Aspect and Impacts Training

May 2015

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 CONTENTS
Identify Operation , Activity and Service

Identify all Environmental aspects

Prepare Inventories of All Environmental Aspect

Evaluate The Significance of The Environmental

Aspect

Document The Significance of The Environmental

Aspect

May 2015

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Safety First

What to do in case of emergency

– Exit doors location

– Assembly Point location

– What to do at the Assembly

points

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Man and the environment

• Interference of man in natural environmental

processes is increasing with population
growth and technology advancements;

• Human life depends on the environment and

its complex relations;

• Man needs to understand the consequences

of his actions and minimize damage to the
environment → Main reason for studying
environmental management

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Stage 1 : Identify Operation , Activity and Service

Review of all Applicable legislation

• A review of applicable legislation should be in place prior to
the evaluation of environmental aspects.

• This document should identify all relevant legislation and

detail the implications for the organisation regarding
compliance.

• This is particularly important as an environmental aspect

which is subject to legislation will automatically be seen as
a significant environmental aspect.

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Stage 1 : Identify Operation , Activity and Service

Divide the organization into Areas

• The identification and evaluation of environmental aspects can be
quite an extensive exercise and is probably the most time consuming
exercise.

• The concept of dividing the organisation into manageable areas is to

make the exercise easier by addressing smaller areas rather than the
complete organisation in one go.

• The most systematic way to identify an organisation’s environmental

aspects is to initially divide the organisation into a number of
manageable sub-units. These sub-units will cover a series of
operations, activities and services.

• An individual should be assigned responsibility for each area and for

identifying environmental aspects within their area. This proposed
system provides ownership of the process for the particular area and
also makes updating of environmental aspects, following
organisational changes, a more straightforward task.

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Stage 1 : Identify Operation , Activity and Service

Identify all Operations, Activities and Services within Areas

• The individual with assigned responsibility for a given area should then list all of the
individual activities that are conducted within his area.

• This list should be as comprehensive as possible and include all operations, activities and
services irrespective of their perceived impact on the environment.

• Depending upon the size of the area concerned then a team rather than an individual
approach may be beneficial.

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Stage 1 : Identify Operation , Activity and Service

 Raw materials  Packing

- purchase
- delivery
- handling
- storage
 Production  Waste
- Processing stage 1 (e.g. mixing) - Handling
- Processing stage 2 (e.g. - Segregation
pasteurisation) - Disposal
- Processing stage 3 etc
 Cleaning  Distribution
- Manual washing - Vehicle washing
- Drum washings - Lorry transport

 Utility Systems  Laboratory

- Steam generation / distribution - Fume extraction
- Compressed air raising / distribution - Experimentation
- Refrigeration plant - Samples sent to customers
- Welding - Disposal of chemicals
- Diesel generators
- LPG / fuel storage
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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental aspects

Type of Environmental Aspect

Direct and Indirect
Direct environmental aspects are those environmental aspects
over which the organisation has direct control, e.g. the air
emission from a site operated boiler house.

Indirect environmental aspects are those environmental aspects

which are not caused by the organisation, but over which the
organisation can reasonably be expected to have an influence,
e.g. materials purchased centrally by the parent organisation, air
emissions from a power station not operated by the organisation
but whose power the organisation uses etc.

Direct environmental aspects are fairly straightforward to

identify although indirect environmental aspects are more
difficult.

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental aspects

Type of Environmental Aspect

Normal, Abnormal and Emergency
• Current operations will need to be assessed for their impact
during normal everyday operation, abnormal operation, e.g.
start up, shut down, trials etc., and during emergency
conditions.

• The probability of an emergency situation arising may be quite

low, although the environmental consequences (or impact)
could be severe.

• Emergency conditions should cover foreseeable situations such

as : failure of abatement equipment, fire, flood, storm, vehicular
collision, catastrophic loss of containment, explosion,
earthquake and vandalism.

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental aspects

Type of Environmental Aspect

Past, Present and Planned Operations

• It is most likely that the majority of the environmental

aspects that are judged to be significant will arise from
current activities.

• However, there can be environmental impacts associated

with past activities within the organization and these
impacts would need to be taken into account, e.g. past
activities which have left land contaminated that could cause
pollution of groundwater.

• The environmental aspects associated with future planned

activities will also need to be assessed to determine their
potential environmental impact e.g. new raw materials, new
facilities, changes to the production capacity on a
manufacturing site, etc.

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental aspects

Identify Input and Output

Each operation, activity and service identified in stage 1 should be assessed in terms of its inputs
and outputs. This type of approach is commonly referred to as the “black box approach“

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental aspects

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental aspects
Black Box Typical Input
• energy use (electricity, fuel, renewable,
other)
• water consumption (mains, grey, other)
• use of fuels (petroleum, diesel,
alternatives, other)
• land use (natural habitats, open space,
landscapes, sensitive areas, agricultural,
other)
• use of raw or secondary materials
(chemicals, oils, aggregates, metals,
plastic, paper, other)
• procured services from suppliers
• use of natural resources
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Black Box Typical Output
• air emissions (CO2, ozone depleting
substances, organic carbon, SOx, NOx etc)
• wastes and by-products generated
(handling, storage, transportation)
• impacts on land (contamination, natural
habitats, open space agriculture, sensitive
areas)
• discharge of thermal energy
• generation of noise, dust, odour or
vibration
• transport
• products (packaging, transport, use and
disposal)
• impacts on natural resources and eco-
systems including wildlife
• visual impact
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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental Aspects

Environmental Aspect Categories

In order to standardize the approach to identifying environmental aspects a
standard list of environmental aspect categories has been devised.

All identified environmental aspects should fall under one of these categories.
This list is shown below :
1. Air emissions (including odour)
2. Liquid effluent discharge to a water course (e.g. surface water)
3. Liquid effluent discharge to municipal plant (or third party)
4. Liquid and solid waste
5. Materials use
6. Energy use
7. Water use
8. Land contamination
9. Noise
10. Visual
11. Natural environment (including fauna, flora and landscape effects)

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental Aspects

Identify Associated Environmental Impacts

• Environmental impacts are the actual or potential changes to the environment as a
result of the environmental aspect.

• The associated environmental impact of every identified environmental aspect

should be defined.

• Environmental impacts generally fall into 2 classifications : impact on the

environment and resource consumption.

• The impact on the environment will also include the potential for environmental
emissions to have a knock-on effect in terms of human health.

• The identification of environmental impacts should take into account local

impacts, regional impacts and also global impacts.

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental Aspects

Aspect Category Environmental Impacts

Air emissions  Local air pollution, odour
 Harm to human health
 Global warming
 Acid rain
 Ozone depletion
 Photochemical smog
Surface water  Water pollution
 Breach of consent
 Harm to human health
 Harm to eco-systems
Liquid effluent  Breach of consent
 Load on treatment works
Solid waste  Use of fossil fuels in transport
 Potential water pollution
 Methane emissions
Materials use  Depletion of natural resources
 Use of harmful materials
 Impacts from extraction process
Energy use  Use of fossil fuels
 Global warming
 Acid rain
Water use  Depletion of water resources
 Impact on rivers
 Impact on wildlife
Land contamination  Pollution of ground
 Pollution of groundwater
 Pollution of surface water
Noise  Possible nuisance to neighbours
Visual  Possible nuisance to neighbours
Natural environment  Harm to aquatic eco-systems
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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental Aspects

ASPECT CATEGORY DIRECT ASPECT EXAMPLES IMPACTS

Air emissions Normal/abnormal

Boiler plant:
- Particulate, SOx, NOx from fuel oil (boilers), - Local air pollution, acid rain
standby diesel generators
- CO2 from oil and gas - Greenhouse emissions
Transport
- Own vehicle emissions - As above
Emergency
Accidental releases of gases, vapours - Local air pollution.
- Accidental release of VOCs - Some solvents are also ozone
- Release of CFCs, HFCs in air conditioning depleters
Fires
- Release of halons if present in fire extinguishers
- Smoke from potential fire

Surface water Normal

- Site runoff
Emergency
- Particulates from earthmoving
- Risk of spill/leak from oil, acid, alkalis or other - Water pollution
drummed/bulk liquids,
cooling water drain down

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental Aspects

ASPECT CATEGORY DIRECT ASPECT EXAMPLES IMPACTS

Normal
Liquid effluent - Domestic - Load on STW (treatment works)
- Consented discharge of process waste water
- Total solids
Emergency
- Risk of oily acid, alkalis or other unconsented - Harm to treatment works and/or
discharge breach of consent
Liquid/Solid Waste Normal -May be recycled otherwise
Special Waste landfilled or incinerated
- Liquids: Oils, thinners, greases, (aspects from recycling include energy
- Solids: Contaminated containers use and emissions in transport and
- Laboratory reprocessing; aspects from landfill
- Clinical and sanitary include transport, potential water
General pollution and methane emissions if not
- Paper recovered; aspects from incineration
- Plastic include transport, potential air pollution,
- Scrap paper landfill of residues and energy
- Returnable materials generation at some incinerators)
- Wooden pallets,
- Cardboard, plastic packaging
- Catering waste
- Office waste
Abnormal
- Construction waste

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental Aspects

ASPECT CATEGORY DIRECT ASPECT EXAMPLES IMPACTS

Materials use - Lubricating/ hydraulic oils - Use of natural resources.

- Packaging materials (depletion of non-renewables,
- CFCs/HFCs in air conditioning - Possible over exploitation of
- Office materials renewables).
- Catering materials - Use of harmful (toxic) materials

Energy use - Electricity - Fossil fuels

- Compressed air - Extraction and use of finite sources
- Natural gas, propane other energy sources,
- Diesel for forklifts, standby generators - Greenhouse emissions, acid rain
- Petrol/diesel for vehicles

Water use - Dust suppression - Contribution to depletion of water

- Domestic resources: impacts on rivers and
- Systems cleaning (C.I.P.) wildlife in some areas
- Cooling water
(closed system normally)

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental Aspects

ASPECT CATEGORY DIRECT ASPECT EXAMPLES IMPACTS

Land contamination - Risk from oil acid, alkalis or other - Possible pollution of
spills or leaks from pipes and tanks ground, ground water and
- Possible contamination from past surface water
site activities

Noise - Vehicles and deliveries - Possible nuisance to

neighbours
Visual - Buildings and structures - Possible nuisance to
neighbours
Natural environment - Potential spills to surface water - Potential harm to aquatic
and spills to land and associated ecosystems
- New developments/ modifications and wildlife
to site - Possible harm to wildlife
- Enhancements to site, local or habitat
wider natural environment - Potential benefits for
natural environment

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental Aspects

ASPECT CATEGORY INDIRECT ASPECT EXAMPLES IMPACTS

Air emissions Upstream
- Particulates, SOx, NOx, CO2, CO, oil refining, polymerisation, - Local air pollution
chemical processing, transport. - Greenhouse emissions
- Hydrocarbons from venting, flaring from oil and gas - Acid rain (SOx, NOx)
extraction and refining. - Ozone layer depletion (refrigerants)
- Odours from animal rendering.
Downstream:
- Vehicle emissions from transport and distribution.
- Methane from landfill waste disposal or emissions from
incineration.

Surface water Upstream;

- Water pollution from oil extraction, transport and refining - Potential water pollution, harm to
- Risk of spills from other processes human health and ecosystems
Downstream
- Potential detergent pollution from transport vehicle
maintenance/washing
- Potential water pollution from landfill of waste
As above

Liquid effluent - Office discharges - Load on STW (treatment works)

- Potential harm to STW /breach of
consent

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental Aspects

ASPECT CATEGORY INDIRECT ASPECT EXAMPLES IMPACTS

Liquid/solid waste - Waste in product use (e.g. packaging) - May be recycled otherwise
-End of life waste landfilled or incinerated (potential air/water
pollution

Materials use - Hazardous materials - Depletion of natural resources. - Pollution and

- Other materials including packaging environmental
- Wastes in use - Impacts from extraction /primary production.
- End of life waste - Potential harm to ecosystem.

Energy use Upstream - Extraction and use of fossil fuels or other

- Energy use in transport, refining, raw material energy sources.
production
Downstream
- Energy used in product transport distribution and
use
Product use

Water use Upstream - Contribution to depletion of water resources:

- Water use in extraction impacts on rivers and wildlife.
Downstream
- Water use in industrial processes

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Stage 2 : Identify all Environmental Aspects

ASPECT CATEGORY INDIRECT ASPECT EXAMPLES IMPACTS

Land contamination - Land contamination in extraction and - Possible pollution of groundwater
refining or processing by suppliers and watercourses

Noise - Noise in supplier activities - Possible nuisance to neighbours

Visual - Supplier operations, buildings and - Possible nuisance to neighbours

structures.

Natural environment - Harmful active ingredients, transport - Depends on location and material
refining - Potential harm to wildlife/
ecosystems from resource extraction
or pollution

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Stage 3 : Prepare Inventories of All Environmental Aspect

Inventories
• The black box analysis will potentially generate a large number of
forms detailing the inputs and outputs for the range of operations,
activities and services identified.

• It is recommended that the inventories are compiled by the

organization's “competent” person or EHS supervisor / manager
using the black box analyses.

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Stage 3 : Prepare Inventories of All Environmental Aspect

NO ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT ACTIVITY

1 Discharge from effluent pre-treatment plant to foul Wastewater treatment
water sewer – COD and pH
2 Use of cleaning chemicals Cleaning
3 Discharge from effluent treatment plant-volume Wastewater treatment
4 Use of ammonia for refrigeration Refrigeration
5 Asbestos in buildings and its disposal Disposal of hazardous material
6 Project Focus (See project Focus File) Site wide activities
7 Use of water treatment chemicals Water treatment
8 Use of heating oil Heating
9 Use of liquid nitrogen Provision of cooling
10 Legionella potential from cooling towers Water treatment
11 Use of electricity Provision of utilities
12 Use of gas Steam generation
13 Off site disposal of fat and grease Disposal of waste
14 Disposal of general waste Disposal of waste
15 Use of water Provision of utilities
16 Type and sourcing of raw materials and packaging Raw materials and packaging purchase
17 Disposal of domestic sewage Wastewater disposal
18 Disposal of small batteries Disposal of waste
19 Bunding of oil storage facilities North Road Oil storage
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Stage 3 : Prepare Inventories of All Environmental Aspect

NO ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT ACTIVITY

20 Air and health risks from hoses, sinks and showers Cleaning

21 Delivery of ammonia Refrigeration

22 Disposal of cardboard / packaging – general waste Disposal of waste

23 General nuisance due to contractors activities Contractor activities

24 Use / disposal of paper and toner cartridges Disposal of waste
25 Leaks from skips to yard drains Storage of waste
26 Leaks from chemical containers – Engineering stores area Storage of chemicals

27 New products /new processes Innovation activities

28 Spillages from bulk chemical stores (North Rd ) to Storage of bulk chemicals

effluent
29 Disposal of small batteries and mercury switches Disposal of hazardous waste material

30 Delivery of bulk oil Raw material delivery

31 Delivery of hydrochloric acid Raw material delivery
32 Solids from Drain Cleaning Disposal of waste
33 Storage of flammable essences Raw material storage
34 Pumping of boiler house bunds Fuel oil storage

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Stage 3 : Prepare Inventories of All Environmental Aspect

NO ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT ACTIVITY

35 Disposal of recycled oils contaminated by ammonia Disposal of waste
36 Drainage from Lorry Wash Wastewater disposal
37 Discharge from surface water drains to Horsebere Containment of rainwater
Brook
38 Disposal of oil/solvent waste Disposal of waste
39 Disposal of redundant chemicals Disposal of waste
40 Spillage of wet waste on public highway (potential) Storage of waste
41 Storage of water treatment chemicals and oil near Storage of chemicals
surface water drains
42 Disposal of empty plastic containers Disposal of waste
43 Recycling spent packaging Disposal of waste
44 Use of pesticides Gardening
45 Disposal of fluorescent tubes Disposal of hazardous waste
46 Disposal of batter waste Disposal of waste
47 Use of halons / freon Various site activities
48 Removal of empty chemical containers (water Disposal of packaging
treatment) from site
49 Use of lubricating oils Various site activities
50 Disposal of empty containers Disposal of waste packaging
51 Use of garden chemicals Gardening
52 Disposal of empty food containers (Metal) Disposal of waste packaging

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Stage 3 : Prepare Inventories of All Environmental Aspect

NO ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT ACTIVITY

53 Noise and smell from general operations and Site wide activities
transport
54 Disposal of solid food waste Disposal of waste
55 Disposal of empty food buckets Disposal of waste packaging
56 Broken Pallets sent for repair/recycling Recycling waste
57 Use of Calcium Chloride Chemical handling/use
58 Disposal of scrap metal Disposal of waste
59 Clinical waste disposal Disposal of hazardous waste
60 Traffic effects from employees vehicles Provision of on-site car parking
61 Emissions from boiler house Steam generation
62 Disposal of liquid food waste Disposal of waste
63 No Direct Discharge to Horsebere Brook Wastewater treatment

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 Stage 3 : Prepare Inventories of All Environmental Aspect

Env.
Normal/ Pollutant Controlle Direct
Asp Dispos Risk
Activity/ Abnormal emitted / d/ Type of / Regul Severi
ect Aspect Area Impact al Regulation Likelih Assess Significance Evaluated by
Product/ Service Emergenc Waste Monitore Aspect Indire ated ty
ID Route ood ment
y Name d (prior) ct
Score
Analysis of Air Decree No
Gasses Air
1 Quality Lab incoming Normal Gasses Yes emission Direct Air Yes 710 of year 2 3 5 NO
Emission Pollution
materials and FP s 2012
Analysis of
Solid Solid Materials Solid
2 Quality Lab incoming Normal Yes Direct Sold No No 2.0 3 6 NO
Waste Waste Use Waste
materials and FP
Load on
Analysis of treatment Ministerial
Liquid Liquid Liquid
3 Quality Lab incoming Normal work / Yes Direct Landfill Yes Decree 4 3 12 Yes
Waste Waste Waste
materials and FP material No.44/2000
use
Plastics Solid Materials Solid
4 Quality Lab Waste Disposal Normal Yes Direct Sold No No 2 3 6 NO
Bags Waste Use Waste
Storing
Chemicals/Prepar Gasses +
Chemical Materials Liquid
5 Quality Lab ation of Chemical Abnormal Liguid Yes Direct Landfill No No 1 4 4 NO
Spillage Use Waste
Reagents/Waste Waste
Disposal
Ministerial
Liquid Materials Liquid
6 Oil Waste Quality Lab Waste Disposal Normal Yes Direct Landfill Yes Decree 4 3 12 Yes
Waste Use Waste
No.44/2000
Media
Microbiolog Analysis of Raw Media Materials Solid
7 Dishes Normal Yes Direct Landfill Yes Law 9/2009 2 4 8 NO
ical Lab Materials & FG Dishes Use Waste
Waste

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Stage 4 – Evaluate The Significance of The Environmental Aspect

• In order to enhance the process of prioritising environmental aspects the likelihood and
severity parameters are assigned numerical values. The risk assessment methodology
calculates the product of the likelihood and severity in order to assign a number to the
overall risk.

• The scoring system is based on a simplistic approach of directly assigning numbers to

likelihood and severity.

• The likelihood, or the probability for an environmental aspect to occur, should be assigned
with a number between 1 and 4 with 1 representing no likelihood or very little chance and 4
representing a frequent or permanent chance of occurrence.

• Similarly, the severity of the environmental harm resulting from the impact should be
assigned a number between 1 and 4 with 1 representing little harm or reversible impact and
4 representing a serious incident with major impact.

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Stage 4 – Evaluate The Significance of The Environmental Aspect

Likelihood

• The assessment of likelihood will need to take into account the following contributory factors
:
- the frequency at which the process / activity / service is performed
- the duration of the environmental aspect
- the control measures in place

• A high number for likelihood will indicate regular occurrence under normal working
conditions whereas a low value will indicate that the environmental aspect only occurs under
abnormal or emergency situations.

• When considering the likelihood/frequency of an occurrence then the

effectiveness/reliability of the control measures in place are taken into account.

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Stage 4 – Evaluate The Significance of The Environmental Aspect

Severity
• The assessment of severity should take into account the following
factors :
- the potency of the potential impact on the environment
- the proximity / vulnerability of sensitive receptors
- the amount or volume involved

• When assessing the severity of a possible impact, then any measures

in place controlling an aspect are ignored. It is assumed therefore
that the aspect has occurred.

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Stage 4 – Evaluate The Significance of The Environmental Aspect

Risk Rating Interpretation

Severity 4 -Severe impact, likely to cause significant harm to the environment

3 -Moderate impact, potential to cause harm to the environment

2 -Minor impact, may cause some harm to the environment
1 -No or negligible impact

Likelihood 4 -Ongoing / very likely

3 -Regular (>once per week), likely
2 -Sporadic (>once per year), not very likely
1 -Never, highly improbable

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Stage 4 – Evaluate The Significance of The Environmental Aspect

Selection of Significant Environmental Aspects

• The risk assessment methodology should set a level as to the significance score which will
then allow all identified environmental aspects to be designated as significant or not.

• For example, this could be all environmental aspects scoring greater than 8.

• This is effectively a process whereby the significant environmental aspects can be prioritised.

• The organisation should select the significant environmental aspects that it intends to
address as part of the continual improvement process. This selection may not include all of
the significant environmental aspects identified.

• Indeed the organisation may choose to select, say, the top 5 significant environmental
aspects with the highest scores.

• All aspects which related to legalisation should be considered as Significant Aspect

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Stage 5 : Document The Significance of The Environmental Aspect

Good practice in this area would be to detail the identified

environmental aspects in a register.

The register should ideally contain the following information for

each significant environmental aspect :
Aspect ID - Aspect Name - Area - Activity / Product / Service
Normal / Abnormal / Emergency - Pollutant Emitted - Impact
Controlled / Monitored - Type of Aspect - Direct / Indirect
Disposal Route - Regulation - Likelihood / Severity
Environmental Scoring - Significant

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 Questions?

June 26, 2014

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