Bulletin March 2004.qxd
05/03/2004
11:49
Page 17
News of dead fish and two dead ducks. Tests by EWS on its two large oil tankers, used to re-fuel its freight trains, revealed leaks in an underground plastic pipe. Mrs Fedrick said an inspection revealed the pipe was unsuitable for carrying oil and had deteriorated. EWS has been prosecuted and fined three times for polluting controlled waters, including the same lake in 1999. EWS admitted allowing fuel oil to enter controlled waters, but Kirsty Gomersal, defending, said the company was unaware the pipe was insufficient. She said it was fitted when British Rail built the depot in 1990, and that it met safety standards at the time. Miss Gomersal said: "The company has spent in excess of £94,000 cleaning this up and the lake and its surrounding habitat has recovered. They have done everything they could possibly be expected to do to, and have put measures in place to prevent this happening again." EWS was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,988.
UK, December 5 2003 Updated guidance and software tool on environmental appraisal The Environment Agency, in collaboration with SEPA and the Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), has published amended guidance on environmental appraisal under the IPPC regime, as well as a software tool to accompany the guidance. • The IPPC regulatory system requires controls to be determined to protect the environment through the single permitting process. To gain a permit, operators have to show that: • they have developed proposals to apply the Best Available Techniques (BAT) (and certain other requirements), taking account of relevant local factors • that no significant pollution is caused. • The purpose of the revised guidance is to provide supplementary information, relevant to all sectors, to assist applicants in responding to the requirements described in the IPPC sector and general guidance notes. In particular, the note provides: • methods
for
quantifying
environmental impacts to all media • a method for calculating costs of environmental protection techniques • guidelines on resolving cross media conflicts and making cost/benefit judgments. • The methodology can be used either to conduct an options appraisal of candidate techniques to determine BAT to control selected releases from an installation, or alternatively, to carry out an environmental assessment of the overall impact of the emissions resulting from the installation as a whole. The software tool can be used to: • input most of the data requirements • perform calculations • present the environmental impact and cost information. Horizontal Guidance Note (IPPC H1): Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC): Environmental Assessment and Appraisal of BAT and the software tool can be accessed www.environment-agency.gov.uk
UK, October 15 2003 ‘Safety training, what safety training?’ The majority of office workers in the UK have not received any form of safety training for the past six months, a finding that could leave employers being fined when legal changes hit next year, warn consultants. With the European Week of Health and Safety underway, over two-thirds of office workers have told a new survey that they have not received any form of safety training for the past six months. The Accenture survey of 500 office workers suggests that 67% of employees have not received safety training over the past half a year, while over a third would be willing to take legal action if they had an accident. Just under half (49%) said that they had taken part in fire drills over the past three months while 39% said they did not understand how to use existing fire safety equipment, a big danger given next year's change in the law concerning safety legislation, says Accenture's David Clinton: 'This culture of complacency could present a serious financial burden for British companies if it remains unchecked. Unfortunately, employers tend to look toward safety policies and procedures after an accident. However, safety needs to be
about prevention, not just a cure,' he said. The Regulatory Reform Order, expected to come into force in mid2004, will revoke the Fire Certificate (Special Premises) Regulations 1976 making employers and not local fire authorities responsible for enforcing fire risk assessments - the HSE will continue to enforce responsibility at nuclear sites. Clinton warns that the impact on employers of this new legislation could be significant, as insurers are likely to demand proof that risk assessments have been carried out and offers to HR and safety experts the following tips for ensuring employee safety: • Monitor your organisation's safety performance, not just the number of accidents, and use the metrics to accurately evaluate and report your safety record • Keep abreast of forthcoming safety legislation and assess its impact on your organisation in advance • Be aware of the impact a poor safety record can have on your organisation's brand and credibility • Provide regular safety training for all employees. Ensure you are not importing safety risks into your organisation through, for example, purchasing and contracting. Ensure that you communicate the following to employees • Find out where your nearest emergency exit is and make sure you and your colleagues are prepared for an emergency situation. Ensure you know how to use equipment required for you to do your job Find out who is responsible for safety management in your workplace and co-operate with them. Be vigilant and report any potential safety hazards to the nominated safety contact, or your manager. Transfer this approach to your home and family, especially if you are a home worker.
UK, Harrow, November 6 2003 Man engulfed in flames as spark ignites petrol A man set himself on fire as he siphoned petrol from a car on Thursday last week. The 29-year-old man, who has not been named, was taking the 17
