Free webinar to support identifying interested parties and compliance obligations for ISO 14001:2015

Introduction to the Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)

An introduction to the compulsory UK energy auditing scheme for non-public sector organisations.

EPC and energy management update for surveyors - March 2014

Current and future Energy Performance Certificate for property managers and surveyors will be discussed in this webinar, along with how energy management systems can reduce energy use.

 

Brief introduction to ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems

The short webinar gives a basic introduction to ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems (EnMS) by ISO 50001 specialists DIEM Ltd.

Free webinar on Environmental Spill Response and Emergency Planning

Emergency prepareness and response, including testing this, is a requirement of the ISO 14001 environmental management standard, plus makes good business sence.

This webinar discusses some easy to use techniques on how to do this

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJwFZrVzmtA&feature=share&list=UUh3ArqAPK2wFFn_na9bjIaA

#Environmental & #Waste Management Explained- Half Day course in Burnley- Fri 26th October

QHS Solutions Ltd are hosting a half day Environmental & Waste Management Explained course in Burnley on Friday 26th October.

 

Delivered by Chartered Environmental Surveyor and Chartered Environmentalist David Inman, of Blackburn based environmental consultants DIEM Ltd, this course will give sensible and practical expert advice on reducing environmental and waste management risks and potential costs, plus demystify some common environmental challenges that businesses face today.

 

For more details and to book please contact Alison at QHS Solutions on:

01282 839103

Email, info@qhs-solutions.com

 

Testing your emergency environmental planning arrangements

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

The good case for saving energy on a construction sites

I'm noticing recently a slow improvement of energy saving measures on construction sites.  For example I've attached a photograph of a sensor activated hot water tap. Many clients ask for energy saving examples, so please explore the options when ordering site accommodation for energy saving measures such as light sensors, timers for heating, alternative heating sources (to diesel) and LED lighting.

cl

Free webinar - The 8 Principles of Quality Management

This free webinar gives a brief introduction to the 8 principles of quality management.

“Environment and Waste Management Explained” course 25 May 2012

QHS Solutions and DIEM Ltd  Environmental Consultants, have worked together for several years delivering related services.   Our firms share the same values in the delivery of high quality and cost effective services to Client.

 

We are now offering this new half day   

“Environment and Waste Management Explained”

course on Friday 25th May from 0930 to 1230 in Burnley.

 

Course Aims

This half day course is designed and delivered by Environmental Consultants DIEM Ltd to enable delegates to understand Environment and Waste management systems and legal requirements to help give your business the environmental advantage.

 

Course Content

·         Introduction to the environment –

·         Managing our environment,

·         ISO 14001 Environmental Management and supply chains and includes:·        

o   Winning work with good environmental management

o   PAS 91

o   Sustainable procurement

o   PAS 2030 (including introduction to the Green Deal)

 

Part 1: Environmental management on sites  - Minimising the risks:

·         Noise & vibration

·         Waste (brief overview - full waste training to follow)

·         Contaminated land

·         Water

·         Dust and Air quality

·         Ecology

·         Spill incidents  

·         Organising for site work

 

This section culminates with a short multiple-choice assessment

 

 

Part 2: Effective waste management

·         What is waste?    

·         Duty of care and legal requirements

·         Handling and storage of waste

·         Pricing for waste

·         Reducing the cost of waste within the law

 

This section concludes with a practical duty of care waste transfer note exercise.

 

A Certificate will be awarded following successful assessment.

 

This training will be delivered by David Inman of DIEM Ltd. David is a Chartered Environmental Surveyor, Chartered Environmentalist and Lead EMS Auditor. Across the UK, he supports companies and organizations ranging from widely known “superbrands” to small family run companies in reaching their environmental management potential.

 

Course fees are just £75.00 per delegate (plus VAT) to include course handouts, certificate and refreshments. 

 

We are expecting a high demand for this course to book, please contact Alison on 01282 839 103 or a.stansfield@QHS-Solutions.com

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

SWMP - not dead yet

The word on the street is that Site Waste Management Plans (SWMP), which are statutory waste management plans for construction projects in England, however they are still with us.

I'm not going into details of SWMP and details can be found at

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/netregs/businesses/construction/62359.aspx

but I'm undecided whether they should end.

On the side who wants rid of SWMPs, their diabolically poor implementation by the previous government, meant that they were a good idea badly implemented. They now have seemed to vary in quality and accuracy across projects which is a shame as they are useful, but they have lost their way and maybe it's time for a new start.

When they were brought out, I attended many (state funded) training sessions which were very poor in quality. Also, they were attended by environmental professionals in the main not estimators, quantity surveyors, designers, project managers and the like. People who cost, agree and drive projects from their conception.

SWMP if done right, ie start at the design phase, have been proven to save projects money, but their mandatory nature can make them a formality instead a chance to save money and identify waste minimisation opportunities starting at design.

They are not dead yet, so why not rethink their potential.

ISO 14001 - get the basics right & the rest will follow

When I with clients being audited for ISO 14001 I pay very good attention to the auditor. This is mainly as a lead EMS auditor I'm interested in seeing how other auditors work, but secondly I'm fascinated about the differences between auditors.

However, what doesn't change is that the have to audit against the clauses of the standard.

Personally, when writing an EMS I like to keep it simple and follow the organisation of the clauses of the standard. I speak to colleagues who look at the activities carried out by the organisation and write the EMS to those. We all must be right if our clients are getting through ISO 14001 accredited certification.

What I have noticed with external auditors that if the EMS manual is in the same order as the standard's clauses, then it's easy for them to follow and can find parts of the manual if only auditing certain clauses of the standard.

I also believe in keeping it simple as all you have to do is meet the minimum requirements of the standard. Now, this sounds defeatist, but being pragmatic you want to meet the requirements as a minimum as diversions into other avenues may distract you from meeting the basic requirements...of the standard you are being audit against.

Often I hear people starting out or thinking of starting ISO 14001 that CSR or sustainability can drive it. Whilst they can, I think get the basic systems and legal requirements right and the rest will follow.

New video - Introduction to PAS 2030:2012 by David Inman MRICS CEnv @DIEMLtd #PAS2030 #greendeal

David Inman MRICS CEnv of @DIEMLtd gives a brief introduction to PAS 2030:2012 at the launch of the @LCBPC Green Deal Club. Link to video is below:

 

Real environmental KPIs (and not massaging imaginary figures!)

Recently I’ve been doing quite a lot of work with clients to set and monitor environmental KPIs. The actual requirements of ISO 14001:2004 for this are driven by clauses 4.5.1 Monitoring and measurement and 4.3.3 Objectives, targets & programme(s) but it can deliver requirements for: 

 

• 4.3.2 Legal and other requirements eg by meeting client requirements and some legal requirements in implementing the waste hierarchy under the Waste (England & Wales) Regs 2011
• 4.4.4 Documentation/4.5.4 control of records eg KPI records can demonstrate effective planning and operation control
• 4.4.6 Operational control eg KPIs can deliver hard facts to demonstrate control such as waste being diverted from landfill or reduction in carbon
• 4.5.2 Evaluation of compliance eg any legal consents which have to be measured, such as noise or water sampling can have set KPIs set by the regulator
• 4.6 Management review eg KPIs for hard evidence to demonstrate problems or continual improvement.

 So, when setting KPIs think about the goal and what you can achieve, rather than doing it for the sake of it.

 

Common sense for construction carbon

This morning I attended a construction carbon supply chain meeting and presentation with the common sense involved being fantastic. It was run by a main contractor who were showing free (yes FREE!) tools available, namely the EA's construction carbon calculator. The presenter then showed how to use the calculator and someone who has used it gave a case study.

It was a simple as that. No sales, blind alleys or over complication. The session was aimed at subcontractors and I've never seen a room of construction professionals react so well to such a session. I've been to similar ones and they've been over long, over complicated and over sales orientated. Here, it was a main contractor engaging with its supply chain - simple as that. There was no ERDF funding, box ticking or self justification.

So, CSR in this case with the supply chain was to the correct level and I came away feeling as the local construction industry in the North West had been enlightened, not disheartened.

First environmental site good practice pictures of 2012

Please click on link below to see photos of good environmental practice on site during January 2012.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/diemltd/sets/72157629073540949/

Environmental Auditing Blog 2012

After my first batch of construction site environmental auditing for 2012, it's reassuring that the number of construction related activities has slimmed to a trickle.  By working with site managers, sometimes over several years, their environmental awareness has grown without sending them on courses which takes them away from sites and can be expensive.

I've also noticed a more open approach of sites wanting to approach regulators, their clients and internal management about environmental issues, which indicated increased awareness.

Environmental specialist still need to give support and take pressure off sites, but working together, rather than the "healty & safety police" is the way to go and has worked well with some of the long relationships I've developed with clients, some not into their 6th year.