Pollution Incident Response Management Plan v1.1

Transcription

1 Tarmac Sawmilling Pty Ltd Pollution Incident Response Management Plan v1.1 Updated February 2016

2 Version control Date Description Name 20/1/16 v1.0 Draft PIRMP Jennifer Baldwin 11/2/16 V1.1 Approved PIRMP Laurie Spaulding 2

3 Contents 1 Introduction Tarmac Sawmilling operations Tarmac Sawmilling location Tarmac Sawmilling site layout Potential pollutants The Plan 3.1 Description and likelihood of hazards Pre-emptive actions to be taken to reduce risks Inventory of pollutants Safety equipment Managing an incident Communicating with neighbours and the local community Minimising harm to persons on the premises Actions to be taken during or after a pollution incident Staff training Making the Plan available Testing the Plan...8 Attachment A Inventory of pollutants...9 3

4 1 Introduction This Pollution Incident Response Management Plan (the Plan) describes how Tarmac Sawmilling Pty Ltd (Tarmac Sawmilling) will prepare for and respond to a pollution incident occurring on its mill site at 2902 Old Tenterfield Rd, Busby s Flat, NSW. A pollution incident is defined to mean an incident or set of circumstances during or as a consequence of which there is or is likely to be a leak, spill or other escape or deposit of a substance, as a result of which pollution has occurred, is occurring or is likely to occur. The objectives of this Plan are to: ensure comprehensive and timely communication about a pollution incident to staff at the premises, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), other relevant authorities (such as local councils, NSW Ministry of Health, WorkCover NSW, and Fire and Rescue NSW) and people outside the facility who may be affected by the impacts of the pollution incident; minimise and control the risk of a pollution incident at the site by the identification of risks and the development of planned actions to minimise and manage those risks; and ensure that the Plan is properly implemented by trained staff, identifying persons responsible for implementing it, and ensuring that the plan is routinely tested at least every 12 months for accuracy, currency and suitability. If a pollution incident occurs in the course of our operations so that material harm to the environment is caused or threatened, Tarmac Sawmilling will immediately implement this Plan. Tarmac Sawmilling is the holder of Environment Protection Licence No This Plan complies with the requirements introduced by the Protection of the Environment Legislation Amendment Act Tarmac Sawmilling operations Tarmac Sawmilling undertakes the milling of softwood logs purchased from Forests NSW and delivered to the site by commercial transport operators. The milling process generates packs of sawn timber as well as woodchip, sawdust and bark residues that are sold to bulk distributors. All materials are collected from the site by commercial transport operators. No waste is generated and therefore no waste disposal operations occur. 1.2 Tarmac Sawmilling location Tarmac Sawmilling site is located approximately 12km west of the village of Rappville in NSW, adjoining the Old Tenterfield Road. The site is approximately 15 hectares, within which the milling operations cover approximately 5 hectares. The area surrounding the site is bushland on three sides and open grazing land on one side. The only residence within 1km of the site is the mill manager s residence which is situated approximately 250m from the closest milling operations area. 4

5 1.3 Tarmac Sawmilling site layout 5

6 2 Potential pollutants Tarmac Sawmilling uses the following potential pollutants in its operations: Diesel fuel LPG gas Oxy acetylene gas Oils and lubricants Tarmac Sawmilling, as required by workplace health and safety laws, displays notification of these hazardous materials on site. Tarmac Sawmilling stores the following potential fire hazards on site: Packs of sawn timber in various states of air drying Woodchip contained in an outside concrete bay Sawdust contained in an overhead hopper Bark chips piled in the log yard On-site effluent is stored in septic tanks. 3 The Plan 3.1 Description and likelihood of hazards The main potential hazards to human health or the environment associated with our operations are fuel spillage and fire. The likelihood of fuel spillage causing harm is not considered significant. The volume of chemicals and fuels stored on the site are relatively low, there is no watercourse in the near vicinity and we have abundant sawdust on site to contain and collect any spills before they reach open ground. Gas leaks are not considered to represent a significant threat. Fire is our most significant risk. However, the likelihood of a fire is low, due mostly to the green state of the logs, sawn timber and residues (i.e. bark, woodchip and sawdust). The mill has been operating for approximately 40 years and has not experienced a serious fire incident. 3.2 Pre-emptive actions taken to reduce risks Pre-emptive actions to lessen the risk of an incident occurring include: Gas bottles are stored away from the buildings, which are open on all sides allowing free flow of air Diesel fuel is stored away from the buildings A grassed perimeter of at least 100m is maintained between the site operations and adjoining land. Grass is mowed weekly except in winter Fire hoses are installed in areas where timber is worked and stored Packs of sawn timber are stored on hard surfaces away from the main buildings A fire-fighting cart is maintained on site and tested regularly Compressed air is used to sweep and tidy floor surfaces so there is no waste water leaving the site All visitors (except truck drivers) are required to sign the visitors book on arrival. Prominent signs advertise the requirement. 6

7 3.3 Inventory of pollutants See Attachment A for a list of chemicals used in the mill operations, including storage arrangements and quantities. 3.4 Safety equipment All timber workers at the mill are issued with safety glasses, gloves and high-visibility vests. Fire hoses and extinguishers are located prominently in working areas. 3.5 Managing an incident The following staff are authorised to manage the response and notify relevant authorities in the event of an incident: Laurie Spaulding Mill Manager or Andrew Gulliver Production Manager or Response plan 1. Firstly, call 000 if the incident presents an immediate threat to human health or property. Fire and Rescue NSW, the NSW Police and the NSW Ambulance Service are the first responders, as they are responsible for controlling and containing incidents. 2. In the case of a major fuel or chemical spill, if the incident does not require an initial combat agency, or once the 000 call has been made, notify the relevant authorities in the following order. the EPA Environment Line Lismore Public Health Unit (bh) (ah) the WorkCover Authority phone Richmond Valley Council (02) Fire and Rescue NSW phone only if the situation does not warrant calling 000 as a first point of notification 3.6 Communicating with neighbours and the local community Given the isolation of the Tarmac Sawmilling site and its distance from a water course it is not considered necessary to undertake extensive community notification of any fuel or chemical spills or fire on the mill premises. However, in the event of a spill Tarmac Sawmilling undertakes to notify the adjoining property holders if the spill escapes the mill site. 3.7 Minimising harm to persons on the premises In the event of an incident requiring evacuation, the alarm will be sounded and all staff and visitors will assemble at a designated marshalling area (see site map). The Mill Manager will ensure that all staff members and visitors are accounted for by ensuring that the time sheets and visitors book are collected from the Office. Regular evacuation drills are undertaken to familiarise staff with the procedures. 7

8 3.8 Actions to be taken during or immediately after a pollution incident Immediately following a spill, action will be taken to remove personnel from the affected area and to apply first aid where needed. Contaminated clothing and skin/eyes/hair will be flushed with water for a minimum of 15 minutes before seeking medical treatment. Spilled chemicals or fuel will be covered as soon as possible with sawdust to minimise further movement and to assist with cleaning up. If the spill is too large to be effectively cleaned up by our staff we will engage a commercial waste disposal contractor to remove the contaminated sawdust from the site. 3.9 Staff training Staff training is undertaken at regular toolbox talks and reinforced with regular emergency drills. 4 Making the Plan available A copy of this Plan is kept in the Office of Tarmac Sawmilling and is available to an authorised officer on request. A copy of this Plan is also available on the website of the Tarmac Timber Group at 5 Testing the Plan This Plan will be tested routinely at least once every 12 months. The testing is to be carried out in such a manner as to ensure that the information included in the plan is accurate and up to date, and that the Plan is capable of being implemented in a workable and effective manner. The two usual methods of testing are undertaking desktop simulations and practical exercises or drills. Testing must cover all components of the plan, including the effectiveness of training. The results of the testing will be reported to the company s Directors and will include the following information: the manner in which the Plan was tested the dates on which it was tested and the name of the staff members who carried out the testing the dates that the Plan was updated The Plan will also be tested within one month of any pollution incident occurring on the site to assess, in the light of that incident, whether the information included in the Plan is accurate and up to date, and that the Plan is still capable of being implemented in a workable and effective manner. END 8

9 Inventory of pollutants Attachment A Chemical Storage type Maximum storage capacity Typical quantity on hand Diesel Above ground tank 15,000 litres 6,000 litres LPG 15kg Cylinders 300kg 200kg 9