Risk Assessment and Epidemiology - Case Study Example

MHE513 - Risk Assessment and Epidemiology Module 3 – Case Task of the organization Our sylvan earth has been polluted by various sources, ever since the ‘origination’ of humans and their ambitious drive to develop. Earth is polluted by man made chemicals, vehicles etc, etc… In this ever-expanding list of pollutants, the ships have become a major contributor of pollutants and thus leading to marine pollution all over the world. Ships are the key component of the marine industry and this dubious role would defame the marine companies, which operate those ships. So, the marine companies including the company I am familiar with has set its mission, goals, vision, etc on how to protect the environment, even while operating successfully and optimally. That is, the particular shipping company besides focusing on providing effective shipping services, has goals or mission to minimize negative operational impacts on the environment by reducing emissions and operational waste. (ahlsc.com). Their Goal is...NO accidents; NO injuries; NO damage to the environment and...100% customer satisfaction!” (ahlsc.com). Task 2 - Develop an environmental health regulation If I am Vice President of the shipping company, I will develop an environmental health regulation, which focuses on conducting regular surveys on every ship. So, that all the ships are ‘environmentally foolproof’, and does not make any negative impact on the environment. Initial survey should be done before the ship is put into service. Then a renewal survey at intervals specified by the Administration, but not exceeding five years, an intermediate survey within three months before or after the second anniversary date, an annual survey within three months before or after each anniversary. Surveys need to check whether all the equipment, systems, fittings, arrangements and materials in the ship fully comply with the applicable requirements of this regulation. Another survey action should make sure whether all the necessary repairs or renewals have been effectively made, and also whether the materials, which have been used and workmanship of such repairs or renewals are in all respects satisfactory and that the ship complies in all respects with the requirements of this regulation. Task 3 - Identify and describe at least three (3) general risk management issues The problem of shipping caused marine pollution is a longstanding one. Ever since the ships started to use diesel and other fuels to run or function, marine pollution started happening. So, the general risk management issues that need to be considered mainly focuses on the pollutants that are emitted by the ships, then the Particular Matter (PM) and the functioning or malfunctioning of the hardware that could contribute to negative environmental impacts. The major pollutants that are emitted from the ships are nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur oxides (SOx). These pollutants negatively impact onshore human health and environmental. Onshore is the key because 70% of all ship emissions are within 400km of land. (Vidal, 2009). The second risk management issue relates to Particular Matter. That is, when the composition of exhaust from the ships are examined, PM that causes major environmental and health impacts, are found prominently. The hardware of the ships undergoes wear and tear, resulting in environment impacts. That is, due to the demand of the markets, the ships are pushed beyond the limits, because of which the important hardware criteria and the proper functioning of the hardware are compromised, resulting negative environment impacts. Task 4 - Identify and describe at least three (3) risk management issues specific to organization Firstly, if the shipping companies do not periodically test the physical capabilities of the ship before it leaves into the sea, it can lead to catastrophe like drowning or sinking of the whole ship. That is, all the hardwares, including the internal as well as the hardware need to be quality tested and has to be made sure that it is sea worthy. With many countries on the path of development, the need for oil has become a crucial thing and ships only supplied this oil to all the countries in the world. But, due to events which could be triggered by nature or due to the faults of the shipping companies, the oil may get spilled, leading to the destruction of the environment, particularly the sea environment. It could cause endangerment of many sea inhabitants or species. Other threat from ships could come in the form of harmful chemicals emitted during breaking of the ship. That is, after the ship has been made obsolete, it will be normally dismantled at the break yards. During these breaking operations with all the parts of the ship being broken, there are major chances that polluting chemicals may get exposed to the environment. How risk assessment interfaces with risk management considerations When earth originated billions and billions of years ago, it was gifted with a pure natural environment. But, as the earth evolved it turned into an eyesore due to various forms of pollutions. So, protecting the environment, and turning the earth from an eyesore to an eye-catching spectacle is the major duty. To safeguard our earth from the emissions, the environment should be made clean. Clean in the sense, devoid of the dangerous SOx and NOx. For that, variety of technologies is available in the market for the shipping companies. Technologies include water-based technologies such as humidification and emulsified fuel, after-treatment technologies such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and seawater scrubbing. (bluewaternetwork.org). If all these technologies are integrated into ships, the emissions from the ships can be controlled optimally, thereby limiting Marine pollution. Also, TBT free anti-fouling paints that are extensively currently available should be used to paint the ships. So, these solutions can prevent shipping caused marine pollution from reaching extreme levels and can protect the natural environment and importantly the humans all over the world. Failure of management to adequately control it may have a detrimental effect on the organization and public health The failure of the shipping company’s management to control the risks can lead to emission of dangerous pollutants. These pollutants could affect the health of the people in different ways. That is, the fine particles, that are formed and emitted directly because of secondary atmospheric reactions of NOx and of Sox, are associated with premature death due to heart attacks and lung cancer. Also, these pollutants cause atherosclerosis, stroke and permanent respiratory damage. (bluewaternetwork.org). Also, ozone depletion, caused by the secondary atmospheric reactions of Nox, will affect the people by letting the dangerous ultra violet rays and causing cancer. From the environmental assault point of view, the emissions causes acid rain, crop damage, regional haze Five (5) stakeholders to developing organization’s regulation The first stakeholder who needs to be included in the formulation of organization’s regulation to control these environment problems has to be the leader of the organization. The leader of the organization or chairman or CEO of the organization should only take the initiative to formulate effective policies against the problems. If the leader initiates the steps and leads every department, then every department can follow him/her aptly, coming up with their own effective suggestions. Secondly, the business managers should understand the serious nature of the problem and put their minds to come up with strategies that can overcome the negative fallout. Business managers should compliment the leaders in coming up with effective strategies against environmental and health problems. The third stakeholder has to be the employees. Only if the employees implement the measures initiated by the leader and the manager, the regulations can be optimally implemented. That is, if the employees miss following the constructive orders given by the leader and the managers, then the measures cannot be implemented, putting the company as well as the people in precarious situations. The fourth stakeholder has to be government. Although, the development of regulation is an internal process undertaken by the company, external force or pressure or guidance has to be applied to take the company in the right path. The government with its official regulations or laws can or should force or pressure or guide the companies to develop apt regulations. The final stakeholder can be non-governmental common bodies formed by the shipping companies themselves and also by environmental support groups. Non-governmental organizations or groups normally set certain guidelines for environment protection and health safety, and so they can also play a crucial and guiding role in the development of regulation References ahlsc.com. Mission Statement. Retrieved June 29, 2009 from http://www.ahlsc.com/missionstatement.html bluewaternetwork.org. (2006) Appropriate standards to reduce air pollution from ships. Retrieved June 29, 2009 from http://www.bluewaternetwork.org/FOIENorwaypaper.pdf Vidal, H. (2009). Health risks of shipping pollution have been underestimated. The Guardian. Retrieved June 29, 2009 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/apr/09/shipping-pollution Read More