Health, Safety and Environmental Legislation for Engineers - Assignment Example

? Health, Safety and Environmental Legislation for Engineers Roll No: Health, Safety and Environmental Legislation for Engineers Introduction The assigned topic named as “Health , Safety and Environmental Legislation for engineers “ is to be discussed in detail by considering ISO14001 and after examining this ISO standard in detail, we are going to find out how different internationally recognized organizations implement ISO14001 . The essay would be covering the link of this ISO standard with other standards and also appropriate and recognised international agreement and legislation about the climate and environment of industries by discussing the general application of climate control and in particular the impact of the Renewable Obligation Certificate on electrical supply. ISO ISO abbreviated as “International Organization of Standardization” is the world’s largest organization that develops, authenticates and publishes international standards (ISO 2010a). It was founded on February 1947 and it is a non-governmental organization that has national standard institutes of 163 countries and has its central secretariat in Geneva Switzerland (ISO 2010a). Now the question arises, what actually ISO does and how they make standards and who want to follow those standards? ISO develops certain standards for educational, industrial, business and commercial organizations that not only ensure the quality of their product but also draws a framework for the developmental activities to be performed in those organizations (ISO 2010a). These standards ensure that the products and services are high quality, safe, reliable efficient and environmental friendly. This set criteria of standards help public to get satisfied with the products and services that are following these standards and thus overall consumption and usage become more reliable and efficient (ISO 2010a). There is a long procedure for making ISO standards but we take a brief and helpful review of that. ISO develops any standard on demand and need of that standard by a stakeholder or industry sector. The proposal for the new standard is placed before a Technical committee of ISO for majority vote and further discusses this with their members in developing and developed countries (ISO 2010a). After getting positive response from every corner standard is made by technical committees that have experts from industrial, technical and business sectors. Every organization that wishes to have more efficient working environment, safer and cleaner product manufacturing, reliability and creditability uses ISO standardization and certification (ISO 2010a). ISO14001 ISO14001 is one of the standards of series of 14000. 14001 not only provides a standard for products and services to any educational, industrial, business and technical organizations but also helps them in setting a framework for environmental friendly activities (ISO 2010b). It enables organizations to develop, maintain and improve environmental management system and it is applicable to those areas of organizations that have significant impact on environment or which can control environment by their industrial or business activities. ISO14001 is an international standard that allows any organization to improve and enhance their environmental impact (ISO 2010b). Any organization that desires a certification of its environmental management system by a third party organization and want to reduce or eliminate the services causing negative impact on environment can use ISO14001 (ISO 2010b). In addition to providing environmental friendly and efficient framework activities to the organizations, there are a number of other benefits that can be achieved by organizations after getting certification of ISO14001. ISO14001 makes organizations position stable by ensuring them reliable to stakeholders. It defines organization as innovative to customers and business partners. It helps organizations in managing their environmental risks and enhances their reputation (ISO 2010b). Other industry standards There are eighteen hundred 1800 ISO standards that are introduced for various areas and subjects covering almost every aspect of organization for providing guidance (ISO 2010b). There is a famous ISO 9000-2000 series of international standards that are based on a number of principles that can be used by management of any organization to improve their working and other business related activities. These standards mainly provide framework for the following criteria to enhance quality (ISO 2010b). They are: Leadership Customer Focus Process Approach Involvement of people System approach to people Improvement Logical approach to decision making Mutual beneficial supplier relation There are eleven standards in this series associated with certain industrial grounds providing them the regulation and principle of performing their work in efficient way without compromising on quality (ISO 2010b). The names of these standards are given below and later they will be discussed against ISO14001. The other industry standards of series 14000 are (ISO 2010b): ISO 14004 ISO 14015 ISO 14020 ISO 14031 ISO 14040 ISO 14050 ISO 14062 ISO 14063 ISO 14064 ISO 19011 ISO14001 VS Other standards Each standard in 14000 series has a unique role in providing a regulated framework of activities to organizations. Each standard has a role associated with the overall objective of providing an organization with the environmental management system (ISO 2010b). We evaluate each standard against 14001 by giving brief description of each standard that how it is different from ISO 14001 (ISO 2010b). ISO 14001 It describes Environmental management system for organizations and specifies requirements and guidance for that. ISO 14004 It provides guidance for the development and implementation of environmental management system and also describes that how the environment management system will coordinate with other management systems. ISO 14015 It provides guidance and framework to assess organizations and their site areas to ensure them environmentally friendly. ISO 14020 It standardize organization’s environmental labels and declarations ISO 14031 It evaluates the performance of organizations in environmental management perspective. ISO 14040 It performs the life cycle assessment and guides on pre-production planning. ISO 14050 It provides terms and standardized definition for environmental management system. ISO 14062 It provides guideline for the improvement of organizations processes. ISO 14063 It provides guidelines on how to interact and communicate with the environment ISO 14064 It provides guidelines for quantifying and reducing greenhouse effects. ISO 19011 It provides audit guidelines for 9000-14000 series of standards. Implementation of ISO14001 ISO 14001 can be implemented by any organization, which is sincere to the environment and their customers as environmental impact, and quality is becoming the most important issue in the world. So, every single site to large multi-national company, high risk company to low risk company, manufacturing or service industries, local governments, public and private sectors, equipment manufacturers and suppliers etc. can implement ISO 14001 and can get benefit from this incredibly beneficial ISO standard (ISO 2010b). ISO 14001 provides a framework for environmental management system that enables organizations to control environmental impact of all their activities, products and services in compliance with environmental policies and objectives (ISO 2010b). ISO 14001 is becoming famous worldwide as the approach of industries towards environmental friendly processes is increasing day-by-day due to awareness in consumers and pressure of NGOs and other environmental management organizations (ISO 2010b). Any organization, which intends to implement ISO14001, has to follow certain principles that construct the environmental management system framework. These principles suggest that how an organization gets in compliance with ISO14001 standard (ISO 2010b). Principle 1: Environmental Policy and Commitment Any organization wishing to implement ISO14001 must clearly define its sincerity and commitment its environmental management system and should demonstrate its environmental policy (ISO 2010b). Principle 2: Implementation Plan Any organization that wants to implement ISO14001 must have a profound plan to properly fulfil its environmental policy (ISO 2010b). Principle 3: Effective system support An organization must have all essential capabilities and support system in order to effectively implement ISO14001 framework (ISO 2010b). Principle 4: Evaluation and Monitoring There must be efficient monitoring and evaluation procedures and mechanisms in organization to measure its environmental performance (ISO 2010b). Principle 5: Maintenance and improvement An organization should implement ISO14001 with objective of improving its environmental performance and should continually take certain measures to improve its environmental management system (ISO 2010b). Benefits of Implementing ISO14001 Most of the organizations have a concept that environmental management system will be high cost and less profitable and will result in their production cut-off. However, these perceptions are not true as the implementation of proper environmental management system brings a number of business and environmental benefits to an organization. It improves the corporate image of organization among customers as organization does not compromise on quality and provide a set standard product to the customers. EMS enables organizations to reduce cost of waste management and also save the price in energy consumption (ISO 2010b). EMS overall reduces organizational distribution cost and provides an effective framework for continual improvement in environmental management performance. By implementing ISO14001, an organization can be able have a systematic approach for managing environmental activities. Any organization having this standard will stand prominently amongst other organizations as it has authenticated reliable and efficient framework to satisfy its customers and stakeholders by having an effective environmental management system framework (ISO 2010b). Implementation of ISO14001 not only affects the environmental management system of organization but it affects almost every aspect directly or indirectly. By enforcing this standard, an organization can reduce its cost on natural resources waste management. It uses the renewable concept thus the purchasing cost can be reduced. It emphasis on cleaner and safer production and thus reduce risks (ISO 2010b). Health Safety and Environmental Legislation for engineers There are several health, safety and environmental legislations for engineers depending upon the discipline and sector they are associated with. There are several government and non-government legislative bodies whose work is to promote and focus safety, health and environmental risks issues for engineers. As engineering discipline is the prominent one that is incorporated with almost every industry of the directly or indirectly and has great influence and also greatly influenced by the environmental conditions of industries so this discipline should be well aware with their rights and risks associated to their safety, health and environmental management. These legislative bodies help engineers to achieve better quality, risk management, and make them informed with human and organizational factors (ESE 2010). In United Kingdom, HSE (Health and safety Executive) is a non-departmental public legislative body who is responsible for regulating, enforcing and encouraging healthy, safe and environmental friendly workplace for engineers. The HSE was established in 1974 by the act of health and safety at work and has several regulatory bodies such as Factory inspectorate and office of rail regulation (Inter-Institutional Group 2010). There are several agencies working with HSE that abide the local administrations to properly implement health, safety and environmental legislations at their workplaces. The name and brief role of agencies associated to HSE are: Explosive Inspectorate: This agency is responsible for the enforcement of legislation for safe transportation and division of explosives and dangerous materials. It gives license to the manufacturers of explosives and their storage sites after getting satisfied with the management conditions (Inter-Institutional Group 2010). Nuclear Directorate : This body is responsible for most sensitive actions. It is responsible for ensuring the safety of civilian nuclear sites and safe nuclear transport. It ensures proper management of radioactive waste and nuclear plant installations (Inter-Institutional Group 2010). The Health And Safety Laboratory : This agency provides several services. It has a number of professionals and experts related to diversified fields that provide expertise for research and development. The provide consultancy and forensic investigations service in case of any accident. They provide monitoring services for environmental and biological risks and their control. They also provide advice for establishing realistic standards and their validation and certification (Inter-Institutional Group 2010). Application of climate control With the growing industrialization, we are living in and the pollution around us, it is necessary to take serious steps towards proper climate control measures. It is because of the estimated measures by the scientists that more than three billion pounds of toxics are spread into environment every year, which can result in serious disaster to our climate if not managed sensibly. In order to make human survival possible and to let next generation’s breath in healthy and safe environment we have to take certain steps to protect our climate from horrible destruction (IEMA 2010).  As EMS enforces the procedures reducing the adverse effects on industrial and manufacturing activities over the environment, it directly influences the global climate conditions. By implementing, certain environmental friendly standards and becoming part of certain legislative bodies’ organizations actually play their positive part in overcoming the greatest problem of pollution (IEMA 2010). As we daily listen and read about global warming and ozone layer damaging, these are the side effects to our climate by not adopting proper EMS in our industries. By considering certain standards like ISO14001, becoming authorized by EMAS, enforcing legislatives of HSE properly and honestly, we can contribute to our world’s climate in a positive manner and return this beautiful world the same as it has given us (IEMA 2010). Amongst a wide range of environmental management standards and concepts and climate control applications and measures, renewable obligation certificate for electricity supply is a concept with an intention to reduce the risks associated to electricity wastage power saving and generation of electricity from all possible resources in united kingdom under a license (IEMA 2010). Renewable obligation certificate for electricity supply RO (Renewable obligation) was introduced in the United Kingdom with an intention to enforce all electricity suppliers to increase the electricity proportion by generating power from renewable resources (Ofgem 2010). It is a certificate that came in effect in April 2002 and it certifies the electricity generators in United Kingdom with the eligible renewable electricity generated from renewable resources and supplied to customers within the United Kingdom. It puts an obligation to the electricity suppliers in United Kingdom to provide required proportion of electricity by using renewable resources (Ofgem 2010). Main idea behind Renewable Obligation is to promote the utilization of such resources that can be reused to generate the electricity in order to cope up with the demand efficiently. Renewable obligation certificate is awarded by OFGEM to the registered electricity suppliers in United Kingdom (Ofgem 2010). Renewable obligation policy is annually issued by the OFGEM defining the demand of Megawatt per hour by every supplier. Renewable obligation certificates are presented to OFGAM by the power suppliers to show that they are meeting their requirements (Ofgem 2010). Those who do not fulfil their obligation have to pay to the pay-out-fund. The amount suppliers spend on making the reuse of resources is managed by adjusting in to the payments they take from their electricity customers or consumers (Ofgem 2010). Today the need for alternative energy resources is becoming greater and several research companies are trying and researching hard and creating amazing systems to use renewable resources for power generation. Political bodies worldwide are taking interest in this new advancement and new policies are being drawn to widely utilize such procedures (Ofgem 2010). When we see the global economic conditions, it is clear that the increasing crude oil prices will result in high cost of electricity but if we consider alternatives for generating electricity then we can get the power not only on cheaper rates but also in developing countries the problem of electricity short fall can be removed (Ofgem 2010). Renewable energies are derived from the resources that are abundant in nature and free of cost and that generate energy in low cost budget and cause less harm to environment (Ofgem 2010). According to an estimation, renewable energy resources are consumed in almost both developing and developed countries and this resource generate almost 18 percent of the total energy generation throughout the world (Ofgem 2010). There are lists of reusable energy resources that can be used effectively in order to meet the increasing demand of electricity in today’s world. In this world, we are blessed with countless blessings and these blessings are free of cost and in huge quantities. If we properly consume and utilize the resources such as sunlight, winds, water and fossil fuels, we can generate the electricity more than our demand without any harm to our climate (Ofgem 2010). The lists of renewable resources that are considered by RO are: Biomass Wind power Hydro electric Tidal power Photovoltaic cells Landfill Gas Bio gas Wave power Sewage Gas Impact of renewable obligation certificate for electricity supply Renewable obligation certificate insists on generating electricity using reusable resources, which do not harm the environment like fossil fuels (Ofgem 2010). With conventional energy, production mechanisms environmental issues are connected but with renewable resources suggested by renewable obligation body energy is generated without polluting our climate. This is the reason that most of the countries are switching to this concept. Renewable energy resources suggested by RO include wind power that generates electricity without giving any negative impact to the environment, as there is no wastage material or no air or water pollution is created and no toxics are created so they show no threat to the living things (Ofgem 2010). Solar energy is the type of renewable resource that is available to almost every part of the world in unlimited quantities. Solar energy is divided into two types because of the mechanism it is converted into electrical energy, they are active solar and passive solar (Ofgem 2010). Active solar techniques make use of photovoltaic cells and passive solar energy usage includes designing buildings with thermal mass and orienting them towards sun in a way that they get light dispersing properties and natural ventilation (Ofgem 2010). The solar energy can be converted into the electrical energy without causing pollution. Though photovoltaic cells are hazardous in some ways and solar power generation plants are quite expensive to setup but still with few precautions we can amazingly utilize this blessing (Ofgem 2010). Biomass is a renewable energy resource that generates electricity by combusting plant matter. The phenomenon behind this approach is that plants absorbs sunlight in form of energy and we burn them back we get back sun’s energy. It works as an energy storage process and this method has some drawbacks as it may cause air pollution but the amount of pollution created by bio mass depends upon the manner in which resource is managed (Ofgem 2010). There is a wide range of biomass combustion methods and conversions procedures having different levels of impact on environment and can be sensibly considered. Other resources like bio-fuels like bio-ethanol, bio diesel or bio alcohol is obtained from fermentation of sugar components of sugar and starch crops (Ofgem 2010). These bio-fuels can be used as fuels after certain processing. Other renewable resources like water and biogases have also less negative impact on environment and greater benefits. Renewable obligation certification is given to only those electricity suppliers in United Kingdom, which ensure the OFGEM, that they have RO certificate for generating the electricity from renewable resources (Ofgem 2010). Though this RO concept is also opposed by some political and social bodies as the total governmental in-turn from electricity is reduced as the different suppliers emerged and also some resources seem to be little hazardous to the environment causing pollution but if these resources are managed properly it can greatly benefit the mankind (Ofgem 2010). As we are facing the deficiencies in electricity day-by-day, it is a great scientific advancement to make use of the natural resources that cost you nothing but generate a most precious thing Electricity. The overall impact of renewable obligation certificate is that industries and energy generators are taking in consideration those resources that were supposed to be wastages earlier. Using the natural resources and the by-products for generating energy is helping to the great extent in coping with the increasing demand of energy in almost every form. Renewable obligation certificate is not only enforcing the energy suppliers to go towards renewable energy resources but also providing benefit to industries as overall cost reduction in energy consumption and material purchasing and managing (Ofgem 2010). This is also helping the industries to maintain proper environmental management system as the proper energy usage and material consumption is done and this helps in not only in fulfilling energy demand but also to make it possible on lower cost . Conclusion ISO14001 framework provides not only the principles and regulations towards the environmental management system of organizations but it is actually a way to ensure any organization that they will come up with better results economically, commercially and quality wise as well. By implementing ISO14001, organizations have shown a proven record of strong relationship between their consumers or stakeholders as the quality gets improved. It enables organizations to take active part in environmental management measures as it affects the overall objective of organization. By discussing all the concepts listed above, we come to the conclusion that as we are part of this world and we are the one who manage and consume its resources, we are the one who are responsible for any disaster coming to our environment, and climate as far as our activities are concerned. Therefore, by accepting the ownership to this universe the industries, organizations, factories, mills, restaurants, hotels, almost every workplace should be sincere to the environment they are living in and should try to follow certain standards. These standards are the framework to healthy environment and organizational progress. The increasing demand of energy worldwide is making new advancements in technologies and there are a large number of renewable energy resources that are available in huge amount and can be utilized free of cost. The concept of renewable resources for electricity or other forms of energy not only applicable to the advanced countries but also to the developing countries. Every nation can take benefit of these resources according to their resources and financial budget. There are several mechanisms for reusing natural resources that cost nothing but just initial installation of setup that goes long way. The increasing demand of energy can be easily met if we consider these resources. Scorching sunlight, flowing waters, blowing winds, fossils, plants etc. are not only the signs of nature and to fulfil our basic needs but these are the things that can be amazingly used by the technologists to be transformed into so many other blessings. Technology is making this dream come true by considering these renewable energy concepts to make the world having equal supply of energy, as it demands. Being the humans it is our responsibility to make our climate and environment fully safe and secure and to adopt those measures and standards that are enforced with the intention of establishing efficient environmental management system. Like ISO, EMAS etc. there are several non-government organizations that help to improve the environmental management systems with the services and techniques of experts and to draw certain standards that help to achieve this goal. One should be clear about the fact that environmental pollution is becoming the most serious problem and it is a high time for the government as well as citizens and other private organizations to take such measures that reduce the hazardous effects of this. If it were handled carefully, it would definitely be the environmental friendly world. References ESE (Environmental Service Engineers Ltd) 2010, Health and Safety, Retrieved on 15th January 2011 from http://www.ese.co.nz/Pages/health-and-safety.html IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment) 2010, Introducing EMAS, Retrieved on 15th January 2011 from http://www.iema.net/ems/emas Inter-Institutional Group 2010, Incorporating Safety, Health and Environmental Risk Issues in Undergraduate Engineering Courses, Retrieved on 15th January 2011 from http://www.tech.plym.ac.uk/sme/failurecases/she_risk.pdf ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 2010a, About ISO, Retrieved on 15th January 2011 from http://www.iso.org/iso/about.htm ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 2010b, How ISO Develops Standards, Retrieved on 15th January 2011 from http://www.iso.org/iso/about/how_iso_develops_standards.htm Ofgem E-Serve 2010, Renewable Obligation: Guidance for licensed electricity suppliers (GB and NI), Retrieved on 15th January 2011 from http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/SUSTAINABILITY/ENVIRONMENT/RENEWABLOBL/Documents1/Supplierguidance.pdf Read More