Environmental Risks - Assignment Example

Environmental Risks Part I: of Environmental Risks Environmental Risks Management of environmental risks has become a necessity to many companies in today’s world. Initially, companies focused on profit making and neglected hazards it impacted to employees, the society and its environs. With the advancement of technology and massive degradation of resources, most companies have embarked of mitigating issues. Moral, legal and economic issues have compelled organizations not only to focus on profit making but also to take care of its environment. Risks refer to a hazard or a danger. This may imply an exposure to a peril or mischance. In a different context, risk can be interpreted as a probability or chance that a suffering or loss may occur for example a flood hazard or flood risk. Risk as a hazard justifies an event of adverse consequences. The magnitude of risk is related to the degree of its consequences. Risk as a probability defines risk in the context of evaluation based on probability of a catastrophe. This is implicated in the Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 1981, p.44). An accident may occur as a result of a spontaneous natural origin or a human action. The human action could be administrative or physical (Clemens, 1993, p.65) Compare and Contrast Environmental risk and H&S risks Health and safety applies to work environment of employees. In any working environment, employees are exposed to different hazards, threats and environmental pollutants. The hazards, threats and environmental pollutants probably lead to harm, loss to life (human life or animal life), intellectual property, facilities or damage to institutional reputation. This category includes occupational safety, fire and life safety, environmental affairs, and emergencies. For example, a chemical hazard at the workplace is a potential health risk worth mitigation. Occupational health and safety focuses on areas of special hazards like art studios, facilities such as a physical plant, shops and trades, grounds maintenance, hazardous waste collection storage and processing units, laboratory animal facilities and such like. The Bhopal disaster is a vivid example for health and safety risks (Labib and Champaneri, 2012, p. 3). Fire and life health and safety risks touches on acquisition of real property buildings for use in campuses while environmental affairs reflect on existing buildings and structures, sources of air pollution like energy plants, boilers and emergency power generators. Health and safety risks are perceived as operational rather than strategic. Health and safety risks are therefore integrated with the environment. In some situations, the risks involved in health and safety spill and affect the environment. The BP oil spill dubbed “The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill” led to the loss of millions of sea wildlife. Such a particular loss affects sea ecology and the ecosystem at large. Environmental risk assessment is an actual process of identifying and classifying risks. This is similar to health and safety risk assessment. This is so because consideration is on hazards and potential effects related to products and processes. Vickers is a multinational engineering company that extended its Risk Control Programme from addressing property risks, to security, health and safety to environmental issues. Health and safety risk assessment has a legal framework that organizations and institutions are obliged to abide by. According to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (SI 2051, 1992 amended by SI 2865, 1994), organizations need to implement risk assessment programs for health and safety. These are risk identification and implementation of preventive measures. The regulations cover activities in the work place and addresses contractors and members of the public. Environmental risks do not have a legal imperative to consider but require an integrated approach. This is possible due to the following reasons: Materials and processes related to health and safety risks pose a great concern to environmental issues Implementation of an integrated approach is cost effective since it avoids duplication and Environment is a key player in management control. In any risk assessment, hazard identification is the initial step. It could be material or a result of a process like failure of an equipment or plant. The health and safety hazards identified will be considered environmental hazards. This is not true for the reverse. For example, milk or fruit juice are natural products but are not health and safety hazards. If the product spill into waterways, they can cause significant damage to the environment. CFC emissions lead to depletion of the ozone layer but not a health and safety concern. This implies that the decisions made on acceptability of risks and control measures required are subject to both health and safety and environmental risks depend on circumstances. The magnitude of environmental risks varies from location to location unlike health and safety risks (Pritchard, 2012, pp. 95-99). Examples of environmental risks Environmental risks related to urbanization and industrialization has often received public attention. These risks are only practical on developed or industrialized countries. The possible risks are air pollution, and toxic metals in food chains. Other environmental risks also come from developing countries. They may stem from malnutrition, inadequate housing and sanitation. Other risks like unsafe drinking water affect both developing and developed countries. For developing countries, the water may be contaminated with bacteria while for developed countries; the risk could be from carcinogenic industrial effluents. Types of environmental risks are categorized into four: air and water pollution, land contamination and waste. Air Pollution Massive industrialization has caused air pollution. Several pollutants are released in the air and affect living organisms through inhaling or intoxication of water. Some the pollutants are sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxides, ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulates (PM10) and heavy metals like lead. These pollutants are responsible for various local and global impacts. These are the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion and acid rain. Greenhouse effect results from the impact of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. These gases are released naturally and from industrial and commercial processes. Respiration in plants and animals is a source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere while methane is produced from decaying plants and animals. Through industrialization, carbon and methane gas emission has increased composition of atmospheric gas. As the gases build up in the atmosphere, temperatures increase, resulting to greenhouse effect. Emissions of other gases like CFCs, halon and chlorinated solvents like carbon tetrachloride have depleted the ozone layer. This layer absorbs destructive radiation from the sun. Although ozone layer depletion has been noted worldwide, there are some areas massively affected like Antarctica. As it gets depleted, there is an increased exposure to UVB radiation, a source of skin cancers. Some industrial processes emit oxides of sulphur and nitrogen. These oxides are soluble in water hence dissolve in atmospheric moisture. As a result, they fall back as acid rain or may form dry deposits during dry weather. Acid rain is harmful to aquatic life, vegetation and to structures. Water pollution Polluted ground and surface water cause harm to human health and flora and fauna. Some examples of water pollution are urban run-off, agricultural run-off from fertilizers and pesticides, acid rain and suspended solids, litter and rubbish. Land contamination Heavy metals, industrial chemicals and solvents and oil are pollutants to land. They penetrate the soil through various activities or disposal. Exposure to these pollutants could be directly through dermal absorption, inhalation of dust or volatilised compounds and inadvertent soil ingestion. Indirect exposure happens through ingestion of contaminants derived by plants or ground and surface water. Waste Waste poses a threat to the environment based on its disposal impacts in the air, water and land. If not carefully stored, waste may lead to corrosion or wear of containers, spilling, leaking, or leaching due to rains, breakage of containers because of bad weather or accident and blowing of wastes by wind. Scavengers like vandals, thieves, children, trespassers and animals may disperse the waste hence expose it to other vulnerable people, plants or animals. Part II: Outline management measures, principles or criteria to apply to determine environmental risks Several activities today create awareness for organizations and individuals on potential impacts of their activities on the environment. This is to ensure sustainability of generations. The actions of a generation should not limit the potential future of a coming generation. Some organizations are now mindful of their actions. This responsibility relies on social conscience and legislations used to drive required code of conduct for organizations (Kates, n.d., pp. 13-19). ERM entails the following: Systematic application of policies, procedures and practices towards identification of hazards Consequences of the hazards Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the level of risk Assessment of the level of risk against criteria and objectives and Making of decisions about minimizing or eradicating the identified risks. There are other issues that contribute to ERM, dubbed the “SCALE factors”. These are; Standards- These are policies drafted by organizations like Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) revealing acceptable exposure standards. Such institutions apply an inherently risk-based approach. Cover- Insurance industries participate in risk assessment so as to provide cover for increasing difficulties and expenses. Assessment- an ecological risk assessment is developed Long-term exposure. A risk assessment is done based on long term exposure to pollutants Environmental awareness. All stake holders; the community, industry and government take part in creating awareness on the need to protect the environment. ERM should rely on the following best practice principles: A systematic approach that is formalized and encourage commitment. The organization must show real commitment by ensuring that risk management follows a formally adopted policy. The policy should comply with ERM procedures, objectives and management. Cover all operations in the organization and its whole life cycle. All operations in the organization should be incorporated in the ERM. For example, if it is a mining firm, operations like transportation, upstream and downstream stages of mining, and management responsibilities for different aspects of mining must be considered. Sound risk analysis to check on any decision or action taken to mitigate risk. Hazards to be identified, analyzed through a comprehensive and rigorous, quantitative and qualitative procedures that are appropriate. The ERM should be integrated with the overall risk management. High ranking and separation of ERM from the organization’s business and regulatory compliance probably leads to negligence. It will not feature on the organization’s environmental policy and objectives. Risk management to be integrated with the overall management. Although risk management has its own special characteristics, it must be incorporated in the overall management of the organization. Failure to this will lead to involvement of risk management in early stages of decision making. Integration of ERM with environmental management and The ERM process should be continuous so long as the organization is in operation (Environment Australia, 1999, pp.4-10). What are the risk treatment options? Risks can be treated in two ways; reducing risk probability or consequence. The hazard-pathway-receptor model and mechanism of impact are some of the best options available options for risk treatment. The Hazard-Pathway-Receptor Model This model provides a framework that describes the nature of risk and its environmental impact. The nature of risk must be understood so that an effective analysis and treatment can be done and implemented. The initial step is hazard identification. This is the aspect from the A&I register. The possible receptors are highlighted as well as the pathways through which the hazard will affect the receptors. The mechanism of harm is then documented. There could be several pathways and receptors for a single hazard. This model offers a base for risk analysis and assist in determining options available for risk treatment. The assessment can be drawn as a flowchart. This is an important way of representing multiple pathways, receptors and mechanisms (Smith, 2009, pp.92-95). An example of hazard-pathway-receptor and mechanism conceptual models Hazard Pathway Receptor Potential mechanism of harm Fluoride in stack emissions from glass furnace Release from stack into atmosphere Grapevines and other sensitive vegetation Fluoride is toxic to grape vines Ethyl mercaptan treatment of natural gas Release of concentrated gas into the atmosphere from storage People living in the vicinity of storage area Even low concentrations cause discomfort, nausea and respiratory problems. If the doses are high, it will cause liver and kidney damage Ammonia-rich wastewater from soda ash production Outlet drain into waters of a port or a river Port river ecosystem Bioavailable nitrogen supports nuisance or toxic algal blooms and seagrass epiphytes. Significance of Source-Pathway-Receptor Concept: How to determine if an oil spill is posing significant risks (BP Oil Disaster) Hazards of the oil spill The BP Oil Spill caused death, and environmental pollution. Through the explosion, 11 workers died on sight. The massive oil spill into the sea polluted sea water, killing aquatic life (plants and sea living organisms), sea predators like birds and the wildlife around the Gulf of Mexico. For example, the Gulf line was the spawning ground for Bluefin tuna in western Atlantic. Methane and benzene, a liquid hydrocarbon was released from the plant. This hydrocarbon does not easily dissolve in water and is a threat to aquatic life as well as human life. It causes cancer in human beings, and other diseases like leukemia, heart and affects the nervous system. The disaster created loss of jobs to sea fishermen. Pathway The oil spill affected the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the atmosphere. 4000miles of the coastline surveyed revealed that the spill reached 1000miles, with 200miles classified as heavily oiled. Beneath the sea, 22mile plume of oil and gas droplets were found. The hydrocarbons released reached the surface and changed into a gaseous state, affecting the atmospheric gas composition in the area. Receptor The receptors were human beings (sea fishermen, rescue men during the operations of sealing the well, and residents around the Gulf. The wildlife, birds and aquatic life (plants and animals) were affected by the oil spillage. Potential mechanism of harm 75% of the residents along the Gulf of Mexico were exposed to crude oil and dispersants. This has led to increased health problems in the area. It was discovered that all the people exposed to oil spill pollutants possessed high levels of toxic compounds located in crude oil. Along the Gulf were commercial and recreational fishing centres. The disaster led to the closure of 40% of these facilities, creating unemployment in the area. Food production declined since the fishermen recorded an 80% decline in catches. An estimated total loss of $20million is expected from oyster catch since a full recovery of the species is expected to be in 2017. Initially, fishermen could get a catch of 4000pounds per week of shrimpers, after the disaster, the catch declined by 80%. SWOT Analysis for the Source-Pathway-Receptor Model Strength Weaknesses Opportunities Threats It is a simple model to adopt and implement in a disaster. It does not elaborate on the sources of failure of the disaster. Other models of risk analysis life FTA are easily adopted at each stage. The model can only be applied in particular scenarios. It is simple to understand since it involves two main characters; source and receptor. It has no option for mitigation measures. A clear link between the pathway and receptor is established, giving room for several mitigation measures. Its simplicity makes it not viable for controlling future disasters. The impacts of the disaster are easily linked to the receptor for immediate action. Elimination of the hazard could include: Putting an end to any activity that presents a hazard Looking for an alternative approach like replacing a toxic substance with a non-toxic one Modifying a particular process to eliminate a hazard Changes in infrastructure. Hazards could be reduced by: Stringent management procedures that reduce likelihood of an incident Treatment of waste waters Ensure that wastes are diluted with suitable mixing zone Use of pollution control devices like scrubbers and Reuse and or recycling of wastes to eliminate emission. Blocking the pathway prevents a hazard from causing an impact. For example, bunding could be used to stop storm water. Hazard interaction or modification of the receptor can be achieved by: Transfer of the receptor Transfer of the hazard from a sensitive receptor before its impacts can be felt Blockage of any mechanism through which the hazard will impact the receptor (Environment Protection Authority, 2007, pp.20-30). 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Systems and Reliability Research Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555. Read More