Introduction
Your company could pollute the environment by releasing a material that harms the water environment, causes air pollution and land contamination, and harms wildlife or people.
Pollutants are more than just dangerous compounds such as chemicals. Pollution may be caused by substances such as food and drink goods such as milk, as well as surface water run-off carrying oil, fuel, or suspended sediments.
If you handle or store potentially hazardous or polluting substances, you should take care to avoid accidents and mitigate the impacts of possible contamination.
If there is a possibility that your site will create a pollution incident, you may be required to take action to mitigate the risk. If you generate substantial pollution, you may be required to pay to repair the harm.
Good pollution prevention practice
You should take precautions to prevent the possibility of contamination from your site. Most pollution accidents can be avoided if good environmental practices are followed.
You should do an environmental risk assessment to better understand the pollution dangers on your property. This will assist you in planning for crises and determining what action you need to take to control your activities and avoid a pollution disaster.
Safely store and handle hazardous substances
Hazardous materials, fuel, oil, and chemicals should be stored safely and in a place where spills can be contained, such as a bund or other adequate secondary containment system.
Your bund and any bunded pallets should be able to hold at least 110% of the volume of the largest tank or 25% of the total volume you expect to store, whichever is greater.
You should go over storage spaces and containers on a regular basis. Keep storage areas away from streams, drains, and unpaved areas.
Prevent water pollution caused by site drainage
Uncontrolled releases or leaks might contaminate your surface water drainage system. Areas used to store or deliver hazardous or polluting goods, as well as refueling areas, should be clearly marked. Use bunds, drainage gullies, elevated kerbs, or adequate falls to separate them from the surface water drainage system.
Keep an updated drainage plan and color code your drains to prevent contamination from your drainage system.
Be prepared to clean up spills
You should maintain spill kits or other pollution control equipment on hand to contain inadvertent spills and leaks. Portable spill kits should be kept in vehicles that transport hazardous substances and waste. Make sure you can quickly access your spill kit when you need it.
Prepare a spill response plan for dealing with pollution incidents. Ensure that your personnel is familiar with the method and understands how to carry it out.
If a spill occurs, respond quickly to prevent it from entering drains or surface waters. Use absorbent materials, for example, to assist control the spread of oil and soak it up, as well as drain blockers to protect surface water drains. To avoid pollution, waste should be stored and transported.
You are responsible for safely and legally storing and transporting your waste. You must take precautions to guarantee that your waste does not hurt the environment.
You must also:
Waste should be stored and transported in appropriate containers, such as skips.
Containers should be clearly labeled with their contents.
Separate hazardous waste from other sorts of waste.
Ensure that no materials seep into the ground, waterways, or drains.
Check your site and storage facilities for security on a regular basis.
To prevent pollution from run-off from your waste, store it on impermeable surfaces (such as concrete), ideally with a bund.
Avoid bothering the neighbors
Your site’s dust, fumes, or noise emissions may annoy your neighbors. If your local district council receives a complaint, they may request that you decrease or eliminate the nuisance, or they may require that you perform work to minimize or eliminate it.
Use a management system for the environment
Using an environmental management system, your company may limit its environmental effect and the danger of harming the environment (EMS). An EMS will assist you in planning and managing your activities, such as emissions and discharges, resource consumption, and waste.