate in marine species and enter the food chain
• Cause algal blooms

AIR POLLUTION

Common air pollutants discharged consist of:

• Hydrogen sulphide (H2S)
• Carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Nitrous oxides (NOx)
• Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
• Methane (CH4)
• Chlorofluoro carbons (CFC)
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Air pollutants if discharged into the atmosphere in high concentrations can cause:

• Ozone layer depletion
• Acid rain
• Global warming
• Smog
• Respiratory illness, cancer and other health problems
• Odours

SMOG

Smog occurs when air pollutants from motor vehicles and industry become trapped near the earth’s surface due to atmospheric conditions.

Sunlight reacts with chemicals such as sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrous oxide (NO) and hydrocarbon vapours to produce smog that produces respiratory illnesses such as asthma.

POLLUTION FROM SOLIDS

Solid pollutants if dumped inappropriately onto land can cause:

• Poisoning to residents occupying the land
• Pollution of surface water and ground water due to seepage of chemicals through the soil

• Visual pollution
• Destruction of vegetation and wildlife

NOISE POLLUTION

Noise pollution can have serious health effects on plants, personnel and local residents, as it can cause:

• Hearing loss
• General health problems such as:

-      High blood pressure

-      Loss of sleep

-      Reduced ability to perform complex tasks

• Reduction in the wildlife population

To prevent noise pollution, work practices must be used which ensure:

• Hearing protection is worn by all personnel in designated high noise areas

• Sound proof barriers are used to protect employees and local residents from noisy equipment

• Silencers used on gas or exhaust vents are properly maintained

WORK PRACTICES TO MINIMISE WASTE

Work practices, which minimise waste, include:

• Following Standard Operating Procedures

• Conducting regular inspections of equipment and storage areas to identify leaks, spills or fugitive gas emissions

• Monitoring all liquid discharges to ensure the concentration of pollutants is within the allowable limits

• Using proper housekeeping practices to prevent contamination due to spills and discharges

• Minimising venting and flaring to the atmosphere
• Regular sampling of effluent to determine pollutant levels
• Correct handling and storage of hazardous chemicals
• Reporting any gas or vapour emissions to maintenance personnel

• Preventing different product streams flowing into the same storage tank which would results in contamination of the products

• Practicing recycling and waste segregation

EMISSION LEVELS

The allowable emission levels for pollutants will vary depending on:

• Operating conditions
• Location of the transport facility
• Type of environment around the facility
• Closeness of residential areas
• Prevailing wind direction
• Time of day
• Environmental legislation
• Presence of other industrial sites

CONSEQUENCES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Laws and regulations have been implemented to protect the environment and public health.

Violation of environment laws and regulations can result in:

• Fines and penalties
• Civil of criminal charges
• Poor public image
• Difficulty in acquiring future permits and approvals for new developments

• Shutdown of the operations and the subsequent loss of jobs
• Environmental impact which could result in:

-       Illnesses to people

-       Destruction of wildlife and vegetation

-       Land, air or water pollution

WASTE MINIMISATION PRACTICES

Waste minimisation benefits a company because it saves money by reducing disposal costs and reduces the impact on the environment.

To minimise waste, procedures and practices must be implemented to:

• Segregate waste streams
• Prevent leaks and spills
• Prevent contamination of materials or product
• Reduce fugitive emissions

• Prevent spills contamination drains, water treatment plants or surface water

• Carry out regular inspection and maintenance to limit mechanical failures which generate waste

• Recover and recycle as must waste material as possible

• Regularly monitor emissions and discharges so that prompt action can be taken if high emission levels are detected

WASTE DISPOSAL

Pollutants can no longer be simply taken to a landfill site and dumped as this may pollute the soil, water or air in the vicinity of the landfill site.

Every effort should be made at the discharge site to reduce the quantity of contaminants by:

• Waste segregation
• Minimising the use of water in waste where possible
• Recovering and recycling as much of the waste material as possible

WASTE TREATMENT

Where possible, waste should be treated to make it easier and safer to dispose of:

Methods of treating waste include:

• Chemical treatment to neutralise chemically alter the waste
• Dewatering
• Compaction
• Absorption
• Solidification

WASTE DISPOSAL METHODS

The method if waste disposal must:

• Give adequate protection to the public and environment
• Satisfy Federal, State and Local legislative requirements

The method of waste disposal will depend on the composition and characteristics of the waste such as:

• Flammability or explosivity
• Toxicity
• Odour
• Viscosity, vapour pressure and other physical characteristics
• Hazard classifications
• Heavy metal and hydrocarbon contamination
• Leachability

Any waste that cannot be recycled must be disposed of using approved methods for:

• Non-hazardous or general waste
• Hazardous waste

GENERAL WASTE

Non-hazardous waste such as paper, wood, plastic and other non-contaminated waste can be disposed of using the normal industrial waste and disposal system.

Typically workplaces use rubbish bins, drums and skips to contain non-hazardous wastes and are disposed of in local domestic or industrial waste facilities by dump truck.

General waste can often be recycled: paper, cardboard, metal, some plastics, glass.

The Government, Local Council and environment protection agencies have strict regulations governing what materials may be disposed of in these facilities therefore contaminated or prescribed wastes must not be disposed of in these facilities.

HAZARDOUS WASTE

Workplaces that have limited on-site handling and treating facilities may use an authorised contractor to remove materials containing prescribed hazardous wastes for processing in dedicated off-site facilities.

Off-site waste processing facilities are licensed by the relevant environment protection agencies to receive only certain types of prescribed hazardous waste according to the nature of the water, based on laboratory testing.

The composition and characteristics of prescribed hazardous waste must be known before an appropriate waste disposal method can be selected such as:

• Landfill with or without pre-treatment
• Land farming
• Incineration
• Chemical treatment
• Chemical or physical fixation
• Chemical storage facility

LANDFILL

Landfill is used to contain mostly non-hazardous waste where the leakage of contaminants into the soil or ground water is not hazardous to the environment.

CONTAMINATION PROCEDURES

Containment of a spill is a critical step in minimising environmental pollution by preventing a spill spreading to other areas or contaminating treatment plants, sewers or waterways.

Methods of containing a spill include:

• Construction bunds around storage tanks
• Construction of earth walls around a spill
• Using absorbent material to soak up the spill
• Constructing floating barriers around chemical spills on water
• Closing valves in drains to prevent run off into sewers or waterways
• Closing gate valves in ponds to prevent run off into waterways
• Enclosing substances such as asbestos in plastic wrapping.

SPILL PROCEDURES

If a minor spill results in abnormal environmental discharges, personnel must know how to respond quickly to minimise the environmental impact.

The basic steps taken if a minor spill or discharge occurs are:

• Stop the source of the spill or discharge by:

-         Shutting down equipment

-         Depressing vessels

-         Closing valves

-         Diverting process flows away from the spill area

• Contain the spill or discharge by:

-         Using sand bags to construct walls

-         Using sand or other absorbent material to prevent the spill spreading into drains, sewers or waterways

• Notify the supervisor and proper agencies
• Neutralise or dilute certain types of corrosive chemicals
• Clean up the spill by placing contaminated materials into suitable containers

• Restore the area to a safe condition

Using absorbent granules or sand can contain spilt liquid.  However, the spilt liquid should where possible be recovered by using portable pumps, vacuum trucks and hand tools so that it can be recycled.

After most of the waste has been removed, the absorbent can be removed to a waste facility and the area cleaned with a suitable solvent, degreaser or water.  Care should be used as these products may also present an environmental hazard or be incompatible with sewer or treatment systems.

Spilt chemicals such as acids and alkalis need special precautions and procedures so that the effects of these materials can be neutralised preventing further damage or complications during clean-up, recovery or disposal.

Once neutralised, the material can be removed with absorbent materials and be disposed of in the correct manner.  The area can then be cleaned with water.

If a major spill occurs, it may be dangerous for operators to attempt to isolate or clean up the spill.

In this situation, it is necessary to:

• Evacuate the spill area
• Keep people from entering the spill area
• Notify the supervisor and emergency services
• Assist emergency services in containing and cleaning up the spill

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Depending on the nature of the spill, it may be necessary to wear the following equipment in addition to wearing normal day-to-day Personal Protective Equipment.

• Face shield
• Eye goggles
• Protective gloves
• Chemical suit
• Hearing protection
• Self contained breathing apparatus
• Protective boots
• Fresh air-line mask

Chemicals in the workplace

More than 2,000 people die each year in Australia because of exposure to chemicals in the workplace. We use chemicals everywhere in our homes as well as at work.

They can be in the form of solids, liquids or gases. The only way to work with them safely is to know the right way to use them.

Some people become careless, with many chemicals the damage to health doesn't happen straight away but over time. The effects of the chemical build up in their bodies can cause sickness such as cancer. Don't let this happen to you!

Cleaning rags and dusters that can be reused are separated for cleaning.

Polluted rags are separated to avoid any possibility of reaction from other chemically polluted rags; these are stored in appropriate waste containers.

You should arrange for specialised removal in accordance with company and regulatory requirements.

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 You now need to research environmental policies within your workplace, you will then be ready to complete the assessment.

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