Is your organisation is responsible for storing and transporting materials that could cause pollution if they leak or are spilt, such as
• diesel
• oil
• chemicals?
If so have you prepared an environmental incident response plan?
I’ve been working a construction client in this area to reduce their risk and meet the requirements of ISO 14001:2004.
You may want to carry out and emergency response planning exercise which can cover:
- identifying sources of pollution
- causes of spillages
- internal procedures for spill management
- responsibilities on site for spill control
- equipment for spill control
- managing spills
- the subsequent clean up.
Testing the plan can take the form of:
- deploying spill equipment to show staff what to do under controlled conditions
- do a desk top exercise where a spill scenario on a site is discussed by staff, with in a group or one to one
Items included in your exercise will be site specific but can include typically:
- Identify the location and type of site drains from both drawings & on site information
- Review your site drainage plan
- Review then brief staff to chemicals and substances on site including COSHH requirements
- Use of diesel plant and plant nappy/drip dray use
- Security risk of keeping fuel on site and how to prevent theft
- Review and brief staff on refuelling & chemical use, plus confirm authorisation to do so
- After checking contents, brief staff to location and type of spill kit on site
- Review and brief staff on arrangements for safe and compliance disposal of used spill kits as hazardous waste
Don’t forget to create a record of what was discussed and who attended.
For work with my client, I’ve videoed one spill response test session in order to make a training video for them. So, there are lots of ways, but please ensure that you know your environmental risks, minimise them and prepare for the unexpected as spills and leaks can
- cause environmental damage which can result in prosecution
- lead to civil claims
- give loss of reputation
- affect you winning work
