Session 9: Sustainability and environmental risk management at UQ and QUT

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Session 9 Sustainability and environmental risk
management at UQ and QUT

• Presented by
• Brian Fenn Queensland University of Technology
• Stuart Green University of Queensland

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Sustainability Environmental Risk Management at
UQ and QUT

• Brian Fenn, Associate Director Operations (QUT)
• Stuart Green, Environmental Engineer (UQ)
• (ANZUIAG Conference, University of the Sunshine
  Coast, October 2010)

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Outline of Presentation

• Sustainability Environmental Risk big
  picture, university context, key definitions
  scope
• Environmental challenges in the university
  context
• QUT case study an environmental assessment of
  our operations and activities
• UQ case studies a couple of actual
  environmental events at UQ and the way they dealt
  with them
• Questions

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Environmental disasters the more obvious ones

• Mexican Gulf oil spill
• Hungary toxic sludge
• Chernobyl nuclear reactor
• OK Tedi
• Bhopal
• Exxon Valdez
• The Gulf War
• Mad Cow disease

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Environmental disasters the not so obvious ones

• De-forestation
• Salinity
• Depletion of fish stocks from over-fishing
• Coral bleaching
• Rabbits and other introduced species
• Tobacco smoking
• Economic growth consumption (ie carbon and
  impact on the environment)
• Increasingly severe weather events typhoons,
  cyclones, earthquakes, storms, droughts

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• These are NOT accidents waiting to happen
• rather......
• They are preventable catastrophes waiting to
  happen

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• Do we as a sector have any preventable
  catastrophes?

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We probably do....

• The Smallpox story (Birmingham University, 1984)
• Research universities undertake (JEV, GM foods,
  crop diseases)
• Chemical Man
• Living on the river
• Living in the city
•  
•  

So YES, we have the potential in our institutions
to impact on the environment in significant ways
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What is Sustainability?
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What is Environmental Risk?

• Environmental risk - arises from the relationship
  between humans and human activity and the
  environment
• Ecological risk management - deals with risks
  associated with past, present and future human
  activities on flora, fauna and ecosystems. It is
  a sub-set of environmental risk management

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Types of Environmental Risk

• Risk to the environment - this type of risk
  recognises that activities of an organisation can
  cause some form of environmental change
• (Environmental risks can relate to flora fauna
  human health wellbeing human social and
  cultural welfare earth, air and water resources
  energy and climate)
•  
• Risk to an organization from environment-related
  issues - this includes the risk of not complying
  with existing (or future) legislation
• (Associated risks include business losses an
  organization may suffer as a result of poor
  management, such as loss of reputation, fines,
  costs of litigation, and from failure to secure
  maintain permission for development and
  operational activities
• Both have environmental, legal, financial,
  reputational and operational impacts

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Key Definitions (1)

• Source of Risk all sources of a risk where
  there is a cause-effect relationship
• Hazard a source of potential harm
• Environmental aspects elements of an
  organisations activities, products or services
  that can interact with the environment
• Incidents (aka Event) any occurrence that can
  have impact on the environment (an incident
  releases the intrinsic potential of the hazard)
• Impacts include, where relevant, effects and
  consequences
• Consequence is the outcome of impact of an
  event
• Environmental impact any change to the
  environment wholly or partly resulting from an
  organisations activities, products ort services
• Risk management structured, systematic approach
  to decision-making

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Key Definitions (2)
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Need to manage environmental risk but how?

• Environmental management system (EMS) - refers to
  the management of an organisation's environmental
  programs in a comprehensive, systematic, planned
  and documented manner
• Serves as a tool to improve environmental
  performance
• Provides a systematic way of managing an
  organisations environmental affairs
• Addresses immediate and long-term impacts of its
  products, services and processes on the
  environment
• Gives order and consistency for organisations to
  address environmental concerns through the
  allocation of resources, assignment of
  responsibility and ongoing evaluation of
  practices, procedures and processes
• Focuses on continual improvement of the system
• An EMS follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle

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Key Elements of an EMS

• Policy Statement - a statement of the
  organizations commitment to the environment
• Identification of Significant Environmental
  Impacts - environmental attributes of products,
  activities and services and their effects on the
  environment
• Development of Objectives and Targets -
  environmental goals for the organization
• Implementation - plans to meet objectives and
  targets
• Training - instruction to ensure employees are
  aware and capable of fulfilling their
  environmental responsibilities
• Management Review

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Environmental Risk Assessment
UQ as an example

• Established and mature system.
• Evolved from a certified ISO 14001 system.
• Recognises relationships with
• OHS risk,
• Legal risk, and
• Financial risk.

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Aspects
Aspect Identification

• Purpose
• Complete understanding of impacts.
• Engage stakeholders.
• Raise awareness.
• Review existing aspects.

Hazard Identification
Risk Assessment
Risk Prioritisation
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Aspects

• Unusual

• Common

Aspect Identification

• Transport.
• Sewage treatment.
• Incineration.
• Farming.
• Rocket test firing.
• Mine operations.

• Office and administration.
• Teaching.
• Laboratories Research.
• ITS.
• Maintenance.

Hazard Identification
Risk Assessment
Risk Prioritisation
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Aspects
Environmental Hazards

• Unusual

• Common

• Purpose
• Understand the extent of potential impacts.
• Raise awareness of potential impacts.

Aspect Identification

• Transport.
• Sewage treatment.
• Incineration.
• Farming.
• Rocket test firing.
• Mine operations.

• Office and administration.
• Teaching.
• Laboratories Research.
• ITS.
• Maintenance.

Hazard Identification
Risk Assessment
Risk Prioritisation
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Environmental Hazards
Common
Unusual
Aspect Identification

• Nanoparticles.
• Radiation.
• GMOs.
• Clinical agents.
• Biological.
• Explosives.
• Gases.

• Chemicals.
• Dust.
• Fire.
• Noise.
• Light.
• Waste.

Hazard Identification
Risk Assessment
Risk Prioritisation
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Environmental Hazards
Environmental Risks
Common
Unusual
Aspect Identification

• Purpose
• Understand the type of impact.
• Understand the scale of impact.
• Understand the interrelationships and determine
  approach.

• Nanoparticles.
• Radiation.
• GMOs.
• Clinical agents.
• Biological.
• Explosives.
• Gases.

• Chemicals.
• Dust.
• Fire.
• Noise.
• Light.
• Waste.

Hazard Identification
Risk Assessment
Risk Prioritisation
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Environmental Risks
Common
Unusual
Aspect Identification

• Climate change.
• Consumption (i.e. non-renewable
  resources).
• Inadvertent harm.

• Legal.
• Pollution.
• Contamination.
• Nuisance.

Hazard Identification
Risk Assessment
Risk Prioritisation
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Environmental Risks
Prioritising
Common
Unusual
Aspect Identification

• Purpose
• Identify common risks.
• To identify accepted and unacceptable risks.
• To focus resources.
• To establish a basis for continued improvement.

• Climate change.
• Consumption (i.e. non-renewable
  resources).
• Inadvertent harm.

• Legal.
• Pollution.
• Contamination.
• Nuisance.

Hazard Identification
Risk Assessment
Risk Prioritisation
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Prioritising
Common
Aspect Identification

• Prioritise by greatest risk.

Hazard Identification
Complexities

• Intrinsic risk can be high risk.
• Competing risks do not equal the environmental
  risk.

Risk Assessment
Risk Prioritisation
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Assessment Process
Aspect Identification
Stakeholders
Hazard Identification
Sustainability Office
Risk Assessment
Management
Risk Prioritisation
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as an Example
Chemicals Identification and Assessment.
Operation Activity/Aspect Risk Controls Legal
Bulk Flammable and Combustible Stores Storing FCLs in rooms and buildings. Fire or spill causing contamination of receiving environment Must follow regulations Council bylaw.
Laboratories - daily operations. Storing and using chemicals within laboratories. Spillage of chemical escaping to soil or receiving waters Must follow regulations OHS Regs
Fume cupboards Use of chemicals in fume cupbords. Loss of volatile chemicals to atmosphere. Local procedures No
Fieldwork Use of chemicals in the field. Loss of chemicals to the receiving environment. Local procedures No
Transporting Materials - Chemicals Transporting chemicals by vehicle between or around campuses and sites. Loss to the environment by spilling. Follow regulations DGSM Act.
Transport Use of chemicals during maintenance. Loss to the evironment through spills and improper disposal. Areas bunded. Disposal systems provided. ERA
Waste Management - Chemical Disposal of sewerable chemicals. Release to the environment by improper or non-sewerable chemical disposal. EMS EPP Waste
Waste Management - Chemical Disposal of non-sewerable chemicals. Improperly disposed and being released to the receiving environment. EMS. Contractor for collection and disposal. EPP Waste
Printery Use of volatile chemicals and solvents Release to the environment None ERA
Disaster Management Fire in a chemical store or location Chemicals volatilised and released to the atmosphere. Fire protection. Response processes. Stored in accordance with code and Act Council bylaw.
Disaster Management Fire in a chemical store or location Chemicals washed to Brisbane river in fire water Fire protection. Response processes. Stored in accordance with code and Act Council bylaw.
Central Chemical Store - Daily Operations Decanting Chemicals Spillage of chemical escaping to soil or receiving waters Bunding. Drainage to sewer. Council bylaw.
Chemical Waste Store - Daily operations Storing waste chemicals. Loss of chemicls to the Brisbane river through spill or leak. Bunded. Small containers. Frequently cleared. No
Chemical Waste Store - Incident Flood inundating the store. Loss of chemicals to the Brisbane River. Containers small. Volumes kept low. Can be cleared with warning. No
Cleaning - Daily operations Use of chemical cleaners Spills of chemicals to receiving environment. Cleaning rooms bunded and plumbed to sewer. No
Disaster Management Release of fire water from site. Release of chemicals to receiving waters None No
Workshop - chemical storage Storing chemicals in the workshop. Spills being released to the creek. Spill kit. No
CAAS - Chemical Treatment Facility Storage of bulk volumes of NaOH Leaks being lost to receiving environment. Bunded. Spill processes ERA
Chemical Waste Store - Incident Fire Release to the Brisbane River in fire water. Containmanet tank. Volumes kept low by weekly pick up. No
Chemical Waste Store - Incident Fire Release to atmosphere in smoke plume Volumes kept low by weekly pick up. No
Swimming Pool - Daily Operations Use of chemicals in maintenance Contamination of surface waters in the event of a spill None EPP Water
Tea Rooms Washing up with detergents Release of chemicals to sewer and receiving waters All such sinks are connected to sewer. Plants are tertiary treated. No
Swimming Pool - Daily Operations Use of chemicals in maintenance Contact with incompatible materials. Spill kit. Training None
Traffic and Parking Deterioration of paint used for line marking. Entering natural water bodies. None None
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as an Example
Chemicals Identification and Assessment.
Operation Activity/Aspect Risk Controls Legal
Bulk Flammable and Combustible Stores Storing FCLs in rooms and buildings. Fire or spill causing contamination of receiving environment Must follow regulations. Council bylaw.
Laboratories - daily operations. Storing and using chemicals within laboratories. Spillage of chemical escaping to soil or receiving waters Must follow regulations. OHS Regs
Fume cupboards Use of chemicals in fume cupboards. Loss of volatile chemicals to atmosphere. Local procedures. No
Fieldwork Use of chemicals in the field. Loss of chemicals to the receiving environment. Local procedures. No
Transporting Materials - Chemicals Transporting chemicals by vehicle between or around campuses and sites. Loss to the environment by spilling. Follow regulations. DGSM Act.
Waste Management - Chemical Disposal of sewerable chemicals. Release to the environment by improper or non-sewerable chemical disposal. EMS. EPP Waste
Waste Management - Chemical Disposal of non-sewerable chemicals. Improperly disposed and being released to the receiving environment. EMS. Contractor for collection and disposal. EPP Waste
Printery Use of volatile chemicals and solvents Release to the environment None. ERA
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as an Example
Chemicals Risk Management.
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2009 Risk Assessment
Aspect Identification
Hazard Identification
Risk Assessment
Risk Prioritisation
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2009 Risk Assessment
Aspect Identification
Hazard Identification
Risk Assessment
Risk Prioritisation
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Environmental Assessment of Specified Sites
Activities at QUT
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We must undertake an environmental assessment
But what if we find something really horrible!!
Well just flick it to the guys in Assurance
Risk!!
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Project Scope

• Identify the current and potential environmental
  issues and liabilities at QUT
• Determine and assess the level of environmental
  risk associated with activities undertaken at QUT
  
• Ascertain the adequacy of control measures
  associated with current and potential
  environmental issues and liabilities
• Conduct environmental legal compliance assessment
  in order to evaluate QUTs compliance with
  environmental legal obligations
• Conduct a gap analysis against the International
  ISO 14001 Standard in order to facilitate the
  development of an EMS
• Identify and recommend measures for improvement

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Overview

• Methodology
• Identification of Environmental Activities Risk
  Assessment
• Legal Compliance Assessment
• ISO 14001 Gap Analysis
• Results
• Identification of Environmental Activities Risk
  Assessment
• Legal Compliance Assessment
• ISO 14001 Gap Analysis
• Recommendations

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• Methodology
• Identification of Environmental Activities Risk
  Assessment
• Hazard Identification

• Segregation of processes/activities within each
  Area/Faculty/Division
• Inspection and observation of work areas
• Interviews with QUT staff
• Identification of the current and potential
  environmental issues and risk (liability) and its
  effect/impact on the environment under a range of
  operating conditions
• Identification of existing control measures
• Determination of proposed risk reduction/control
  measures

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• Methodology
• Risk Assessment

• ANUs CERAM tool
• Workshops and participant risk ranking sessions
• Determination of inherent and residual risk
• Determination of consequence, likelihood and risk
  rating
• Any risks classed as High, Very High or
  Extreme were recognised as being significant

(c) Risk Control

• Identification of proposed or additional control
  measures

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• Methodology
• Assessment of Legal Compliance

• Review of ERAs, notifiable activities,
  documents, records and pertinent legislation and
  other requirements
• Inspection and observation of work areas
• Findings were coded as follows
• Non-compliance (NC) A direct non-compliance
  with a Statutory requirement. Typically of a
  higher risk or consequence
• Observation (O) - Provided as guidance or
  comment to facilitate improvement in performance.
  Should be actioned where practicable

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• Methodology
• ISO 14001 Gap Analysis

• Identifies the actions needed to qualify for ISO
  14001 certification
• Assessment against each element of ISO 14001
  Standard
• Policy
• Emergency preparedness and response
• Responsibilities and accountabilities
• Environmental monitoring
• Records and data management
• Incident reporting
• Planning and implementation of initiatives
  programs
• Compliance Score () determined

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Results environmental risks

•  1,223 environmental risks identified
• 37 (3) ranked significant (36 high risk, 1
  very high risk)
• 1,186 ranked negligible to moderate risk
• Reduced to 29 (residual risk) after existing
  controls assessed
• 29 was reduced to 22 following implementation of
  further controls (eg water mgt policy, installing
  signage, training awareness, new procedures)
• So basically we end up with 21 high environmental
  risks and 1 very high environmental risk (which
  we learn to live with)

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Results Impact by Category
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Results compliance risks

• Overall, an understanding of statutory
  obligations relative to environmental management
  and performance is demonstrated
• The assessment identified 25 instances of
  non-compliance with environmental legislation.
  These related to
• Conduct of a notifiable activity without DERM
  approval (1)
• Management storage of hazardous substances
  dangerous goods (18)
• The establishment maintenance of documentation
  (6)
• All 25 non-compliances will be addressed by end
  of Nov 2010
•  

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Results Gap Analysis

• 70 compliance with Communication, Emergency
  Preparedness Response, Control of Records and
  Roles, Responsibilities and Authority
• 50 compliance with Environmental Aspects, Legal
  Other Requirements, Objectives Targets, EMS
  Documentation, Monitoring Measurement,
  Evaluation of Compliance and Preventative and
  Corrective Action
• lt40 compliance with Competency, Training
  Awareness, Document Control, Operational Control
  and Internal Audit
• 0 compliance with Environmental Policy and
  Management Review

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Recommendations

• Develop an Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
• Conduct of environmental audits of contractors
  used for the collection transport of general
  regulated waste
• Provision of formal hydrocarbon and chemical
  spill response training
• Development of QUT-wide chemical spill response
  procedure and incident reporting procedure
• Installation of general and chemical spill kits
• Regular inspections of flammable storage cabinets
• Development of QUT-wide standard templates
• Post-graduate laboratories SOPs for fieldwork

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Recommendations

• Increase level of education and awareness
• Waste management
• Separation of hazardous substances and DG
• Environmental incident reporting
• Environmental risk assessment
• Significant environmental impacts (risks)
• Emergency response procedures
• Legal obligations and statutory guidelines
• Address non-compliances raised in the legal
  compliance assessment
• Use of water-paint hardeners and installation of
  Dulux Envirowash systems
• Eateries Cafes encourage eco-friendly
  packaging and increase recycling efforts

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Heron Island Case Study
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Heron Island Case Study
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St Lucia Oil Spill Case Study
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QUESTIONS ?