Assess and minimise the impact of work activities the environment

Transcription

1 18. 2on Assess and minimise the impact of work activities the environment If you are employed as an environmental officer or if your work has the potential to affect the environment, then you will need to be able to assess the environmental impact of work activities and take action to minimise these impacts. You should know what bodies exist to provide advice to your particular area of work and whether or not there is a professional organisation that issues advice on maximising environmental performance. You will need to know the sorts of activities that have environmental impacts, what these impacts are and how to classify them. Once you understand the potential impact of your work activities, you will then need to know how to reduce these impacts. This topic guide will cover: where to find specialist advice on the management of environmental impact how to assess environmental impact how to minimise environmental impact. 1

2 1 Where to find specialist advice on the management of environmental impact Links HNC in Construction and the Built Environment: Unit 13 Environmental impact of construction, learning outcome 5, assessment criteria 5.1 and 5.2; Unit 47 Energy utilisation and efficiency for building services engineering, learning outcome 1, assessment criteria 1.2 and 1.3; learning outcome 3, assessment criteria 1.2 and 3.1; learning outcome 4, assessment criteria HNC in Manufacturing Engineering and Building Services Engineering: Unit 11 Supply chain management, learning outcome 1, assessment criteria 1.1; Unit 52 Energy management, learning outcome 1, assessment criteria ; learning outcome 2, assessment criteria ; learning outcome 3, assessment criteria ; learning outcome 4, assessment criteria ; Unit 65 Utilisation of electrical energy, learning outcome 4, assessment criteria Individual pieces of legislation are explored in detail in NVQ Unit 1: Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements. There is a great deal of specialist advice available to operators in the construction, manufacturing engineering and building services engineering sectors regarding environmental performance. Separate areas of advice may include complying with environmental legislation, energy use, waste management, recycling and supply chain auditing and help with setting up or running an environmental management system. The government provides environmental policy guidance and further advice through publications and websites. Government departments such as the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, and agencies such as the Environment Agency also provide valuable advice on environmental management. Professional organisations are increasingly aware of the environmental obligations of their members and many are beginning to provide advice on meeting environmental requirements within their particular area. In addition to government advice, which is generally provided in the public domain, or professional organisations who advise their members, there exists a growing industry of private specialists who provide guidance on environmental compliance as a commercial service. Operators may sometimes find it more efficient to buy in the services of an outside consultant to manage their environmental performance rather than train their existing staff to take on what may be a complex new role. In this section we will look at some of these government or open access organisations and also the role of professional organisations in providing specialist advice to operators in the construction, building services engineering and manufacturing engineering sectors. United Kingdom government and European Union departments or agencies A number of government agencies and departments provide invaluable advice and guidance to environmental operators. Much of the advice is free and available through a number of extensive websites, which are detailed in this section. Government departments will also enforce environmental legislation and take action on non-compliance; however, with the move towards goal setting legislation, government agencies are keen to promote knowledge and best practice within industry. Here are the main bodies responsible for environmental performance. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is a government department responsible for environmental protection, food and fisheries, agriculture, rural communities and sustainable development. 2

3 The department is supported by a wide number of agencies and public bodies, including the Environment Agency (EA). You can find out more information about DEFRA at: Key term Environmental permits and waste permits authorisation issued by the Environment Agency to conduct activities that may contribute to pollution, or to handle waste. Environment Agency (EA) As an executive non-departmental public body of DEFRA, the Environment Agency (EA) protects and improves the environment and promotes sustainable development. It implements environmental strategy in England, manages flood risk and works to minimise the impact of flooding. As the issuing body for environmental permits and waste permits, the EA also publishes a wide range of advice in the form of pollution prevention guidelines (PPGs) on areas including good environmental practice, the storing and handling of environmentally sensitive or dangerous materials, waste management, drainage and trade effluent, and emergency procedures in the case of fire, spills or other pollution incidents. There is specific advice available for construction. You can find out more information about the EA at: Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) This is a government department concerned with economic growth and the promotion of trade and aid for small businesses. The department issues advice on meeting environmental regulations, particularly those that derive from European legislation concerning producer responsibility. This legislation places duties on producers and importers of products to take responsibility for the end-of-life treatment of those products, including recycling, reprocessing or disposal. The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills also works with DEFRA in waste and recycling matters related to business and industry, and on air and water quality. Some of the European-derived regulations that the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills provides advice on include: collection and recycling of batteries energy-efficient design of energy-related products the end-of-life treatment of vehicles greenhouse gases packaging hazardous substances in electrical equipment waste electrical equipment. Advice on the above topics is available for free in PDF format from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills website, at: Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is a not-for-profit company funded by government departments including DEFRA. WRAP provides advice to businesses on resource use, waste management, recycling and reuse of materials, 3

4 meeting environmental legislation and training needs. The programme offers specialist advice to a number of industry sectors, including construction. WRAP also promotes the circular economy philosophy, which encourages awareness and participation in recycling materials and using reclaimed materials. WRAP provides advice by telephone and through a highly detailed website that features a wide range of free downloadable information, case studies and best practice guides. WRAP also provides training courses in various aspects of environmental performance. You can find out more information about WRAP at: Activity Visit the WRAP website and view the guidance on best practice for the industry closest to your own. Investigate the resources on its website, for example case studies. Download and save the best advice and case studies that are most relevant to your area of operations. Retain the information to include in your portfolio task at the end of this topic guide. NetRegs NetRegs provides free web-based environmental information for businesses in Northern Ireland and Scotland. It is a partnership between the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The NetRegs website provides a wide range of advice for different industry sectors. This includes advice on: construction fabricated metal products metals production and processing mineral products mining and quarrying. You can find out more information about NetRegs at: Local authorities Under Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC), local councils are required to regulate certain types of industrial activity. This activity is defined in Part 2, Schedule 1 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations and includes processing of: metals minerals organic chemicals petroleum. This list is not exhaustive. The council must issue a permit for activities along with any relevant conditions of the permit. The DEFRA website provides detailed information for each sector and activities within these sectors. Individual local authorities may also publish further guidance on which activities they regulate and how to comply with their requirements. 4

5 The European Commission The website of the European Commission contains a wide variety of legislative and policy information, and updates. Much of the information refers to large-scale European policies and overarching frameworks. However, there is useful industry sector information within the Policies section of the website, and there are subsections devoted to resource efficiency and sustainable development. You can find out more information about the European Commission and the environment at: Source: Environment European Union, For more information, see the EUROPA website. Other UK agencies The Carbon Trust The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit company that advises and helps companies to reduce their carbon emissions and become more resource efficient. There is advice and information available on the Carbon Trust website at: Note: the organisation charges businesses for advice and certification. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) The Building Research Establishment (BRE) is a registered charity. However, for a long time it was a government-sponsored centre that conducted research into all aspects of building. The BRE provides a wide range of advice, especially on sustainability issues it developed the now widely adopted BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology). The BRE has an extensive website, as well as a visitor and training centre at Watford and offices in Scotland and Wales. You can find out more about BRE at: Professional organisations Many of the organisations representing individual professions within engineering and construction provide advice on the environmental impacts of activities in the industry. Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) provides advice to its members on climate change, including toolkits and publications on technical skills and design solutions necessary to tackle climate change. Publications include Principles of Low Carbon Design and Refurbishment, Low Carbon Standards and Assessment Methods and Whole Life Assessment for Low Carbon Design. These publications are available as a free download from: ClimateChange/Toolkits.aspx. 5

6 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) offers a range of publications and consultation documents on environmental matters relating to surveying. Most are available for free download but some are for RICS members only. You can download these documents from: Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) provides an extensive toolkit to help contractors reduce their carbon footprint. This includes action plans, case studies and resources for construction managers and designers, information and resources for waste management, and a wide range of training and education documents. You can find out more about the CIOB at: Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) provides a wide range of information and advice on the environment and sustainability. This includes best practice documents and publications. Although not all are available as a free download, most are available for purchase through the ICE bookshop. You can find out more about the ICE at: Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has an extensive website and its industries pages provide information on various topics including manufacturing, construction and building services, and energy, environment and sustainability. Most of the information and data is available for members only. You can find out more about the IMechE at: Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) provides information about: building for a sustainable future tackling climate change recycling efficiency reducing energy and carbon emissions. It also provides information and links to related groups covering policies, materials, recycling, energy reduction and technologies, and there are a number of sustainability briefing documents for free download. You can download these documents from: Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) provides a number of downloads on its technical resources page, covering topics such as energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. You can find out more about the CIBSE at: 6

7 Link NVQ Unit 1: Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements. Key terms Biodiversity the wide range of plant and animal life in a particular area. A very broad range of different species is a sign of a healthy natural environment. Ecosystem a system of interlinked plant and animal life within a particular area. Ecosystems are often fragile and can be permanently damaged by pollutants. Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) is the largest professional organisation for those working in environmental assessment. The Reading Room on the website contains a range of downloadable content, including case studies and tools and techniques. You can download these documents from: European Network of Environmental Professionals (ENEP) The European Network of Environmental Professionals (ENEP), similar to the IEMA, offers support to environmental professionals. There are downloadable bulletins covering a wide range of environmental topics. You can find out more about the ENEP at: 2 How to assess environmental impact The true environmental impact of your work activities will be determined by the correct implementation and refinement of an environmental management system. An environmental management system generally uses a plan do check act system; the environmental impact of operations will be assessed within the check phase and acted on, with actions reviewed and improved as the cycle continues. It is very important, therefore, to assess the environmental impact of your work. You need to know which of the processes you use or are involved in have the most environmental impact or are highly resource intensive. The environmental impact of activities The environmental impact of your activities is likely to fall into one or more of the following categories. 1 Greenhouse gases 2 Water 3 Waste 4 Materials and resource efficiency 5 Biodiversity/ecosystem services 6 Emissions to air, land and water Greenhouse gases Consider whether your operations are responsible for the production of any greenhouse gases. These operations include: any road transport producing carbon dioxide activities consuming energy from any fossil fuel source 7

8 Unit 18: Manage the environmental impact of work activities activities that cause the emission of gases through combustion of fossil fuel sources. These emissions can be classed as: direct emissions from boilers, furnaces or chemical processes, and emissions from vehicles indirect (energy) emissions associated with energy (electricity) production indirect (other) emissions from sources beyond the control of your organisation but due to your organisation s activities, such as the treatment of waste material by a separate contractor, or transport emissions from a supplier. Water Key term Water abstraction the removal of water from a natural source such as a lake or river. Consider whether your water is abstracted, supplied, collected/harvested or a mixture of these. Find out whether your water use is taking place in an area of water stress (i.e. an area that is subject to drought or water use restrictions). Water-intensive operations should be checked, water use recorded and wastage carefully monitored. Water may be used for production, for example in concrete, or as a cleaning or cooling agent, where it may be returned to the environment. In all cases, water use should be recorded. (When water is supplied by a provider it will be automatically metered.) This information must be kept and entered into the environmental management system. Figure : Water-intensive operations, such as using liquid concrete to build an access road, should be monitored and recorded. 8

9 Links NVQ Unit 1: Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements. NVQ Unit 3: Planning construction work processes and efficient use of resources in construction and the built environment. NVQ Unit 4: Monitoring construction and installation operations and resources to minimise energy and waste in construction and the built environment. Waste It should be relatively easy to assess waste because most waste products from manufacturing or construction processes are readily available to measure. Construction site waste should be segregated before disposal and a record kept of all waste management under the Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) Regulations From December 2013, SWMPs are no longer required by law. However, they are still recommended and may be required by a construction client or under planning requirements. Compliance with these regulations includes an in-built record of waste transfer from construction sites. Manufacturing engineers may compare the volume of raw material bought in with that sold off as product. More difficult to quantify may be waste in the form of physical leakage from inadequate or old pipework, especially if the leakage remains undetected due to the location of the pipework, often in the ground. There is plenty of advice available on producing a site waste management plan and many companies use the nine-step procedure summarised below. 1 Planning and preparation Consider alternative construction methods and materials that you can use to reduce the amount of waste. Consider ordering materials that have less or reusable/returnable packaging. Record waste reduction decisions and strategies. 2 Allocating responsibility Nominate someone with authority to have overall responsibility for the SWMP. Include a declaration from the client or main contractor if the client is managing the process. 3 Identifying waste Assess the waste produced at each stage of the project the types and volume of waste, what stage of works it was created at, and which craft or trade sections will generate what type and quantity of waste. 4 Managing waste Allocate an area of the site for storing new materials and waste, ensuring there are separate containers for different types of waste. New materials must be stored separately from waste and storage areas must be secured against vandalism. Set targets for the different types of waste produced, including targets for the amount of each waste type that will be reused, recycled or disposed of. Identify measures to deal with unexpected volumes or unexpected hazardous waste. Identify opportunities for the reuse of materials, either on site or off site. Consider on-site and off-site processing and reuse of materials. 9

10 5 Disposing of waste Ensure you have identified how to dispose of liquid wastes such as washdown water and lubricants. Ensure agreements are in place from your water and sewerage operator for trade effluent discharge. Ensure you are using and recording waste transfer notes or consignment notes for all movements of waste from your site, and checking the details of contractors removing the waste. Allocate responsibility to someone for checking that loads of waste leaving your site are accurately described, and waste transfer notes and consignment notes are completed correctly. Ensure that every waste carrier you use is registered with your environmental regulator. Record and retain their details. Identify your nearest waste sites and the sites where your waste is being removed to. Consider how to reduce disposal costs by reusing or recycling waste materials with a commercial value. Ensure that all sites receiving your waste have the appropriate permits, licences or registered exemptions. 6 Organising materials and waste Accurately assess the quantities of materials you need to order to reduce over-ordering and site waste. Consider just-in-time ordering and delivery to reduce over-ordering. Consider whether you can return unused materials to the supplier, sell them or use them on another project. Consider using recycled materials as far as possible. Arrange to return unwanted packaging to the supplier for reuse or recycling. Separate different types of waste to enable you to get the best value from good waste management practices. Provide clearly labelled containers and skips to avoid confusion when separating waste consider colour coding waste containers. Ensure storage areas are secure and weatherproof to prevent wind and rain damaging any materials. Cover or net any loose materials to prevent them being spread and causing pollution. Ensure everyone who will handle waste is aware of the SWMP. 7 Communication and training Introduce site inductions and toolbox talks for all site staff. Ensure contractors and sub-contractors are trained and aware of their responsibilities. Ensure contractors and sub-contractors understand the SWMP. Ensure SWMP requirements are integrated into contracts, if applicable. Introduce spot checks and regular monitoring of staff to ensure they are following procedures. 10

11 Link NVQ Unit 5: Monitoring supplies of resources to meet project sustainability requirements in construction and the built environment. Key terms Extractive resources minerals or other natural resources that are extracted from the ground by mining or quarrying. Environmental impact assessment a report of the potential effects of a development on the natural area surrounding a work site. Environmental receptors any living organism that will be affected by pollutants or changes in its environment. 8 Measuring and monitoring Update records every time waste is removed from site. Check the SWMP regularly and ensure targets are being reached. Produce regular reports on waste quantities, treatment/disposal routes and costs. During construction, note any problems and record them for future SWMPs. 9 Reviewing progress and improving future plans Produce a final report on the use of recycled and secondary materials, waste reduction, segregation, recovery and disposal, and identify the costs and savings. Explain any changes to the plan. Identify and explain any issues or problems that have been taken into account for action in future projects. Retain a copy of the SWMP at the project site, and retain for two years at either the project site or at the principal contractor s office. Consider using the results to help you win future contracts. Site waste management plan templates are widely available. A very comprehensive free template with advice is provided by WRAP at: Materials and resource efficiency Materials and resource efficiency is closely related to waste because operators often seek to make savings by increasing the efficiency of resources, thus lowering waste output. The efficiency of materials use can be assessed in the same way as waste is assessed: by comparing input volume with output volume. The construction and engineering sectors are large volume consumers of extractive resources such as aggregates and metals. It is vital that operators accurately monitor and make efficient use of these materials. Biodiversity/ecosystem services If your operational activities involve the changing of land use, for example property development, infrastructure or mining, then these activities will have a direct impact on the biodiversity of ecosystems that are present on the land. A detailed assessment of any land that will be affected by your work should be carried out. This usually takes the form of an environmental impact assessment and is often completed by specialist consultants. It is, nevertheless, important that you too know how to assess the impact of operations on an existing ecosystem. Environmental impact assessments adopt the following methodology. 1 Identify environmental receptors. 2 Assess predicted physical changes to the environment. 3 Assess predicted impacts on receptors. 4 Advise on the consequences of the impacts on receptors, and advise on mitigation issues. 11

12 Figure : An environmental impact assessment will have been carried out on this land in preparation for a new housing development to be built on it. Key terms Particulate matter (PM) small and distinct solid or liquid matter that is suspended in the air and regarded as pollution. The largest size of PM is 100 micrometres. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) defined by the European Union as an organic compound with a boiling point less than 250 C. In practice, VOCs evaporate readily, causing local air pollution and potential hazards to health. Emissions to air, land and water Larger organisations have to report emissions under the Climate Change Act They must record data on their emissions of greenhouse gases and transport gases. The gases that must be reported are: carbon dioxide methane nitrous oxide hydrofluorocarbons perfluorocarbons sulphur hexafluoride. A number of other emission types that you should be aware of include: oxides of nitrogen sulphur oxides particulate matter (PM) acids and organic chemicals nutrients and organic pollutants volatile organic compounds (VOCs) metal emissions. Road transport is the biggest generator of oxides of nitrogen (nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and nitric oxide (NO)); they are known to cause ground level ozone, which can cause ill health. Sulphur oxides are caused by the combustion of fossil fuels and can harm wildlife and contribute to acid rain. Particulate matter (PM) is made up of a wide range of materials classified by size from less than 1 µm (micrometre) up to 100 µm. Particulate matter over 100 µm is classified as heavy dust. Primary PM is emitted directly from source, for example dust arising from demolition or quarrying, and secondary PM is formed by reactions between other compounds in the atmosphere. Particulate matter of less than 10 µm (PM 10 ) can penetrate into the lungs, causing respiratory problems. 12

13 Some common metals are released into the atmosphere as dust or particulate matter. When this happens they eventually settle and accumulate on land and migrate into the soil and watercourses, where they can cause significant harm to the environment. Some metals are easily washed into watercourses where they can be taken into the food chain. Methods of assessing environmental impact Having looked at the categories in which work activities can affect the environment, we will now examine methods to assess the impact. There are a number of methods available to the assessor, including: process flow studies supply chain studies risk assessments space planning diagrams reporting of emissions. Key term Embodied energy the total amount of energy required to produce a manufactured product or material. Varying terminology includes cradle to gate and cradle to cradle. Process flow studies A process flow study is a detailed study of a process or activity that is presented as a flow chart. Each individual part of the process is broken down and an environmental impact may be made for each stage. The study might involve looking at inputs, processes and outputs. Outputs include the finished product, but also waste products from the manufacturing process. Inputs include the raw materials that are used to make the product, but also ancillary inputs such as maintenance items for the manufacturing process. The simplified process flow chart shown in Figure (on the next page) examines the delivery of ready-mixed concrete to a construction site. The inputs are: the raw materials to make concrete aggregate, sand, water and cement fuel and maintenance items for lorries operator s personal protective equipment (PPE) disposable items such as gloves and cleaning materials. The environmental impacts of the process include: carbon dioxide emissions due to transport to and from the site fuel use during transport water and aggregate use for the product (ready-mixed concrete) embodied energy of cement in the product storage of the cement the potential for hazard concerned with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) from using cement water use and waste disposal for washing out the lorry management of surplus product. For each area of environmental impact, an assessment should be made of the total cost of that part of the activity. For instance, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from the road journey should be estimated from the overall distance travelled, weight loading and efficiency data for the lorry. Water and resource usage should also be monitored. Data on the embodied energy of a wide variety of construction and engineering materials is widely available from a number of reliable sources. 13

14 Lorry queued to be loaded CO 2 emissions Lorry loaded with correct weight and mix Water and aggregate use Materials storage Lorry travels to site by road CO 2 emissions Lorry arrives at site; test sample taken Lorry unloads Waste product Lorry returns to depot by road CO 2 emissions Figure : A process flow chart for the delivery of ready-mixed concrete to a construction site. Lorry washed out Water use Waste water disposal Supply chain studies A close study of the supply chain of all the materials to your site, workshop or factory should reveal whether there are adverse environmental impacts due to the materials you are using, the supply route or the supplier. As a consumer of raw materials it may appear that you have little control over how those materials arrive at your factory or site; however, you may be able to examine alternative materials with a lower embodied energy, or use a supplier who offers a shorter supply route. Larger operators should compile data on the supply miles and total embodied energy of their raw materials. This data can then be used to determine whether there are feasible alternatives at the act stage of the environmental management system. Risk assessments Link NVQ Unit 6: Maintaining systems for health, safety, welfare and environmental protection in the workplace. Properly designed risk assessments will expose occupational or material hazards to human operatives and show how to minimise risks to workers by the use of control measures. Risk assessments will also highlight any potentially dangerous materials in your operations and whether there are correct procedures in place to store, handle and dispose of them. An example of a risk assessment can be seen in Figure (on the next page). It is important to note that every business will need to create their own risk assessments by thinking through the hazards and controls required in their business every business is different. 14

15 Company name: Picture frames and mounts Department: Workshop Step 1 Substance Date assessment made: Date discussed with employees: Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Action What is the hazard? What harm, and who? What are you doing already? What improvements do you need? Who? When? Check Breathing and skin contact with mounting spray Flammable; irritating to eyes, skin and respiratory system Framer short bursts from spray can Used on table near extractor fan (turned on) to avoid spraying on self Breathing in, and skin contact with, softwood dust Asthma and dermatitis in woodworkers Framer hand-sawing in mitre jig; sanding Skin checks Vacuum up at end of work day Fixing frames (super-glue) skin contact; fumes Irritating vapours; skin sensitisation; skin bonding Framer, assembling frame Used on table near extractor fan (turned on) good washing facilities Get disposable vinyl gloves Also: Action taken Action needed Thorough examination and test COSHH Supervision Instruction and training Emergency plans (fire) Warn about skin contact Health surveillance Skin checks Use asthma questionnaire Monitoring Step 5 Review date: None 1. Review your assessment make sure you are not sliding back. 2. Any significant change in the work? Check the assessment and change it if necessary. Figure : A sample risk assessment. Other hazards needing attention: Fire practice Activity Visit the Health and Safety Executive s (HSE s) website and view the advice on the five steps to risk assessment. Using the five steps methodology, produce a risk assessment for a work activity you have been involved in, or one that you are aware of, where there is a risk of injury to the operator or to the environment. Determine whether the process can be made safer, either by the improved use of control measures or by using a different method to carry out the task. Space planning diagrams Schematic diagrams of the working space can help to reduce the potential for materials wastage, as well as optimising production. This is particularly true in construction and demolition sites where the working area may often change in size and shape and space may often be at a premium. 15

16 Careful consideration of storage areas, transportation routes and the position of temporary buildings is advisable at the beginning of a construction project to ensure the best possible use of the site space. The management of manufacturing or production engineering can be improved in this way by using cellular manufacturing techniques, where equipment and workstations are arranged spatially to maximise efficiency. Figure shows a simplified example of how a factory producing an item with three main parts could be organised. Each part is constructed in its own cell before moving to the assembly area for completion of the end product. Cell 1 Task Task Task Task Cell 2 Incoming material Task Task Task Task Assembly area Outgoing product Figure : Cellular manufacturing techniques use space planning diagrams to maximise efficiency in manufacturing operations. Task Task Task Reporting of emissions Cell 3 Task The recording and reporting of environmental performance is now mandatory for certain companies. An environmental report will be contained within the annual directors report and this is discussed in greater detail in Topic guide How to minimise environmental impact Link NVQ Unit 35: Managing the environmental impact of work activities in manufacturing engineering. Key term Carbon offsetting investing in carbon reduction projects to compensate for your own gas emissions. The system is controversial and often criticised as it is perceived to allow companies to continue to pollute and pay for offsetting measures elsewhere. In this section, we will examine actions you can take to reduce the environmental impact of your activities. You could do this by modifying how you work or carry out certain tasks, or you may be involved in carbon offsetting, where the operator responsible for carbon emissions supports projects elsewhere that are reducing greenhouse gas emissions. If you are using carbon offsetting then the projects involved must satisfy a number of criteria, including independent verification and transparency. Having looked at how to assess the impact of your work activities, you should now be in a position to begin to take action to minimise the effects. There are many general, overarching techniques and policies, such as avoidance before mitigation, or the use of alternative, low-impact materials. We will now look at how to apply these techniques and policies in order to minimise the environmental impact for your own area of activity. 16

17 We will revisit the six categories identified earlier in relation to environmental impacts. 1 Greenhouse gases 2 Water 3 Waste 4 Materials and resource efficiency 5 Biodiversity/ecosystem services 6 Emissions to air, land and water Key terms Recoverable energy a system of generating heat or electrical energy from waste products, usually by incineration or decomposition. Examples include anaerobic digestion of animal waste products, or recycled cooking oil that is treated and used for road fuel. Microgeneration system a small electrical generation system, usually on a domestic scale and used to supplement grid supplies. Excess energy generated may be exported back to the grid for payment. Greenhouse gases We have looked at how to assess greenhouse gas emissions as a result of work activities and seen that they arise mainly from energy use, transport and combustion of fossil fuels. The construction and engineering industries are not only heavy consumers of energy and transport, but both industries create products that then use energy throughout their lifetimes. It is important, therefore, to not only look at reducing energy use in the production phase of operations but also in the life cycle of the product or, for the construction industry, the completed building. To reduce the production of greenhouse gases, operators must consider reducing transport emissions, principally from the road network. So, for example, rail haulage would be a possible option for the transport of bulk goods. Examining the energy supply and considering alternative sources of energy will address indirect greenhouse gas emissions from energy production. There may be a possibility of on-site generation of energy, particularly if the operations involve a waste product with recoverable energy such as biomass, which can be burned in a specialist boiler, or by designing and integrating a microgeneration system. Product designers and architects are increasingly aware of the need to assess the life cycle of their products and this can be factored into your company s commitment to reducing emissions. If a construction contractor can build houses that are responsible for a significant reduction in carbon emissions, or a product designer produces an appliance that uses less energy, then they are quantifiably reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases as a result of their work activities. Carbon offsetting projects can offer a cost-efficient way to balance emissions, but they must be independently verified to ensure compliance with UK reporting regulations. Water Consumption of water on an industrial scale and the condition of water being returned to source can have serious environmental effects. The construction and engineering industries use a lot of water, both in the manufactured product and as a cooling or cleaning agent. As discussed earlier, you need to be aware of the source of your water supply; it may be from a regional supplier and consequently from a managed resource, or it may be abstracted directly from a natural source. Both of these supply systems have the potential to deplete a natural resource, which is under stress in some areas. 17

18 A good measure to reduce the impact of water use is to harvest water for use on site. This will be particularly applicable to any large site-based operation, such as heavy engineering taking place in large covered areas with hard ground surfacing to exterior areas. Not only will this provide a certain amount of free water but it will also mitigate the effects of additional run-off from roofs and hard surfaces into the drainage system. In many areas, rainwater management is combined with the foul sewer, which can lead to blockages and flooding in periods of heavy rainfall. Grey water, i.e. water that is lightly contaminated by detergents from washing or laundry, may also be recycled and used in industrial applications. There is a growing industry designing and installing rainwater and grey water harvesting systems for new and existing buildings. Prevention Reuse or repair Recycle Recover Disposal Figure : The waste hierarchy. If you use water for cooling or washing, the quality and temperature should be monitored to ensure it is within acceptable limits before you return it to source (i.e. the natural environment). Water used for cooling will retain some of the heat as part of the heat exchange process and there may be the possibility of further heat exchange for reuse, thereby returning the water to its ambient temperature more quickly. Waste Environmentally aware operators need to know about, and implement, the waste hierarchy, as shown in Figure The waste hierarchy is a policy of waste minimisation, achieved by applying a hierarchy of actions, as follows. 1 Prevent waste by using materials more efficiently, precise ordering, etc. 2 Reuse materials as far as possible, or repair materials if possible for continued use before classifying as waste. 3 Recycle waste by reprocessing materials into a new product, often for the same purpose. 4 Recover energy from materials by anaerobic digestion, combustion or other means. 5 Disposal the least favoured option. Disposal will generally mean landfill, which is to be avoided as far as possible. In school-based initiatives, the waste hierarchy is sometimes condensed into the six Rs : Rethink Reuse Recycle Repair Reduce Refuse Some sectors of industry lend themselves particularly well to waste reduction and recycling. For example, construction demolition projects reuse or recycle a high percentage of steel or masonry structure buildings. Metal recycling has become an industry in itself: what was once considered scrap metal is now assessed for its economic value through reuse. Engineering firms routinely sell waste offcuts to metal recyclers instead of dumping the material or allowing it to degrade, and many companies reuse packaging products. The waste hierarchy should be prominently displayed in any areas where staff may discard materials without consideration, or in work areas that are large contributors to waste. 18

19 You may need to know about, and be involved in, waste management and in which case you are likely to apply for a waste transfer note. This is a short document that helps confirm you are managing waste in the correct way. If you are regularly dealing with the same type of waste and it is being transferred by the same carrier to and from the same sites, then you will be able to apply for a yearly note. Otherwise, you need to apply for a single use transfer note. Case study: Powder coating company cuts waste and makes savings A powder coating company in Wales has reduced its landfill waste by 50 per cent and is now aiming for zero waste to landfill. The company initiated a number of policies around waste materials, including reusing packaging, returning supplier packaging and recycling all card and paper waste. The company also began donating large card casings and paper to local arts charities. Savings were made on energy bills by investing in a curing oven, which operated at lower temperatures but retained the required finish quality, and new, more efficient spraying equipment provided resource savings. The savings made on manufacturing and waste management have contributed to a 29 per cent increase in turnover in the first year. Key term Forest Stewardship Council (FSC ) a timber certification and labelling system that promotes sustainable forestry management and chainof-custody transparency for timber sourcing. Materials and resource efficiency As discussed, materials efficiency is closely related to waste minimisation as the efficient use of resources naturally reduces waste output. Strategies to increase resource efficiency include examining the product design to see if it can be made using less material (this corresponds with the reduce item of the waste hierarchy), with more efficient use of bulk material such as metals, timber and aggregates. Extracted materials are critical to the engineering and construction industries; however, their extraction is responsible for a great deal of environmental impact and embodied energy use. The exception to this is timber that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC ). In this case, the timber is extracted from a responsibly managed source. Processing costs of timber are also environmentally very low in comparison to steel and concrete materials, which often carry out a similar structural function. It is for these reasons that timber manufacture is a growing trend in construction, especially in the residential new-build market. The use of timber instead of traditional masonry is an example of considering other materials and techniques to reduce the environmental impacts of projects. Other substitute materials within construction include the use of alternative types of aggregate to those traditionally quarried out of the ground (sometimes with severe environmental impact). These are known as secondary aggregates and are used in concrete manufacture or for fill material. Sources of secondary aggregates include: recycled construction masonry from demolition incinerator ash china clay manufacturing waste steelworks manufacturing waste. 19

20 Biodiversity/ecosystem services Biodiversity and ecosystem services refer to the functions of the ecosystem that provide us with valuable benefits, such as: crops clean air and food climate maintenance surface water management. As already stated, many industrial applications have an effect on ecosystems and you need to be able to minimise these impacts. Following a policy of avoidance before mitigation means preventing the impact of a project in the first place; this may mean re-thinking the project design process and designing out the cause of the environmental impact, or it may mean moving operations to a site where the impact will have less of an effect because the natural environment is different. Extraction of water is an example of this, and we have looked at alternatives such as rainwater and grey water harvesting. Surface water management is crucial to ecosystems and a natural management system should be implemented for any large land development hard surfaces that encourage run-off should be avoided and soakaway systems should be considered where possible. (Local authority building control departments already encourage the use of soakaway systems for rainwater management in new buildings and alterations to existing ones.) Swales can be integrated into the landscaping, providing both an aesthetic and ecological feature, along with flood management. Integrating the development or facility into the existing ecosystem will also help to mitigate the effects of operations. This can be done by the use of green roofs, which encourage local plant and wildlife, and the creation of other habitats close to those that already exist. As with materials and energy use, it is important to consider the ecological footprint of the product you are producing. Construction examples have already been discussed; engineering and product manufacturers must consider what their product will be used for, how it may affect the ecosystem during its lifetime and how the product may be disposed of at the end of its life. It may mean that the product needs to be redesigned using alternative, more easily recyclable materials, or it may be required to work in a different way. Emissions to air, land and water Your company is likely to be required to report the emissions of the six greenhouse gases. They are: carbon dioxide methane nitrous oxide hydrofluorocarbons perfluorocarbons sulphur hexafluoride. 20

21 A number of other emissions should be noted and recorded, with steps taken to minimise their impact. They are: oxides of nitrogen sulphur oxides particulate matter acids and organic chemicals nutrients and organic pollutants volatile organic compounds (VOCs) metal emissions. Emissions of oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and hydrocarbons can be mitigated by the careful management, maintenance and updating of transport vehicles. Strategies include investigating more efficient routes and the management of loads to prevent inefficient running of vehicles when they are empty. Emissions of other chemicals and VOCs are likely to be the result of an uncontrolled spill. You should have in place safe procedures for storage and transport to prevent a spill. Such measures might include: a bund wall around tanks (discussed in Unit 1) to contain at least 110 per cent of the largest tank volume in the event of an uncontrolled emission, spill kits of appropriate sizes to deal with the volumes of chemicals being stored and comprising absorbent containment materials such as sandbags, PPE for the operator and, if necessary, non-sparking equipment for flammable materials making sure that staff are trained and able to respond quickly in the case of a spill. Portfolio activity (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) 1 If you are not already a member of a professional organisation, determine which one best represents your occupation. Research the information they provide on how to reduce the environmental impact of your work activities. 2 Then, gather information from the Environment Agency, The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, WRAP, and other government-sponsored agencies that are relevant to your work activities. Carry out a detailed study of the environmental impacts of your work activities, as discussed in this topic guide. 3 Organise your information in terms of the professional and official advice available, presented alongside the actual measures taken in your workplace or in your own occupation. 4 Conclude the study with a critical assessment of how well you are implementing advice, or how effective the professional advice is to the operator. Checklist At the end of this topic guide you should be familiar with: how to identify and use specialist agencies for advice and guidance on environmental matters how to assess the impact of your work activities on the environment how to minimise the impact of your work activities on the environment. 21