Session 9: Sustainability and environmental risk management at UQ and QUT Presented by: Brian FennQueensland University of Technology Stuart GreenUniversity.

Session 9: Sustainability and environmental risk management at UQ

and QUT

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

reala university for the world

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)


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


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


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


These are NOT “accidents waiting to happen” rather......

They are preventable “catastrophes waiting to happen”


Do we as a sector have any “preventable catastrophes”?


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


What is Sustainability?


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


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


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 organisation’s 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 organisation’s activities, products ort services

Risk management – structured, systematic approach to decision-making


Key Definitions (2):


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 organisation’s 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


Key Elements of an EMS:• Policy Statement - a statement of the organization’s

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


Environmental Risk Assessment

• Established and mature system. • Evolved from a certified ISO 14001

system.• Recognises relationships with:

• OH&S risk,• Legal risk, and• Financial risk.

UQ as an example…Aspect Identification

Hazard Identification

Risk Assessment

Risk Prioritisation


Aspects

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

Aspect Identification


Risk Assessment

Risk Prioritisation


Aspects

Common:• Office and

administration.• Teaching.• Laboratories &

Research.• ITS.• Maintenance.

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



Risk Assessment

Risk Prioritisation


Environmental HazardsAspects

Common:• Office and

administration.• Teaching.• Laboratories &

Research.• ITS.• Maintenance.

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



Risk Assessment

Risk Prioritisation

Purpose:• Understand the extent of potential

impacts.• Raise awareness of potential impacts.


Environmental Hazards

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

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



Risk Assessment

Risk Prioritisation


Purpose:• Understand the type of impact.• Understand the scale of impact.• Understand the interrelationships and

determine approach.

Environmental RisksEnvironmental Hazards

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

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



Risk Assessment

Risk Prioritisation


Environmental Risks

Common:• Legal.• Pollution.• Contamination.• Nuisance.

Unusual:• Climate change.• Consumption

(i.e. non-renewable resources).

• Inadvertent harm.



Risk Assessment

Risk Prioritisation


Purpose:• Identify common risks.• To identify ‘accepted’ and ‘unacceptable’

risks.• To focus resources.• To establish a basis for continued

improvement.



Risk Assessment

Risk Prioritisation

Environmental Risks

Common:• Legal.• Pollution.• Contamination.• Nuisance.

Unusual:• Climate change.• Consumption

(i.e. non-renewable resources).

• Inadvertent harm.

Prioritising




Risk Assessment

Risk Prioritisation

Prioritising

Common:• Prioritise by greatest risk.

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

environmental risk.


Assessment ProcessAspect

Identification


Risk Assessment

Risk Prioritisation

Stakeholders

Sustainability Office

Management


…as an ExampleChemicals: 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


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


Fire Release to the Brisbane River in fire water. Containmanet tank. Volumes kept low by weekly pick up.

No


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


…as an Example

Operation Activity/Aspect Risk Controls LegalBulk 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.


Disposal of sewerable chemicals.

Release to the environment by improper or non-sewerable chemical disposal.

EMS. EPP Waste


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

Chemicals: Identification and Assessment.


…as an ExampleChemicals: Risk Management.


2009 Risk Assessment



Risk Assessment

Risk Prioritisation

= 126 Aspects

= 72 Hazards

= 290 Risks

= 34 Unacceptable Risks= 10 Different Hazards


2009 Risk Assessment



Risk Assessment

Risk Prioritisation


Environmental Assessment of Specified Sites & Activities at QUT


“We must undertake an environmental assessment”

“But what if we find something really horrible!!”

“We’ll just flick it to the guys in Assurance & Risk!!”


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 QUT’s 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


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:


Methodology:1.Identification of Environmental Activities & Risk Assessment(a) 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


Methodology:(b) Risk Assessment

• ANU’s 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


Methodology:2.Assessment of Legal Compliance

• Review of ERA’s, 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


Methodology:3.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


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)


Results – Impact by Category:


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


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

• <40% compliance with Competency, Training & Awareness, Document Control, Operational Control and Internal Audit

• 0% compliance with Environmental Policy and Management Review


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


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


Heron Island Case Study


Heron Island Case Study


St Lucia Oil Spill Case Study


QUESTIONS ?

Session 9: Sustainability and environmental risk management at UQ and QUT Presented by: Brian FennQueensland University of Technology Stuart GreenUniversity.

Documents

world environmental

environmental assessment

climate risk

type of risk

university context qut

world outline of presentation

future human activities

activities uq case studies