Directory UMM :Data Elmu:jurnal:E:Environmental Management and Health:Vol07.Issue3.1996:
The objectives of the environmental audit
Gerald Vinten Unive rsity o f Luto n, UK
Explores the concept of the
environmental audit. Emphasizes its importance as one
contribution that attempts to
prevent the destruction of the
world in which we live.
Stresses that it is everyone’s
responsibility – that of both
individuals and the companies and organizations in
which they operate. Describes
stages of the audit process
that have been successful in
practice.
Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt
and He alth
7 / 3 [ 1996] 1 2 –2 1
© MCB Unive rsity Pre ss
[ ISSN 0956-6163]
[ 12 ]
Am on g th e m u ltitu de of a n im a ls wh ich
sca m per, fly, bu r r ow a n d sw im a r ou n d u s,
m a n is th e on ly on e wh o is n ot lock ed in to
h is en vir on m en t. His im a gin a tion , h is r ea son , h is em otion a l su btlety a n d tou gh n ess,
m a k e it possible for h im n ot to a ccept th e
en vir on m en t bu t to ch a n ge it. An d th a t
ser ies of in ven tion s, by wh ich m a n fr om a ge
to a ge h a s r em a de h is en vir on m en t, is a
differ en t k in d of evolu tion – n ot biologica l,
bu t cu ltu r a l evolu tion . I ca ll th a t br illia n t
sequ en ce of cu ltu r a l pea k s “Th e Ascen t of
Ma n ”[1].
Th e In ter n a tion a l Ch a m ber of Com m er ce h a s
defin ed en vir on m en ta l a u dit a s “a m a n a gem en t tool com pr isin g a system a tic, docu m en ted, per iodic a n d objective eva lu a tion of
h ow well en vir on m en ta l or ga n iza tion , m a n a gem en t a n d equ ipm en t a r e per for m in g w ith
th e a im of h elpin g to sa fe gu a r d th e en vir on m en t by:
• fa cilita tin g m a n a gem en t con tr ol of en vir on m en ta l pr otection ;
• a ssessin g com plia n ce w ith com pa n y policies wh ich wou ld in clu de m eetin g r e gu la tor y r equ ir em en ts[2]”.
F r om th is we ca n see th a t th e con cept is w ide.
It is n ot ju st com plyin g w ith m in im a list le gisla tion , n or is it ju st a pu blic r ela tion s exer cise, th ou gh it w ill in clu de both of th ese.
Ra th er it is a tota l str a te gic, cr a dle-to-gr ave
pr ocess, wh ich som e pr efer to ca ll “con ception to r esu r r ection ”, u n der lin in g th e “design
to r ecyclin g” a spect. Th e m a in a im is to pr odu ce a m a n a gem en t system th a t w ill pr ovide
in for m a tion on en vir on m en ta l per for m a n ce
a ga in st pr e-deter m in ed ta r gets, en su r in g th a t
th ose ta r gets a r e m et, a n d th a t on e r em a in s
a h ea d of th e pa ck . Th e a doption of th is defin ition by th e N a tion a l E n vir on m en ta l Au ditor s’
Re gistr a tion Sch em e, a n d by th e In stitu te of
E n vir on m en ta l Assessm en t h a s a dded extr a
a u th or ity to th is defi n ition .
Th e scope of th e a u dit ca n be com pr eh en sive, ta k e on a r a n ge of issu es, or a ddr ess a
sin gle topic. Wh er e in ter n a tion a l a u dits a r e
ca r r ied ou t by a cen tr a l tea m , it is lik ely th a t
a r a n ge of topics w ill be cover ed to m in im ize
costs. Th e a u dit m ay be r estr icted to sim ple
com plia n ce testin g, or exten ded to a m or e
sea r ch in g a n d in ter -pr ofession a l a u dit. Th e
a u dit w ill a ddr ess th e oper a tin g
en vir on m en t, h ea lth a n d sa fety m a n a gem en t,
pr odu ct sa fety a n d qu a lity, loss pr even tion ,
a n d m in im izin g r esou r ce u se a n d a dver se
effect on th e en vir on m en t.
Th e a dva n ta ges of a sou n d en vir on m en ta l
a u dit a r e th a t it w ill:
• dem on str a te com pa n y com m itm en t to en vir on m en ta l pr otection to em ployees, th e
pu blic a n d th e a u th or ities;
• pr ovide a n en vir on m en ta l da ta ba se for
pla n n in g, pla n t m odifica tion a n d em er gen cy pla n n in g;
• sa fe gu a r d th e envir on m en t;
• ver ify com plia n ce w ith loca l a n d n a tion a l
law s;
• in dica te cu r r en t or poten tia l fu tu r e pr oblem s th a t n eed to be a ddr essed;
• r edu ce exposu r e to litiga tion , in ciden ts a n d
a dver se pu blicity;
• in cr ea se em ployee aw a r en ess of en vir on m en ta l m a tter s;
• a ssess tr a in in g pr ogr a m m es a n d pr ovide
da ta to a ssist in tr a in in g;
• en a ble com pa n ies to bu ild on good en vir on m en ta l per for m a n ce, give cr edit wh er e
a ppr opr ia te a n d h igh ligh t deficien cies;
• a ssist th e exch a n ge a n d com pa r ison of
in for m a tion between differ en t pla n ts or
su bsidia r y com pa n ies;
• iden tify poten tia l cost savin gs, su ch a s fr om
w a ste m in im iza tion .
Th e a dva n ta ges a r e im m en se. Th e developm en t of th e en vir on m en ta l a u dit is in exor a ble. Th e or ga n iza tion ca n ch oose to be pa r t
of th is excitin g developm en t, or let it pa ss by.
Th er e a r e plen ty of oth er or ga n iza tion s w ish in g to ta k e th e oppor tu n ity, w ith exter n a l
con su lta n cies spr in gin g u p w ith gr ea t r e gu la r ity a n d in ter n a l a u ditor s be gin n in g to tool
u p. It r equ ir es a n ew a ppr oa ch by th e a u ditor s, bu t n ot on e wh ich is fa r r em oved fr om
m or e fa m ilia r ter r itor y.
At th e ver y lea st th e a u ditor w ill be con cer n ed to en su r e com plia n ce w ith law s a n d
r e gu la tion s on th e en vir on m en t. In th e US
con text th is w ill be le gisla tion su ch a s th e
Wa ter Qu a lity Im pr ovem en t Act of 1970, th e
N oise Con tr ol Act of 1972, th e Toxic
Su bsta n ces Con tr ol Act of 1976, th e Clea n Air
Act Am en dm en t of 1977, a n d th e Resou r ce
Con ser va tion a n d Recover y Act of 1984. For
Ge rald Vinte n
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th e E u r opea n Com m u n ity th is w ill be a r ticle
130R of th e 1987 Sin gle E u r opea n Act wh ich
sta tes th a t:
1 Action by th e Com m u n ity r ela tin g to th e
en vir on m en t sh a ll h ave th e follow in g objectives:
(i) to pr eser ve, pr otect a n d im pr ove th e
qu a lity of th e en vir on m en t;
(ii) to con tr ibu te tow a r d pr otectin g h u m a n
h ea lth ;
(iii) to en su r e a pr u den t a n d r a tion a l u tiliza tion of n a tu r a l r esou r ces.
2 Action by th e Com m u n ity r ela tin g to th e
en vir on m en t sh a ll be ba sed on th e pr in ciples th a t pr even tive a ction sh ou ld be ta k en ,
th a t en vir on m en ta l da m a ge sh ou ld a s a
pr ior ity be r ectified a t sou r ce, a n d th a t th e
pollu ter sh ou ld pay. E n vir on m en ta l pr otection r equ ir em en ts sh a ll be a com pon en t of
th e Com m u n ity’s oth er policies.
The European Eco-audit
Th e E u r opea n Com m ission h a s esta blish ed a
Cou n cil r e gu la tion for a Com m u n ity-w ide,
volu n ta r y eco-a u dit sch em e. Th e ver sion th a t
in 1992 wen t befor e th e E u r opea n Cou n cil a n d
P a r lia m en t for r a tifica tion w a s en titled “P r oposa l for a Cou n cil Re gu la tion a llow in g volu n ta r y pa r ticipa tion in th e in du str y sector in
a Com m u n ity eco-a u dit sch em e”. Th e r efer en ce w a s COM (91) 459. E u r opea n m em ber
sta tes n ow n eed to esta blish su ch a volu n ta r y
sch em e. Com pa n ies in cer ta in in du str ia l
a ctivities th a t w ish to pa r ticipa te m u st
com m it th em selves to:
• esta blish in g a n in ter n a l en vir on m en ta l
pr otection system ;
• eva lu a tin g objectively th e en vir on m en ta l
per for m a n ce of th e system ;
• in for m in g th e pu blic on en vir on m en ta l
per for m a n ce;
• h avin g th e pu blic sta tem en t ver ifi ed by a n
a ccr edited envir on m en ta l a u ditor.
Th e sch em e oper a tes w ith E u r opea n sta n da r ds to be developed on en vir on m en ta l m a n a gem en t system s a n d r ela ted cer tifica tion
a ctivities. Com pa n ies wh ich m eet th e
r equ ir em en ts to be r e gister ed m ay u se a logo
r ela ted to th e sites th a t h ave been ver ifi ed
u n der th e sch em e.
Eco-labelling
E co-la bellin g is a m ea n s of displayin g in for m a tion a s to th e differ en tia l im pa ct on th e
en vir on m en t of pr odu cts wh ich offer sim ila r
u ses a n d com pete w ith ea ch oth er in th e m a r k et. Th e a im is to lessen h a r m to th e en vir on m en t wh ile pr ovidin g th e in for m a tion to th e
con su m er s in m a k in g decision s ba sed on
en vir on m en ta l per for m a n ce. Th e aw a r din g of
a n eco-la bel in volves con sider a tion of th e
en vir on m en ta l im pa ct of a pr odu ct a t ever y
sta ge of its life-cycle, in clu din g its m a n u fa ctu r e, distr ibu tion , u se a n d disposa l, a n d a
com pa r ison of th a t im pa ct a s a ga in st oth er
pr odu cts in th e sa m e gr ou p. N a tu r a lly th e
a dva n ta ge of th e la bel w ill be pa r ticu la r ly
cr u cia l wh er e th er e is a m a r k ed con su m er
dem a n d for gr een er pr odu cts. Th e pr in ciple
is th a t pr odu ct gr ou ps m u st be selected for
a pplica tion of th e la bel, a n d cr iter ia a dopted
a n d pu blish ed on th e ba sis of wh ich pr odu cts
in th a t gr ou p ca n be a ssessed. Th e aw a r din g
body th en deter m in es wh ich pr odu cts in th e
gr ou p h ave m et th e cr iter ia a n d ca n a ch ieve
th e aw a r d. A dr a ft r e gu la tion to esta blish a n
E C eco-la bel system w a s fir st in tr odu ced in
Febr u a r y 1991, bu t con tr over sy delayed its
im plem en ta tion . Un der th e r e gu la tion we
n ow h ave, th e Depa r tm en t of th e E n vir on m en t is r equ ir ed to design a te a Com peten t
Body for th e sch em e, a n d it h a s been decided
th a t a dedica ted n on -depa r tm en ta l pu blic
body wou ld be th e m ost su ita ble m ea n s to
ta k e on th is r ole. In or der to dem on str a te th e
a u th or ity, a n d im pa r tia lity of th e body, a n d
pr om ote th e cr edibility of th e sch em e, th e
Depa r tm en t dicta ted th a t it sh ou ld be officia l,
in depen den t a n d fr ee fr om m in ister ia l con tr ol. Dr E liza beth N elson , ch a ir of Addison
Con su lta n cy Gr ou p plc a n d th e Taylor N elson
Gr ou p Ltd, w a s a ppoin ted a s th e fi r st ch a ir of
th e UK’s officia l eco-la bellin g body.
The environmental aspect to loans
Ba n k er s a n d oth er poten tia l len der s n ow
n eed to a dd a n extr a level of scr u tin y to th eir
len din g decision : a n a ssessm en t of possible or
a ctu a l en vir on m en ta l lia bility. Th is obviou sly
a dds to th e cost of th e loa n , bu t len der s a r e
becom in g extr em ely ca u tiou s w ith th e tr a dition a l secu r ity of pr oper ty bein g m or e r isk y
w ith th e u n cer ta in ties of th e pr oper ty
m a r k et, a n d th ey w ill n ot w ish to see th eir
loa n s fu r th er a t r isk fr om en vir on m en ta l
pr oblem s. Th e issu e h a s becom e cr itica l in
th e USA u n der th e Com pr eh en sive E n vir on m en ta l Respon se, Com pen sa tion a n d Lia bility Act of 1980 (Cer cla ). Th is a ct a im s to m a k e
th ose wh o ca u se pollu tion lia ble for th e cost
of clea n -u p a n d per h a ps a lso for da m a ges for
in ju r y to th e pu blic. Th is pr in ciple of m a k in g
th e pollu ter pay is a lso th e policy of th e UK
Gover n m en t. Acceptin g th a t th ose wh o con tr ol th e la n d ca r r y th e pr im a r y r espon sibility,
Cer cla r ecogn ized th a t len der s wh o took secu r ity over la n d th a t su bsequ en tly tu r n ed ou t to
be pollu ted, cou ld be left w ith u n fa ir lia bility.
Th e Act th er efor e con ta in ed th e “secu r ed
len der exem ption ”. Th is exclu des fr om
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lia bility th ose wh o, w ith ou t pa r ticipa tin g in
th e m a n a gem en t of a fa cility, h old in dica tion
of ow n er sh ip pr im a r ily to pr otect th eir secu r ity in ter est. Th e difficu lty h a s been to defi n e
wh a t con stitu tes pa r ticipa tin g in th e m a n a gem en t. US cou r ts h ave r u led th a t sligh t a cts,
su ch a s a n y pr u den t len der wou ld ta k e to
sa fe gu a r d secu r ity, wou ld be su fficien t. Ma tter s pr ogr essed fu r th er dow n th e slipper y
slope wh en th e Feder a l Appea ls Cou r t con sider ed su ch a ca se for th e fir st tim e in th e ca se
of US v. Fleet Fa ctors. Th e Appea l Cou r t for
th e E leven th Cir cu it deter m in ed th a t a
secu r ed len der wh o took n o pa r t in m a n a gem en t decision s, wh ich wer e pr eviou sly
th ou gh t to be sa fe, m igh t still be fou n d lia ble
if th e cou r t cou ld in fer th a t th e secu r ed
len der cou ld h ave a ffected h a za r dou s w a ste
decision s, even if in fa ct it did n ot do so. Th is
decision ca u sed sh ock -h or r or in th e US ba n k in g com m u n ity. N ot a ll su bsequ en t decision s
h ave followed th is lea d, bu t th e a m bigu ity of
th e law does little to ca lm th e a n xieties of
len der s.
In th e UK, th e E n vir on m en ta l P r otection
Act 1990 im poses lia bility on th ose wh o con tr ol w a ste, bu t gen er a lly su ch lia bility is n ot
a bsolu te, a n d if r ea son a ble pr eca u tion s h ave
been ta k en , a n d du e ca r e exer cised, th en
lia bility w ill be avoided. Th is is n ot so in th e
Dr a ft E C Dir ective, wh ich in Cla u se 2(1) (b)
stipu la tes th a t “th e per son wh o h a d a ctu a l
con tr ol of th e w a ste wh en th e in ciden t givin g
r ise to th e da m a ge … , if h e is n ot a ble w ith in
a r ea son a ble tim e to iden tify th e pr odu cer …”
sh a ll be lia ble. Lia bility is a bsolu te a n d
depen den t on fa u lt. It is n ot a lw ays possible
to iden tify th e pr odu cer of w a ste, su ch a s a
w a ste tip in for m a lly u sed by th e pu blic over
m a n y yea r s.
The law and the company director
Com pa n y dir ector s w ill in cr ea sin gly fa ce th e
th r ea t of fin es a n d disqu a lifica tion . In a la n dm a r k ca se in th e su m m er of 1992 in Lewes
Cr ow n Cou r t, for th e fir st ever tim e a com pa n y dir ector w a s disqu a lified for com m ittin g a h ea lth a n d sa fety offen ce. Th e a n a logy
w ith en vir on m en ta l offen ces is extr em ely
close, a n d it is to be expected th a t th e pr in ciples of th is ca se w ill be r ea pplied w ith ou t
h esita tion to en vir on m en ta l a bu ses. Th e
m iscr ea n t dir ector w a s th e ow n er of a Ken t
qu a r r y fir m wh ich a cted in br ea ch of a pr oh ibition n otice issu ed by th e Hea lth a n d Sa fety
E xecu tive for fa ilu r e to pr otect em ployees
fr om fa llin g r ock s. He plea ded gu ilty to th e
ch a r ge u n der section 37 of th e Hea lth a n d
Sa fety a t Wor k Act, wh ich m a k es dir ector s
a n d oth er sen ior officer s lia ble for offen ces
[ 14 ]
com m itted wh er e th ey h ave con sen ted or
con n ived in th e offen ce, or wh er e it w a s
a ttr ibu ta ble to th eir n e glect. Th e a ssista n t
r ecor der a t th e Cr ow n Cou r t believed th a t th e
sever ity of th e offen ce r en der ed it in su fficien t
to sim ply fi n e th e dir ector a n d th e com pa n y,
a n d so it m a de le ga l h istor y by im posin g a
two-yea r ba n on h oldin g a com pa n y dir ector sh ip. Section 2 of th e Com pa n y Dir ector s
Disqu a lifi ca tion Act 1986 per m its a cou r t to
disqu a lify a dir ector for u p to 15 yea r s for a n
in dicta ble offen ce con n ected w ith , in ter a lia ,
th e m a n a gem en t of th e com pa n y or its pr oper ty. N ever befor e h a d th is power been exer cised in r ela tion sh ip to a h ea lth a n d sa fety
offen ce. It w ill on ly be th e n ext step for th e
sa m e tr ea tm en t to be m eted ou t for a n en vir on m en ta l offen ce. Th e E n vir on m en ta l P r otection Act 1990, Wa ter Resou r ces Act 1991,
a n d Wa ter In du str y Act 1991, a ll con ta in iden tica l stipu la tion s to th ose of th e Hea lth a n d
Sa fety a t Wor k Act 1974, a n d a llow dir ector s
a n d sen ior officer s to be ch a r ged for en vir on m en ta l offen ces per petr a ted by th eir com pa n ies. With a fin din g of gu ilt u n der th ese
sta tu tes, cou r ts m ay be in clin ed to follow th e
lea d esta blish ed by th e Lewes Cr ow n Cou r t.
Th is is lik ely to a pply on ly to bla ta n t a n d
ser iou s ca ses. However, th e closer th e dir ector is in volved in th e day-to-day wor k in gs of a
com pa n y, th e m or e lik ely it is th a t h e or sh e
m igh t be disqu a lified. Dir ector s of sm a ll
com pa n ies, w ith th eir close oper a tion a l
involvem en t, n eed to be pa r ticu la r ly vigila n t.
Th er e a r e cor r espon din g lia bilities for th e
com pa n ies th em selves. Com pa n ies w ith a
pr esen ce in th e USA n eed to be aw a r e of th e
Feder a l Sen ten cin g Gu idelin es wh ich beca m e
fin a lized on 1 N ovem ber 1991. Th er e is a n
a ppr ecia ble Br itish pr esen ce th er e. For exa m ple, coa l-m in in g in West Vir gin ia is dom in a ted by Br itish com pa n ies. Th e Gu idelin es
pr ovide ju dges w ith a for m u la for sen ten cin g
or ga n iza tion s for va r iou s types of wh itecolla r cr im e, ba sed on th e gr avity of th e
offen ce a n d th e de gr ee of cu lpa bility. Th e
Gu idelin es, wh ich a r e a pplica ble to a ll or ga n iza tion s, m ea n th a t a r a n ge of cr im es fr om
viola tion s of em ploym en t law s, m a il a n d w ir e
fr a u d, a n d com m er cia l br iber y, to m on ey
la u n der in g a n d en vir on m en ta l offen ces, w ill
a ttr a ct fin es a n d sa n ction s th a t ca n a m ou n t to
h u n dr eds of m illion of dolla r s. Th ese su m s
m ay seem extr em e, bu t even con ser va tive
estim a tes of th e lon g-ter m h a r m som e or ga n iza tion s in fl ict on th e en vir on m en t, wou ld
su ggest th a t su ch su m s a r e in fa ct a n u n der estim a te r a th er th a n a n over estim a te of th e
som etim es ir r ever sible h a r m to th e pla n et.
Th e Gu idelin es do en cou r a ge sou n d com m er cia l pr a ctice by a llow in g for r edu ced sen ten ces for or ga n iza tion s th a t ca n display
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eviden ce of a n “effective pr ogr a m to pr even t
a n d detect viola tion s of law ”. “Cr edits”
a ga in st poten tia l pen a lties ca n be a ccr u ed if
or ga n iza tion s ca n dem on str a te th a t th ey
h ave:
• com plied w ith th e va r iou s du e diligen ce
steps ou tlin ed in th e law ;
• investiga ted a n d pu n ish ed w r on gdoin g; a n d
• co-oper a ted w ith gover n m en t in vestiga tor s.
In sim ila r vein , bu t w ith exclu sive r efer en ce
to envir on m en ta l con cer n s, th e US Depa r tm en t of J u stice issu e a policy pr on ou n cem en t
on 11 J u ly 1991 in dica tin g th a t com pa n ies th a t
pr oa ctively im plem en t m a n a gem en t a n d
com plia n ce pr ogr a m m es w ill fa ce less cr im in a l en for cem en t a ctivity th a n com pa n ies
wh ich la ck su ch pr ogr a m m es. Accor din g to
th e pr on ou n cem en t, a com pa n y is m or e lik ely
to qu a lify for “pr osecu tion len ien cy” if it ca n
pr ove th r ou gh its m a n a gem en t system :
• volu n ta r y, pr om pt, a n d com plete disclosu r es of m a tter s u n der in vestiga tion ;
• fu ll a n d pr om pt co-oper a tion ; a n d
• pr even tive m ea su r es a n d com plia n ce
pr ogr a m m es.
Su ch a n a ppr oa ch m a k es good, pr u den t sen se
ou tside th e USA a s well. It lea ds u s n a tu r a lly
in to th e n eed a n d va lu e of th e en vir on m en ta l
a u dit. If you a dopt th e optim a l a ppr oa ch ,
th er e is n o sta n da r d or le gisla tion th a t ca n
ca tch you u n aw a r es.
The Litter Code for local
authorities
Mu ch of th e wor k of loca l a u th or ities in
r em ovin g litter a n d clea n in g r oa ds is su bject
to both th e Loca l Gover n m en t Act 1988 a n d
th e E n vir on m en t P r otection Act (E PA) 1990.
Th e 1990 Act set h igh er sta n da r ds to be
a dh er ed to. Section 89 r equ ir es loca l a u th or ities a n d oth er specifi ed la n dow n er s a s fa r a s
pr a ctica ble to k eep a ll la n d to wh ich th e pu blic h a s a ccess, a n d wh ich is open to th e a ir,
clea r of r efu se a n d litter.
Th e Secr eta r ies of Sta te issu ed th eir code of
pr a ctice, a s r equ ir ed by th e Act, in J a n u a r y
1991. Th is Litter Code lists fou r gr a des of
clea n lin ess:
1 n o litter or r efu se (gr a de A);
2 pr edom in a n tly fr ee of r efu se (gr a de B);
3 w idespr ea d litter a n d r efu se, w ith m in or
a ccu m u la tion s (gr a de C); a n d
4 h eavily litter ed, w ith sign ifi ca n t a ccu m u la tion s (gr a de D).
P h otogr a ph s a r e in clu ded in th e Litter Code
to illu str a te th ese gr a des. E leven ca te gor ies of
la n d a r e th en iden tified:
1
tow n cen tr es, sh oppin g cen tr es a n d
str eets, m a jor tr a n spor t cen tr es, cen tr a l
ca r pa r k s, a n d oth er pu blic pla ces wh er e
la r ge n u m ber s of people con gr e ga te;
2
h igh -den sity r esiden tia l a r ea s, r ecr ea tion a l a r ea s wh er e la r ge n u m ber s of
people con gr e ga te, a n d su bu r ba n ca r
pa r k s a n d tr a n spor t cen tr es;
3
oth er ca r pa r k s a n d tr a n spor t cen tr es,
low -den sity r esiden tia l a r ea s, a n d in du str ia l esta tes;
4
a m en ity bea ch es (a bove h igh tide);
5
m otor w ays, a n d tr u n k r oa ds wh ose
tr a ffic flow s exceed specifi ed levels;
6
a ll oth er r oa ds (beside 6, a n d th ose
in clu ded in 1 to 3);
7
la n d occu pied by edu ca tion a l in stitu tion s;
8-10 r a ilw ay em ba n k m en ts a n d tow pa th s;
11 a ll oth er a r ea s to wh ich th e Act a pplies.
Th e sign ifi ca n ce of th ese ca te gor ies is th a t
th e Code specifi es th e gr a des to wh ich la n d
sh ou ld be r estor ed, a n d by wh en , by ea ch
ca te gor y. For exa m ple, ca te gor y 1, w ith th e
h igh est specifica tion , h a s to be r estor ed to
gr a de A:
• w ith in six h ou r s if it fa lls to gr a de B
between 6 a .m . a n d 8 p.m .. (or w ith in th r ee
h ou r s if it fa lls to gr a de C, or w ith in on e
h ou r if to gr a de D);
• by 8 a .m . if it fa lls below gr a de A between
8 p.m . a n d 6 a .m .
Bu sin esses in in du str ia l esta tes ca n in vok e
th e Act, a s ca n th ose wh o fin d th e in fr a str u ctu r e of r oa ds a n d th e lik e is over -litter ed.
Other aspects of the
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Th e im petu s for th is a ct ca m e fr om E C le gisla tion a n d policy a s well a s fr om dom estic
in stitu tion s su ch a s th e Roya l Com m ission on
E n vir on m en ta l Pollu tion a n d P a r lia m en ta r y
Com m ittees. Th e a ct r epr esen ts th e be gin n in gs of th e pr a ctica l m a n ifesta tion of th e
pr in ciple th a t th e pollu ter pays. It a lso in tr odu ced th e n otion of in te gr a ted pollu tion con tr ol. P r eviou sly ea ch com pon en t of th e en vir on m en t – a ir, la n d a n d w a ter – h a d its ow n
sepa r a te law s a n d system s of con tr ol. N ow
Her Ma jesty’s In spector a te of Pollu tion w ill
con tr ol a ll r elea ses of a ir, w a ter, a n d la n d
fr om m ost pollu tin g in du str ia l pr ocesses. Th e
In spector a te w a s for m ed in 1987 th r ou gh th e
m er ger of th e th r ee existin g in spector a tes of
in du str ia l a ir pollu tion , r a dioa ctive su bsta n ces, a n d h a za r dou s w a stes, togeth er w ith
th e a ddition of n ew r espon sibilities in r ela tion to w a ter pollu tion . Com pa n ies h ave to
m eet th e ch a r ges of th e In spector a te, a n d w ill
pay pen a lties for br ea k in g th e specifi ed em ission lim its. Th er e is a r equ ir em en t for
[ 15 ]
Ge rald Vinte n
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and He alth
7 / 3 [1 9 9 6 ] 1 2 –2 1
en vir on m en ta l im pa ct a ssessm en ts for n ew
developm en ts su ch a s n ew sh oppin g cen tr es
or fa ctor ies. Th er e is a lso a le ga l obliga tion to
m in im ize w a ste pr odu ction u sin g th e pr in ciple th a t goes by th e a cr on ym BATN E E C –
“best ava ila ble tech n ology n ot en ta ilin g
excessive cost”. Best ava ila ble tech n iqu es
u n der th e a ct in clu de tech n ology, u se of per son n el, a n d th e design , layou t a n d m a in ten a n ce of bu ildin gs. Gu ida n ce n otes a r e ava ila ble cover in g gen er a l a r ea s su ch a s fu el a n d
petr oleu m , m in er a ls, w a ste disposa l a n d
ch em ica ls, a n d m or e a r e issu ed w ith tim e.
It is sa lu ta r y to r ea lize th a t th er e is a r ever sa l
of th e n or m a l cr im in a l bu r den of pr oof. Th e
on u s is on th e a ccu sed to pr ove th a t th er e w a s
n o better ava ila ble tech n iqu e th a n th a t u sed.
Th er e a r e 12 cr im in a l offen ces r ela tin g to
br ea ch es of th e a ct. Th e m ost ser iou s offen ces
ca r r y a m a xim u m sen ten ce of two yea r s w ith
a n u n lim ited fi n e. Pen a lties a pply to both
com pa n ies a n d in dividu a ls, a n d wh er e a
com pa n y is m a n a ged by its m em ber s, th ey
m ay a lso be fou n d gu ilty. In du str ies cover ed
by th e a ct h ave to a pply for a u th or iza tion to
con tin u e to oper a te, to m a k e m a jor ch a n ges
to th eir pla n ts, or to bu ild n ew on es. Va r iou s
bodies, su ch a s th e Hea lth a n d Sa fety E xecu tive, h ave to be con su lted a n d th en th er e h a s
to be pu blic a dver tisem en t in a loca l n ew spa per. Attem ptin g to avoid com plia n ce is a h igh
r isk str a te gy, w ith ser iou s con sequ en ces for
both th e com pa n y a n d th ose w ith in it. A copy
of th e a ct is a vita l pa r t of th e com pa n y
libr a r y, a n d dir ector s a n d m a n a ger s n eed to
be aw a r e of th e ba sic stipu la tion s of th e a ct.
Le gisla tion is be gin n in g to bite, a n d
pr oa ctive com pa n ies a r e a lr ea dy be gin n in g to
a dju st th eir str a te gy, pla n s a n d pr ocedu r es to
cope. Com pa n ies su ch a s Hoffm a n -La Roch e,
Sw itzer la n d’s th ir d la r gest ch em ica l com pa n y, th e F in n ish con glom er a te N este, Volvo
in Sweden , Im per ia l Ch em ica l In du str ies in
E n gla n d, Opel in Ger m a n y, P h ilips in Th e
N eth er la n ds, a n d IBM a n d J oh n son a n d J oh n son in th e USA a r e ju st a few of a gr ow in g
n u m ber of com pa n ies th a t see com petitive
a dva n ta ge a s well a s m or a l ju stifica tion for
th e en vir on m en ta l a u dit. E n vir on m en ta l
sta tem en ts a r e pr odu ced by com pa n ies su ch
a s: La in g, Sa in sbu r y’s, Icela n d, ICI, a n d 3M.
Th e E n vir on m en ta l Review of Br itish Air w ays is a fu lly fl edged a n d a n a lytica l a ccou n t
– a r eview a cr oss th e en tir e com pa n y.
The environmental audit
I h ave n ever u n der stood wh y a n ybody
a gr eed to go on bein g a r u stic a fter a bou t
1400[3].
[ 16 ]
P r in ce Ch a r les, h eir to th e Br itish Th r on e,
spea k in g on Br itish television on 23 May 1990
on a pr ogr a m m e h e pr odu ced on th e en vir on m en t, em ph a sized th e n eed for pr oper a u dit
a n d a ccou n ta bility. He r ein for ced th e m essa ge in h is k eyn ote a ddr ess to th e Wor ld Com m ission on E n vir on m en t a n d Developm en t
(Th e Br u n dtla n d Com m ission ) on 22 Apr il
1992, a n d in su bsequ en t con ver sa tion w ith th e
w r iter. In h is speech , h e u r ged th e n eed to
seek to live in h a r m on y a n d ba la n ce w ith th e
r est of cr ea tion , even if we ca n n ot discer n a n y
dir ect a n d im m edia te m a ter ia l ben efit to
ou r selves in th e pr ocess:
Th is, of cou r se, poin ts to th e n eed for a fu n da m en ta l sh ift in a ttitu des. We h ave a ll been
ta u gh t to th in k in a lin ea r w ay; w ith a be gin n in g, a m iddle a n d a n en d. Lin ea r ity is th e
con cept we u se to devise in du str ia l
pr ocesses in ter m s of in pu ts, pr ocesses, a n d
ou tpu ts, w ith w a ste a n d pollu tion a s u n in ten ded (a n d, u n til r ecen tly, little con sider ed)
ou tpu ts. Th e solu tion to pollu tion is still, too
often , dilu tion . Ou r lin ea r w ay of th in k in g
h a s been a tr iu m ph in th e r ela tive sh or t
ter m . Bu t n ow, w ith th e dou blin g of wor ld
popu la tion in pr ospect, w ith in cr ea sin g
dem a n ds for a h igh er a n d h igh er m a ter ia l
sta n da r d of livin g, a n d w ith th e a dded n eed
to str ive for su sta in a bility, we m u st sta r t to
th in k a ga in .
It is a lw ays en cou r a gin g to h ave r oya l su ppor t to th e a u dit ca u se.
The content of the audit
Th e follow in g sta ges h ave pr oved to be su ccessfu l in pr a ctice.
The pre-audit
If th is type of a u dit is n ew to th e or ga n iza tion ,
th en it w ill be wor th wh ile to m a k e a qu ick
sca n a cr oss th e a ctivities con ta in ed in th e
section on “a r ea s to a u dit” below. Th is w ill
h igh ligh t a r ea s r equ ir in g a tten tion , su ggest
h ow th e a u dits w ill fit in w ith oth er wor k ,
wh a t r esou r ces m ay be n eeded, a n d th e tr a in in g in volved for a ll th ose wh o w ill pa r ticipa te,
both a u ditor s a n d a u ditees. Th is situ a tion
w ill a lso per ta in to a m u ltin a tion a l com pa n y
w ish in g to expa n d h om e a u dits to su bsidia r ies a br oa d. If th e a u dit is pa r t of a con tin u in g pr ogr a m m e, th en a r eview of pa st
a ch ievem en t a ga in st pla n a n d n ew n eeds, w ill
su ggest a r ea s for a tten tion .
Setting objectives
De fine go als
F r om th e pr e-a u dit th e m a jor a u dit con cer n s
w ill h ave em er ged. It is n ow n ecessa r y to
deter m in e wh er e ch a n ge is fea sible, a n d th e
Ge rald Vinte n
The o bje c tive s o f the
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Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt
and He alth
7 / 3 [1 9 9 6 ] 1 2 –2 1
im pa ct is gr ea test per u n it of expen ditu r e.
Fou r ba sic qu estion s sh ou ld set th e ton e:
1 Wh a t a r e we doin g?
2 Ca n we im pr ove?
3 Ca n we do m or e?
4 Ca n we do it m or e ch ea ply?
Th e a im w ill be to optim ize th e tr a de-off
between com pa n y efficien cy a n d n e ga tive
im pa ct on th e en vir on m en t.
De c ide audit sc o pe
Th e focu s m ay be on th e en tir e or ga n iza tion
(com pr eh en sive a u dit), a depa r tm en t (a ctivity a u dit) or site by site (site a u dit). Th e pr ea u dit w ill h ave given som e idea a s to wh ich of
th is, or m ixtu r e of th ese, wou ld be wor th wh ile.
Asc e rtain re gulatio ns, standards and
state -o f-the -art te c hno lo gy
Apa r t fr om pr esen t r e gu la tion s a n d sta n da r ds it is a lso im por ta n t to con sider th ose
th a t m ay be in gesta tion . P r ofession a l, gover n m en t, envir on m en ta l a n d tr a de bodies, a s
well a s lin e m a n a ger s, w ill be sou r ces of
in for m a tion .
Recen t tech n ologica l a n d pr odu ct developm en ts th a t ca n im pr ove en vir on m en ta l per for m a n ce a lso n eed to be a ccessed. Th e or ga n iza tion ca n th en be ju dged a ga in st th is
ben ch m a r k .
Prio rity se tting
It is r ea listic to sta r t w ith pr ojects wh er e
eith er th e r isk a n d m a ter ia lity a r e h igh , or
th e payba ck per iod is qu ick est. E n er gy con ser va tion a n d ta r iffs a r e a n exa m ple. Th e cost
of w a ter m ay well r ise sh a r ply, a n d con ser va tion h er e is in cr ea sin gly n ecessa r y. Su ch
pr ojects w ill esta blish cr edibility, a n d look in g
a fter th e cen ts w ill ta k e ca r e of th e dolla r s,
a n d lea d to th e a u dit of th e la r ger a n d som etim es m or e in tr a cta ble issu es.
Preparation
Se le c t the audit te am
It is im por ta n t to for m a n in ter disciplin a r y
tea m wh ich togeth er ca n ta ck le th e scien ce
a n d tech n ology in volved, a s well a s h avin g a
k n ow ledge of depa r tm en ts im plica ted in th e
a u dits. With in ter n a l a u dit’s r ovin g com m ission , it m ay be con sider ed th a t it is su ita ble to
pla ce th e co-or din a tion r ole h er e. Th is is a n
oppor tu n ity for in ter n a l a u dit to gr a b, sin ce
it w ill n ot a u tom a tica lly com e th is w ay, a n d in
m a n y r epor ted ca ses it h a s n ot, a n d in ter n a l
a u dit in volvem en t is m in im a l or n on -existen t.
De te rmine the ne e d fo r e xte rnal
assistanc e
Wh er e in ter n a l a u dit or th e or ga n iza tion la ck
th e exper tise, a m ixtu r e of in -h ou se sta ff a n d
in depen den t exter n a l con su lta n ts n eeds to be
con sider ed. Som e la r ge com pa n ies u se specia l dedica ted in -h ou se sta ff on ly, a n d h ave
en vir on m en ta l a u dit gr ou ps. Oth er s, su ch a s
Un ion Ca r bide a n d Allied-Sign a l, wh ile
h avin g th eir ow n specia list tea m s, in clu de a n
in depen den t con su lta n t on m ost of th eir
a u dits.
Establish the te rms o f re fe re nc e
Th is pr ovides a n a u th or iza tion to pr oceed, a s
well a s a n otifi ca tion to a ll em ployees, wh o
sh ou ld th en be en cou r a ged to pa r ticipa te.
Agre e time sc ale , and budge t
Th is pla ces bou n ds on th e a u dit in r ela tion to
th e pr ojected ben efits a n d th e per ception s of
top m a n a gem en t, a n d pr ovides a ta r get for
th e en vir on m en ta l a u dit m a n a ger to a im for.
Draw up audit documentation
Da ta n eed to be collected in a com m on for m a t
wh er ever possible, a n d in ter view a n d oth er
qu estion n a ir es con str u cted. Com pu ter ized
pr ocessin g w ill a lso n ecessita te for m design .
Sta n da r dized docu m en ta tion cou ld a lso
en cou r a ge self-a u dits, a n d becom e pa r t of th e
n or m a l m a n a ger ia l pr ocesses.
Areas to audit
Th ese w ill va r y fr om or ga n iza tion to or ga n iza tion , bu t h er e we give exa m ple a r ea s lik ely
to be com m on to m ost or ga n iza tion s, a n d
wh ich a r e cu r r en tly th e su bject of en vir on m en ta l a u dit a tten tion . We h ave devised th r ee
m a jor h ea din gs: or ga n iza tion str a te gy, fu n ction a l a r ea s, a n d oper a tion a l fa ctor s, a n d we
dea l w ith ea ch in tu r n .
Organizatio n strate gy
Un der or ga n iza tion str a te gy, th er e a r e th r ee
m a in a r ea s to con sider :
1 Ov era ll en viron m en ta l policy:
• Does it exist?
• Ha s it th e su ppor t of th e boa r d of dir ector s, top m a n a gem en t a n d wor k for ce?
• Is it a r e gu la r a gen da item for boa r d
a n d oth er m eetin gs?
• Ha s a sen ior execu tive been given th e
r espon sibility to en su r e im plem en ta tion of th e policy th r ou gh ou t th e or ga n iza tion ?
• Does th is sen ior execu tive r epor t
dir ectly to boa r d level?
• Have en vir on m en ta l lia ison officer s
been a ppoin ted for ea ch m a jor a r ea of
th e bu sin ess?
• Do th ey h ave th e r esou r ces a n d a u th or ity to m on itor com plia n ce w ith a n d
a ch ieve im plem en ta tion of or ga n iza tion -w ide en vir on m en ta l policy?
[ 17 ]
Ge rald Vinte n
The o bje c tive s o f the
e nviro nme ntal audit
•
Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt
and He alth
7 / 3 [1 9 9 6 ] 1 2 –2 1
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ar e th e co-or din a tion m ech a n ism s
between th e lia ison officer s a n d th e
sen ior execu tive a dequ a te?
Ar e th er e m ea n s w ith in th e policy of
r esolvin g con flict between th e en vir on m en ta l policy a n d oth er or ga n iza tion
policy?
Is th e policy com m u n ica ted w ith sh a r eh older s, em ployees, cu stom er s, su pplier s, loca l politicia n s, n eigh bou r s a n d
con tr ol a u th or ities?
Did it ta k e th eir view s in to a ccou n t ?
Is th e policy docu m en t da ted?
Is it r evised per iodica lly a n d a s soon a s
in ter n a l or exter n a l ch a n ge dicta tes?
Ar e a ll in ter ested pa r ties con su lted?
Is th er e a con sisten t ecologica l str a te gy
for th e or ga n iza tion ?
Ar e th e or ga n iza tion ’s objectives set
w ith du e r e ga r d for ecologica l fa ctor s?
2 S ta ff tra in in g a n d pa r ticipa tion :
• Is ever y em ployee issu ed w ith a copy of
th e en vir on m en ta l policy docu m en t,
u pda tes, a n d n ew edition s?
• Is th e per son a l a ccou n ta bility of ever y
in dividu a l em ployee m a de clea r ?
• Ar e con ta ct poin ts in dica ted to wh ich
th e em ployee m ay tu r n for m or e a dvice?
• Is th e en vir on m en ta l policy a r ou tin e
pa r t of in du ction tr a in in g?
• Ar e em ployees r equ ir ed to sign a sta tem en t th a t th ey h ave r ea d, u n der stood,
a n d a gr ee to a bide w ith th e policy?
• Ar e sta ff tested on th eir k n ow ledge of
th e policy?
• Is su ch com plia n ce a pa r t of th e sta ff
a ppr a isa l system ?
• Ar e su m m a r ies of th e policy on pr om in en t display a r ou n d th e wor k pla ce?
• Is th er e a system for in for m in g sta ff
a bou t w ays to im pr ove en vir on m en ta l
per for m a n ce?
• Ar e th er e tr a in in g pr ogr a m m es, su ggestion sch em es, qu a lity cir cles, per for m a n ce ta r gets, oper a tion a l a n d m a in ten a n ce sch edu les?
• Is en vir on m en ta l tr a in in g design ed
w ith pr ofession a l h elp?
• Is it in te gr a ted w ith oth er types of
tr a in in g?
• Is th er e a r e gister of a ll th ose wh o
sh ou ld r eceive tr a in in g?
• Ar e tr a in ees en cou r a ged to a pply th eir
n ew ly a cqu ir ed k n ow ledge a n d sk ills?
• Ar e th ey m on itor ed to discover th e
a fter m a th of th e cou r se, a n d r ea son s
wh y th ey m ay n ot be u sin g th e fr u its of
th e cou r se?
• Ar e r efr esh er a n d follow -u p cou r ses
su pplied a s n eed dicta tes?
[ 18 ]
•
•
•
•
Wh a t m otiva tion a n d tr a in in g m eth ods
sh ou ld be em ployed, a n d h ow a r e th ey
eva lu a ted?
Ar e envir on m en ta l m a tter s r a ised a s
pa r t of socia l occa sion s, for exa m ple
open days, to sh ow wh a t th e or ga n iza tion is doin g?
Is th er e a r ecogn ition system for sta ff ?
Ar e sta ff en cou r a ged to becom e
involved in en vir on m en ta l pr ojects?
3 A ccid en t a n d em ergen cy proced u res:
• Ar e th er e a dequ a te con tin gen cy pla n s
for dea lin g w ith a cciden ts a n d em er gen cies?
• Is th e pu blic r ela tion s depa r tm en t
r ea dy to com m u n ica te w ith em ployees,
n eigh bou r s, th e P r ess a n d oth er s?
• Ar e th er e con tr ols to en su r e th a t on ly
P R sta tem en ts th a t w ill sta n d u p to
in depen den t scr u tin y a r e per m itted to
be issu ed?
Func tio nal are as
Th er e a r e sever a l a r ea s to be con sider ed h er e:
1 M a rk etin g:
• Do m a r k etin g in itia tives cr ea te or r ein for ce th e or ga n iza tion ’s im a ge a n d
r epu ta tion for its con cer n w ith en vir on m en ta l issu es?
• Ar e pr odu cts m a r k ed to dr aw a tten tion
to th eir en vir on m en ta lly positive fea tu r es?
• Is th e pa ck a gin g m a de fr om en vir on m en ta lly a ccepta ble m a ter ia ls?
• Ar e m a r k etin g ch a n n els set u p by
a gr eem en t between m a n u fa ctu r er s a n d
distr ibu tion to m a k e r ecyclin g system s
possible?
• If h igh er pr ices a r e a ttr ibu ta ble to ecologica l fa ctor s, a r e th e pr ice differ en tia ls du e to th e ecologica l fa ctor s h igh ligh ted?
2 Pu blic rela tion s:
• Ar e envir on m en ta list gr ou ps a ccepted
a s le gitim a te a lbeit cr itica l ch a llen ger s
to th e or ga n iza tion ?
• Is th er e a n open dia logu e w ith en vir on m en ta l gr ou ps w ith ou t a pr eten ce of
bein g gr een er th a n is th e ca se?
• Ar e dea ls avoided w ith en vir on m en ta l
gr ou ps wh ich cou ld be m iscon str u ed a s
br ibes?
• Is a ccou n t ta k en of th e existen ce of th e
differ in g a n d som etim es con flictin g
opin ion s a m on g th e Gr een m ovem en t?
• Ar e developm en ts a n d sh ifts w ith in th e
a gen da s of th e con stitu en ts of th e Gr een
m ovem en t tr a ck ed?
• Ar e con ta cts sou gh t w ith com m u n ity
a ctivities, a n d is su ppor t pr ovided by
th e or ga n iza tion ?
Ge rald Vinte n
The o bje c tive s o f the
e nviro nme ntal audit
•
Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt
and He alth
7 / 3 [1 9 9 6 ] 1 2 –2 1
•
•
Is th er e a m u lti-la ter a l dia logu e w ith
tr a de u n ion s, loca l a u th or ities, politica l
pa r ties, ch u r ch es, citizen a ction gr ou ps,
con ser va tion gr ou ps, a n d oth er in ter ested pa r ties?
Is th er e a n a ctin g togeth er w ith th e
bu sin ess com m u n ity th r ou gh ch a m ber s
of com m er ce, em ployer s’ a ssocia tion s,
th e Con feder a tion of Br itish In du str y,
th e In stitu te of Dir ector s a n d th e lik e?
Ar e th er e on goin g pu blic r ela tion s
a ctivities to in clu de:
– th e issu e of in for m a tion br och u r es;
– th e or ga n izin g of r ou n d ta bles;
– in vita tion s for fa ctor y or oth er visits;
– r e gu la r discu ssion s w ith pr essu r e
– gr ou ps;
– r epor tin g a n d en cou r a gem en t of
– em ployee in volvem en t in
– en vir on m en ta l in itia tives;
– in for m a tion pa ck s a n d pr ogr a m m es
– for differ en t ta r get gr ou ps in th e
– com m u n ity, su ch a s sch oolch ildr en ,
– stu den ts, wor k er s, pr ofession a l
– bodies, wom en , a n d r etir ed people;
– r e gu la r lia ison w ith th e pr ess?
3 Fin a n ce:
• Is en vir on m en ta l im pa ct ta k en in to
a ccou n t in a ll in vestm en t decision s?
• Ar e eth ica l a n d gr een in vestm en ts
ch osen wh er ever fea sible?
• If a n in vestm en t is lik ely to in cr ea se
pollu tion , h a s it been in vestiga ted
wh eth er th er e is a lower -pollu tion a lter n a tive or wh eth er th e lik ely costs h ave
been in clu ded in th e pr oject costin g?
• Is sh or t-ter m ism avoided, wh er e a
lon ger ter m per spective w ill lea d to
h igh er en vir on m en ta l dividen ds?
4 Prod u ction :
• Ha s th e ea r lier r epla cem en t of existin g
pr odu ction pla n t a n d th e a cqu isition of
n ew, n on -pollu tin g m a ch in er y been
con sider ed?
• Ar e ecologica l m a ter ia ls a n d pr ocesses
in u se?
• Ar e clea n tech n ologies, w ith better
in pu t-ou tpu t r a tios, in u se?
• Ar e u sefu l m a ter ia ls a n d h ea t r ecover ed?
• Ar e em ission s m in im ized by post-pr odu ction en vir on m en ta l pr otection m ea su r es?
• Ca n r aw m a ter ia l specifi ca tion s be
a lter ed w ith ou t u n du ly a ffectin g pr odu ct qu a lity a n d to im pr ove en vir on m en ta l a spects?
5 In su ra n ce:
• Ch eck wh a t in tr in sic da m a ge cou ld
en su e fr om en vir on m en ta l r isk s.
• Ch eck possible r isk s to th ir d pa r ties
ca u sed by da m a ge to th e en vir on m en t.
• Assess th e r isk m a n a gem en t str a te gy,
a n d th a t th er e is a su ita ble m ix of
a ssu m ption of r isk , tr a n sfer of r isk a n d
in su r a n ce cover.
• Is th er e a dequ a te in su r a n ce cover for :
– bu sin ess in ter r u ption a n d con sequ en t loss;
– bor r ow in g n eed a s a r esu lt of stoppa ge;
– r epa ir a n d r epla cem en t costs;
– clea n -u p costs
– off-site en vir on m en ta l da m a ge;
– sta ff cla im s;
– pu blic cla im s;
– le ga l fees;
– th e dea th , in ca pa city or im pr ison m en t of k ey sta ff vita l to th e sm ooth
oper a tion of th e or ga n iza tion ?
6 In ter n a tion a l bu sin ess d ivision s:
• Ar e expor ts, im por ts a n d for eign pr odu ction en vir on m en t-or ien ted?
• Br in g pr essu r e to a ch ieve ch a n ge?
7 L ega l d epa r tm en t:
• Ar e a ll steps ta k en to com ply w ith officia l r e gu la tion s?
• Ar e envir on m en ta l da m a ge a n d lia bility r isk s k ept to a m in im u m ?
• Ar e solicitor s or ba r r ister s em ployed
wh o a r e specia lists in en vir on m en ta l
law ?
• If n ot, a r e su ch r esou r ces r ea dily ava ila ble th r ou gh th e or ga n iza tion ’s exter n a l le ga l a dviser s?
Ope ratio nal fac to rs
Un der oper a tion a l fa ctor s, we sh ou ld con sider :
1 Disch a rges (in clu d in g a ir, w a ter a n d n oise):
Ar e pr ocess con tr ols a n d m a n a gem en t
system s a dequ a te to en su r e com plia n ce
w ith le gisla tion , fu tu r e objectives a s well
a s to avoid com pla in ts?
2 S ite tid in ess:
• Ar e m ea su r es ta k en to elim in a te litter
a n d sou r ces of u n tidin ess in side bu ildin gs, ou tside a n d in th e im m edia te
su r r ou n din gs?
• Ha s su ita ble la n dsca pin g been con sider ed to im pr ove th e a ppea r a n ce of th e
site?
[ 19 ]
Ge rald Vinte n
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and He alth
7 / 3 [1 9 9 6 ] 1 2 –2 1
3 T ra n spor t:
• Ar e sta ff en cou r a ged to u se pu blic
tr a n spor t a n d cou ld you in cr ea se th e
ava ila bility of pu blic tr a n spor t by pr ovidin g a ddition a l com pa n y-fu n ded
ser vices?
• Is th er e a n in ven tor y of a ll m ea n s of
tr a n spor t u sed by th e or ga n iza tion ?
• Is th e or ga n iza tion u sin g th e m ost efficien t a n d en vir on m en ta lly sou n d system s for tr a n spor tin g goods, people a n d
m a ter ia ls?
• Ar e on ly low -pollu tion veh icles pu r ch a sed?
• Ar e existin g veh icles r e-equ ipped a n d
ser viced w ith en vir on m en ta l con sider a tion s in m in d?
4 Wa ter u se:
• Is th er e a w a ter m a n a gem en t policy?
• Is th er e a w a ter m a n a gem en t officer
r espon sible for im plem en ta tion ?
• Is w a ter u sed efficien tly?
• Ar e r e gu la r r eview s ca r r ied ou t to
deter m in e w a ter con su m ption , lea k a ge,
a n d w a stew a ter pa tter n s?
• Ar e th er e per m a n en t m on itor s
in sta lled to a ssess u sa ge?
• Ar e ever tigh ter ta r gets set for th e
fu tu r e m a n a gem en t of w a ter ?
• Is th er e eviden ce of a ch ievem en t a n d
im pr ovem en t?
• Ca n you r edu ce con su m ption by u sin g
a lter n a tive coolin g m eth ods or con tr ollin g lea k a ges m or e effectively?
• Ar e th er e a lter n a tive su pplies ava ila ble
th a t cou ld r edu ce m eter ed costs:
– su r fa ce w a ter a bstr a ction ;
– u se of a bor eh ole;
– loca l gr ou n dw a ter ;
– ch ea per n on -pota ble w a ter fr om a
– loca l w a ter u tility?
• Wh er e possible, is in fer ior qu a lity
r eu sed/ tr ea ted w a ter u sed for in du str ia l u ses su ch a s w a sh in g, pr e-r in sin g
or in dir ect coolin g of a pr odu ct?
• Is su ch w a ter n on -cor r osive a n d n on sca le pr odu cin g?
• Is pipewor k str en gth en ed wh er e th er e
a r e h igh pr essu r es or tem per a tu r es?
• Is pipewor k in su la ted wh er e th er e a r e
extr em es of tem per a tu r e?
• Is soft or soften ed w a ter – w ith its
r edu ced h ea tin g costs – u sed wh er e
a ppr opr ia te?
• Is w a ter stor ed on site a s a r isk -m a n a gem en t ta ctic a ga in st in ter r u ption of
su pply?
• If so a r e con dition s in pla ce su ch a s to
sa fe gu a r d a ga in st con ta m in a tion by
m icr o-or ga n ism s a n d oth er sou r ces?
[ 20 ]
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ar e th er e r e gu la r in spection s for con ta m in a tion a n d loss th r ou gh lea k a ge or
eva por a tion ?
Is optim a l qu a lity a n d qu a n tity of w a ter
for va r iou s ph a ses of th e pr odu ction
cycle a ch ieved a s per m a n u fa ctu r er s’
r ecom m en da tion s for th eir m a ch in er y
a n d equ ipm en t?
Ar e w a ter a n d en er gy-savin g devices
fitted in w a sh r oom s a n d toilets?
Have w ays been sou gh t to r edu ce w a ter
u sa ge in w a sh in g pla n t, floor s a n d veh icles?
Is r ecycled w a ter u sed wh er ever possible wh en w a ter is u sed for or n a m en ta l,
decor a tive or h or ticu ltu r a l pu r poses?
Ar e h oses fi tted w ith a u tom a tic cu t-off
va lves?
5 R ecyclin g:
• Ar e a ll oppor tu n ities con sider ed?
• Cou ld r edu n da n t, u sed pr odu cts be
r ecycled?
6 Wa ste:
• Ar e steps ta k en to m in im ize, elim in a te
or r ecycle it?
• Ar e r ecyclin g oppor tu n ities bein g lost
by fa ilu r e to se gr e ga te differ en t types
of w a ste?
• Is w a ste disposed of r espon sibly?
7 En erg y u se:
• Ar e electr icity, stea m , w a ter a n d ga s
m eter ed a t th e m a jor poin ts of u se, a n d
ta r gets set to r edu ce th eir u sa ge?
• Is fu ll u se m a de of a lter n a tive en er gy
sou r ces, su ch a s la n dfill ga s, w a steder ived fu el, sola r a n d w in d en er gy, a n d
com bin ed h ea t a n d power ?
• Ar e en er gy con ser va tion sch em es in
existen ce a n d a dequ a te?
• Ar e bu ildin gs a n d pla n t pr oper ly
in su la ted?
• Ca n savin gs be m a de in h ea tin g a n d
ligh tin g costs?
8 Ca n teen food :
• Is h ea lth y ea tin g en cou r a ged, a n d
h ea lth edu ca tion pr ovided?
• Is n u tr ition a l in for m a tion pr ovided?
• Is a n im pr oved r a n ge of h ea lth y dish es
a n d dr in k s pr ovided?
• Ar e th er e sa fe gu a r ds to en su r e food
h ygien e?
9 Occu pa tion a l h ea lth a n d sa fety:
• Is th er e a n occu pa tion a l h ea lth depa r tm en t?
• Does it pr ovide a dvice on pr a ctica l
a cciden t a n d in ju r y pr even tion ?
• Does it look a fter em ployees’ psych ologica l n eeds?
• Does it a dvise on h ea lth edu ca tion in
h om e a n d fa m ily?
Ge rald Vinte n
The o bje c tive s o f the
e nviro nme ntal audit
Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt
and He alth
7 / 3 [1 9 9 6 ] 1 2 –2 1
•
Does it a dvise on str ess r edu ction a n d
tim e m a n a gem en t?
Data processing
Th e da ta collected n eed to be a n a lysed, a n d
th en pr esen ted in a for m ea sily u n der stood
a n d fr om wh ich clea r con clu sion s m ay be
dr aw n . Possible con clu sion s sh ou ld be
discu ssed wh er ever possible w ith th e sta ff
dir ectly in volv
Gerald Vinten Unive rsity o f Luto n, UK
Explores the concept of the
environmental audit. Emphasizes its importance as one
contribution that attempts to
prevent the destruction of the
world in which we live.
Stresses that it is everyone’s
responsibility – that of both
individuals and the companies and organizations in
which they operate. Describes
stages of the audit process
that have been successful in
practice.
Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt
and He alth
7 / 3 [ 1996] 1 2 –2 1
© MCB Unive rsity Pre ss
[ ISSN 0956-6163]
[ 12 ]
Am on g th e m u ltitu de of a n im a ls wh ich
sca m per, fly, bu r r ow a n d sw im a r ou n d u s,
m a n is th e on ly on e wh o is n ot lock ed in to
h is en vir on m en t. His im a gin a tion , h is r ea son , h is em otion a l su btlety a n d tou gh n ess,
m a k e it possible for h im n ot to a ccept th e
en vir on m en t bu t to ch a n ge it. An d th a t
ser ies of in ven tion s, by wh ich m a n fr om a ge
to a ge h a s r em a de h is en vir on m en t, is a
differ en t k in d of evolu tion – n ot biologica l,
bu t cu ltu r a l evolu tion . I ca ll th a t br illia n t
sequ en ce of cu ltu r a l pea k s “Th e Ascen t of
Ma n ”[1].
Th e In ter n a tion a l Ch a m ber of Com m er ce h a s
defin ed en vir on m en ta l a u dit a s “a m a n a gem en t tool com pr isin g a system a tic, docu m en ted, per iodic a n d objective eva lu a tion of
h ow well en vir on m en ta l or ga n iza tion , m a n a gem en t a n d equ ipm en t a r e per for m in g w ith
th e a im of h elpin g to sa fe gu a r d th e en vir on m en t by:
• fa cilita tin g m a n a gem en t con tr ol of en vir on m en ta l pr otection ;
• a ssessin g com plia n ce w ith com pa n y policies wh ich wou ld in clu de m eetin g r e gu la tor y r equ ir em en ts[2]”.
F r om th is we ca n see th a t th e con cept is w ide.
It is n ot ju st com plyin g w ith m in im a list le gisla tion , n or is it ju st a pu blic r ela tion s exer cise, th ou gh it w ill in clu de both of th ese.
Ra th er it is a tota l str a te gic, cr a dle-to-gr ave
pr ocess, wh ich som e pr efer to ca ll “con ception to r esu r r ection ”, u n der lin in g th e “design
to r ecyclin g” a spect. Th e m a in a im is to pr odu ce a m a n a gem en t system th a t w ill pr ovide
in for m a tion on en vir on m en ta l per for m a n ce
a ga in st pr e-deter m in ed ta r gets, en su r in g th a t
th ose ta r gets a r e m et, a n d th a t on e r em a in s
a h ea d of th e pa ck . Th e a doption of th is defin ition by th e N a tion a l E n vir on m en ta l Au ditor s’
Re gistr a tion Sch em e, a n d by th e In stitu te of
E n vir on m en ta l Assessm en t h a s a dded extr a
a u th or ity to th is defi n ition .
Th e scope of th e a u dit ca n be com pr eh en sive, ta k e on a r a n ge of issu es, or a ddr ess a
sin gle topic. Wh er e in ter n a tion a l a u dits a r e
ca r r ied ou t by a cen tr a l tea m , it is lik ely th a t
a r a n ge of topics w ill be cover ed to m in im ize
costs. Th e a u dit m ay be r estr icted to sim ple
com plia n ce testin g, or exten ded to a m or e
sea r ch in g a n d in ter -pr ofession a l a u dit. Th e
a u dit w ill a ddr ess th e oper a tin g
en vir on m en t, h ea lth a n d sa fety m a n a gem en t,
pr odu ct sa fety a n d qu a lity, loss pr even tion ,
a n d m in im izin g r esou r ce u se a n d a dver se
effect on th e en vir on m en t.
Th e a dva n ta ges of a sou n d en vir on m en ta l
a u dit a r e th a t it w ill:
• dem on str a te com pa n y com m itm en t to en vir on m en ta l pr otection to em ployees, th e
pu blic a n d th e a u th or ities;
• pr ovide a n en vir on m en ta l da ta ba se for
pla n n in g, pla n t m odifica tion a n d em er gen cy pla n n in g;
• sa fe gu a r d th e envir on m en t;
• ver ify com plia n ce w ith loca l a n d n a tion a l
law s;
• in dica te cu r r en t or poten tia l fu tu r e pr oblem s th a t n eed to be a ddr essed;
• r edu ce exposu r e to litiga tion , in ciden ts a n d
a dver se pu blicity;
• in cr ea se em ployee aw a r en ess of en vir on m en ta l m a tter s;
• a ssess tr a in in g pr ogr a m m es a n d pr ovide
da ta to a ssist in tr a in in g;
• en a ble com pa n ies to bu ild on good en vir on m en ta l per for m a n ce, give cr edit wh er e
a ppr opr ia te a n d h igh ligh t deficien cies;
• a ssist th e exch a n ge a n d com pa r ison of
in for m a tion between differ en t pla n ts or
su bsidia r y com pa n ies;
• iden tify poten tia l cost savin gs, su ch a s fr om
w a ste m in im iza tion .
Th e a dva n ta ges a r e im m en se. Th e developm en t of th e en vir on m en ta l a u dit is in exor a ble. Th e or ga n iza tion ca n ch oose to be pa r t
of th is excitin g developm en t, or let it pa ss by.
Th er e a r e plen ty of oth er or ga n iza tion s w ish in g to ta k e th e oppor tu n ity, w ith exter n a l
con su lta n cies spr in gin g u p w ith gr ea t r e gu la r ity a n d in ter n a l a u ditor s be gin n in g to tool
u p. It r equ ir es a n ew a ppr oa ch by th e a u ditor s, bu t n ot on e wh ich is fa r r em oved fr om
m or e fa m ilia r ter r itor y.
At th e ver y lea st th e a u ditor w ill be con cer n ed to en su r e com plia n ce w ith law s a n d
r e gu la tion s on th e en vir on m en t. In th e US
con text th is w ill be le gisla tion su ch a s th e
Wa ter Qu a lity Im pr ovem en t Act of 1970, th e
N oise Con tr ol Act of 1972, th e Toxic
Su bsta n ces Con tr ol Act of 1976, th e Clea n Air
Act Am en dm en t of 1977, a n d th e Resou r ce
Con ser va tion a n d Recover y Act of 1984. For
Ge rald Vinte n
The o bje c tive s o f the
e nviro nme ntal audit
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and He alth
7 / 3 [1 9 9 6 ] 1 2 –2 1
th e E u r opea n Com m u n ity th is w ill be a r ticle
130R of th e 1987 Sin gle E u r opea n Act wh ich
sta tes th a t:
1 Action by th e Com m u n ity r ela tin g to th e
en vir on m en t sh a ll h ave th e follow in g objectives:
(i) to pr eser ve, pr otect a n d im pr ove th e
qu a lity of th e en vir on m en t;
(ii) to con tr ibu te tow a r d pr otectin g h u m a n
h ea lth ;
(iii) to en su r e a pr u den t a n d r a tion a l u tiliza tion of n a tu r a l r esou r ces.
2 Action by th e Com m u n ity r ela tin g to th e
en vir on m en t sh a ll be ba sed on th e pr in ciples th a t pr even tive a ction sh ou ld be ta k en ,
th a t en vir on m en ta l da m a ge sh ou ld a s a
pr ior ity be r ectified a t sou r ce, a n d th a t th e
pollu ter sh ou ld pay. E n vir on m en ta l pr otection r equ ir em en ts sh a ll be a com pon en t of
th e Com m u n ity’s oth er policies.
The European Eco-audit
Th e E u r opea n Com m ission h a s esta blish ed a
Cou n cil r e gu la tion for a Com m u n ity-w ide,
volu n ta r y eco-a u dit sch em e. Th e ver sion th a t
in 1992 wen t befor e th e E u r opea n Cou n cil a n d
P a r lia m en t for r a tifica tion w a s en titled “P r oposa l for a Cou n cil Re gu la tion a llow in g volu n ta r y pa r ticipa tion in th e in du str y sector in
a Com m u n ity eco-a u dit sch em e”. Th e r efer en ce w a s COM (91) 459. E u r opea n m em ber
sta tes n ow n eed to esta blish su ch a volu n ta r y
sch em e. Com pa n ies in cer ta in in du str ia l
a ctivities th a t w ish to pa r ticipa te m u st
com m it th em selves to:
• esta blish in g a n in ter n a l en vir on m en ta l
pr otection system ;
• eva lu a tin g objectively th e en vir on m en ta l
per for m a n ce of th e system ;
• in for m in g th e pu blic on en vir on m en ta l
per for m a n ce;
• h avin g th e pu blic sta tem en t ver ifi ed by a n
a ccr edited envir on m en ta l a u ditor.
Th e sch em e oper a tes w ith E u r opea n sta n da r ds to be developed on en vir on m en ta l m a n a gem en t system s a n d r ela ted cer tifica tion
a ctivities. Com pa n ies wh ich m eet th e
r equ ir em en ts to be r e gister ed m ay u se a logo
r ela ted to th e sites th a t h ave been ver ifi ed
u n der th e sch em e.
Eco-labelling
E co-la bellin g is a m ea n s of displayin g in for m a tion a s to th e differ en tia l im pa ct on th e
en vir on m en t of pr odu cts wh ich offer sim ila r
u ses a n d com pete w ith ea ch oth er in th e m a r k et. Th e a im is to lessen h a r m to th e en vir on m en t wh ile pr ovidin g th e in for m a tion to th e
con su m er s in m a k in g decision s ba sed on
en vir on m en ta l per for m a n ce. Th e aw a r din g of
a n eco-la bel in volves con sider a tion of th e
en vir on m en ta l im pa ct of a pr odu ct a t ever y
sta ge of its life-cycle, in clu din g its m a n u fa ctu r e, distr ibu tion , u se a n d disposa l, a n d a
com pa r ison of th a t im pa ct a s a ga in st oth er
pr odu cts in th e sa m e gr ou p. N a tu r a lly th e
a dva n ta ge of th e la bel w ill be pa r ticu la r ly
cr u cia l wh er e th er e is a m a r k ed con su m er
dem a n d for gr een er pr odu cts. Th e pr in ciple
is th a t pr odu ct gr ou ps m u st be selected for
a pplica tion of th e la bel, a n d cr iter ia a dopted
a n d pu blish ed on th e ba sis of wh ich pr odu cts
in th a t gr ou p ca n be a ssessed. Th e aw a r din g
body th en deter m in es wh ich pr odu cts in th e
gr ou p h ave m et th e cr iter ia a n d ca n a ch ieve
th e aw a r d. A dr a ft r e gu la tion to esta blish a n
E C eco-la bel system w a s fir st in tr odu ced in
Febr u a r y 1991, bu t con tr over sy delayed its
im plem en ta tion . Un der th e r e gu la tion we
n ow h ave, th e Depa r tm en t of th e E n vir on m en t is r equ ir ed to design a te a Com peten t
Body for th e sch em e, a n d it h a s been decided
th a t a dedica ted n on -depa r tm en ta l pu blic
body wou ld be th e m ost su ita ble m ea n s to
ta k e on th is r ole. In or der to dem on str a te th e
a u th or ity, a n d im pa r tia lity of th e body, a n d
pr om ote th e cr edibility of th e sch em e, th e
Depa r tm en t dicta ted th a t it sh ou ld be officia l,
in depen den t a n d fr ee fr om m in ister ia l con tr ol. Dr E liza beth N elson , ch a ir of Addison
Con su lta n cy Gr ou p plc a n d th e Taylor N elson
Gr ou p Ltd, w a s a ppoin ted a s th e fi r st ch a ir of
th e UK’s officia l eco-la bellin g body.
The environmental aspect to loans
Ba n k er s a n d oth er poten tia l len der s n ow
n eed to a dd a n extr a level of scr u tin y to th eir
len din g decision : a n a ssessm en t of possible or
a ctu a l en vir on m en ta l lia bility. Th is obviou sly
a dds to th e cost of th e loa n , bu t len der s a r e
becom in g extr em ely ca u tiou s w ith th e tr a dition a l secu r ity of pr oper ty bein g m or e r isk y
w ith th e u n cer ta in ties of th e pr oper ty
m a r k et, a n d th ey w ill n ot w ish to see th eir
loa n s fu r th er a t r isk fr om en vir on m en ta l
pr oblem s. Th e issu e h a s becom e cr itica l in
th e USA u n der th e Com pr eh en sive E n vir on m en ta l Respon se, Com pen sa tion a n d Lia bility Act of 1980 (Cer cla ). Th is a ct a im s to m a k e
th ose wh o ca u se pollu tion lia ble for th e cost
of clea n -u p a n d per h a ps a lso for da m a ges for
in ju r y to th e pu blic. Th is pr in ciple of m a k in g
th e pollu ter pay is a lso th e policy of th e UK
Gover n m en t. Acceptin g th a t th ose wh o con tr ol th e la n d ca r r y th e pr im a r y r espon sibility,
Cer cla r ecogn ized th a t len der s wh o took secu r ity over la n d th a t su bsequ en tly tu r n ed ou t to
be pollu ted, cou ld be left w ith u n fa ir lia bility.
Th e Act th er efor e con ta in ed th e “secu r ed
len der exem ption ”. Th is exclu des fr om
[ 13 ]
Ge rald Vinte n
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lia bility th ose wh o, w ith ou t pa r ticipa tin g in
th e m a n a gem en t of a fa cility, h old in dica tion
of ow n er sh ip pr im a r ily to pr otect th eir secu r ity in ter est. Th e difficu lty h a s been to defi n e
wh a t con stitu tes pa r ticipa tin g in th e m a n a gem en t. US cou r ts h ave r u led th a t sligh t a cts,
su ch a s a n y pr u den t len der wou ld ta k e to
sa fe gu a r d secu r ity, wou ld be su fficien t. Ma tter s pr ogr essed fu r th er dow n th e slipper y
slope wh en th e Feder a l Appea ls Cou r t con sider ed su ch a ca se for th e fir st tim e in th e ca se
of US v. Fleet Fa ctors. Th e Appea l Cou r t for
th e E leven th Cir cu it deter m in ed th a t a
secu r ed len der wh o took n o pa r t in m a n a gem en t decision s, wh ich wer e pr eviou sly
th ou gh t to be sa fe, m igh t still be fou n d lia ble
if th e cou r t cou ld in fer th a t th e secu r ed
len der cou ld h ave a ffected h a za r dou s w a ste
decision s, even if in fa ct it did n ot do so. Th is
decision ca u sed sh ock -h or r or in th e US ba n k in g com m u n ity. N ot a ll su bsequ en t decision s
h ave followed th is lea d, bu t th e a m bigu ity of
th e law does little to ca lm th e a n xieties of
len der s.
In th e UK, th e E n vir on m en ta l P r otection
Act 1990 im poses lia bility on th ose wh o con tr ol w a ste, bu t gen er a lly su ch lia bility is n ot
a bsolu te, a n d if r ea son a ble pr eca u tion s h ave
been ta k en , a n d du e ca r e exer cised, th en
lia bility w ill be avoided. Th is is n ot so in th e
Dr a ft E C Dir ective, wh ich in Cla u se 2(1) (b)
stipu la tes th a t “th e per son wh o h a d a ctu a l
con tr ol of th e w a ste wh en th e in ciden t givin g
r ise to th e da m a ge … , if h e is n ot a ble w ith in
a r ea son a ble tim e to iden tify th e pr odu cer …”
sh a ll be lia ble. Lia bility is a bsolu te a n d
depen den t on fa u lt. It is n ot a lw ays possible
to iden tify th e pr odu cer of w a ste, su ch a s a
w a ste tip in for m a lly u sed by th e pu blic over
m a n y yea r s.
The law and the company director
Com pa n y dir ector s w ill in cr ea sin gly fa ce th e
th r ea t of fin es a n d disqu a lifica tion . In a la n dm a r k ca se in th e su m m er of 1992 in Lewes
Cr ow n Cou r t, for th e fir st ever tim e a com pa n y dir ector w a s disqu a lified for com m ittin g a h ea lth a n d sa fety offen ce. Th e a n a logy
w ith en vir on m en ta l offen ces is extr em ely
close, a n d it is to be expected th a t th e pr in ciples of th is ca se w ill be r ea pplied w ith ou t
h esita tion to en vir on m en ta l a bu ses. Th e
m iscr ea n t dir ector w a s th e ow n er of a Ken t
qu a r r y fir m wh ich a cted in br ea ch of a pr oh ibition n otice issu ed by th e Hea lth a n d Sa fety
E xecu tive for fa ilu r e to pr otect em ployees
fr om fa llin g r ock s. He plea ded gu ilty to th e
ch a r ge u n der section 37 of th e Hea lth a n d
Sa fety a t Wor k Act, wh ich m a k es dir ector s
a n d oth er sen ior officer s lia ble for offen ces
[ 14 ]
com m itted wh er e th ey h ave con sen ted or
con n ived in th e offen ce, or wh er e it w a s
a ttr ibu ta ble to th eir n e glect. Th e a ssista n t
r ecor der a t th e Cr ow n Cou r t believed th a t th e
sever ity of th e offen ce r en der ed it in su fficien t
to sim ply fi n e th e dir ector a n d th e com pa n y,
a n d so it m a de le ga l h istor y by im posin g a
two-yea r ba n on h oldin g a com pa n y dir ector sh ip. Section 2 of th e Com pa n y Dir ector s
Disqu a lifi ca tion Act 1986 per m its a cou r t to
disqu a lify a dir ector for u p to 15 yea r s for a n
in dicta ble offen ce con n ected w ith , in ter a lia ,
th e m a n a gem en t of th e com pa n y or its pr oper ty. N ever befor e h a d th is power been exer cised in r ela tion sh ip to a h ea lth a n d sa fety
offen ce. It w ill on ly be th e n ext step for th e
sa m e tr ea tm en t to be m eted ou t for a n en vir on m en ta l offen ce. Th e E n vir on m en ta l P r otection Act 1990, Wa ter Resou r ces Act 1991,
a n d Wa ter In du str y Act 1991, a ll con ta in iden tica l stipu la tion s to th ose of th e Hea lth a n d
Sa fety a t Wor k Act 1974, a n d a llow dir ector s
a n d sen ior officer s to be ch a r ged for en vir on m en ta l offen ces per petr a ted by th eir com pa n ies. With a fin din g of gu ilt u n der th ese
sta tu tes, cou r ts m ay be in clin ed to follow th e
lea d esta blish ed by th e Lewes Cr ow n Cou r t.
Th is is lik ely to a pply on ly to bla ta n t a n d
ser iou s ca ses. However, th e closer th e dir ector is in volved in th e day-to-day wor k in gs of a
com pa n y, th e m or e lik ely it is th a t h e or sh e
m igh t be disqu a lified. Dir ector s of sm a ll
com pa n ies, w ith th eir close oper a tion a l
involvem en t, n eed to be pa r ticu la r ly vigila n t.
Th er e a r e cor r espon din g lia bilities for th e
com pa n ies th em selves. Com pa n ies w ith a
pr esen ce in th e USA n eed to be aw a r e of th e
Feder a l Sen ten cin g Gu idelin es wh ich beca m e
fin a lized on 1 N ovem ber 1991. Th er e is a n
a ppr ecia ble Br itish pr esen ce th er e. For exa m ple, coa l-m in in g in West Vir gin ia is dom in a ted by Br itish com pa n ies. Th e Gu idelin es
pr ovide ju dges w ith a for m u la for sen ten cin g
or ga n iza tion s for va r iou s types of wh itecolla r cr im e, ba sed on th e gr avity of th e
offen ce a n d th e de gr ee of cu lpa bility. Th e
Gu idelin es, wh ich a r e a pplica ble to a ll or ga n iza tion s, m ea n th a t a r a n ge of cr im es fr om
viola tion s of em ploym en t law s, m a il a n d w ir e
fr a u d, a n d com m er cia l br iber y, to m on ey
la u n der in g a n d en vir on m en ta l offen ces, w ill
a ttr a ct fin es a n d sa n ction s th a t ca n a m ou n t to
h u n dr eds of m illion of dolla r s. Th ese su m s
m ay seem extr em e, bu t even con ser va tive
estim a tes of th e lon g-ter m h a r m som e or ga n iza tion s in fl ict on th e en vir on m en t, wou ld
su ggest th a t su ch su m s a r e in fa ct a n u n der estim a te r a th er th a n a n over estim a te of th e
som etim es ir r ever sible h a r m to th e pla n et.
Th e Gu idelin es do en cou r a ge sou n d com m er cia l pr a ctice by a llow in g for r edu ced sen ten ces for or ga n iza tion s th a t ca n display
Ge rald Vinte n
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eviden ce of a n “effective pr ogr a m to pr even t
a n d detect viola tion s of law ”. “Cr edits”
a ga in st poten tia l pen a lties ca n be a ccr u ed if
or ga n iza tion s ca n dem on str a te th a t th ey
h ave:
• com plied w ith th e va r iou s du e diligen ce
steps ou tlin ed in th e law ;
• investiga ted a n d pu n ish ed w r on gdoin g; a n d
• co-oper a ted w ith gover n m en t in vestiga tor s.
In sim ila r vein , bu t w ith exclu sive r efer en ce
to envir on m en ta l con cer n s, th e US Depa r tm en t of J u stice issu e a policy pr on ou n cem en t
on 11 J u ly 1991 in dica tin g th a t com pa n ies th a t
pr oa ctively im plem en t m a n a gem en t a n d
com plia n ce pr ogr a m m es w ill fa ce less cr im in a l en for cem en t a ctivity th a n com pa n ies
wh ich la ck su ch pr ogr a m m es. Accor din g to
th e pr on ou n cem en t, a com pa n y is m or e lik ely
to qu a lify for “pr osecu tion len ien cy” if it ca n
pr ove th r ou gh its m a n a gem en t system :
• volu n ta r y, pr om pt, a n d com plete disclosu r es of m a tter s u n der in vestiga tion ;
• fu ll a n d pr om pt co-oper a tion ; a n d
• pr even tive m ea su r es a n d com plia n ce
pr ogr a m m es.
Su ch a n a ppr oa ch m a k es good, pr u den t sen se
ou tside th e USA a s well. It lea ds u s n a tu r a lly
in to th e n eed a n d va lu e of th e en vir on m en ta l
a u dit. If you a dopt th e optim a l a ppr oa ch ,
th er e is n o sta n da r d or le gisla tion th a t ca n
ca tch you u n aw a r es.
The Litter Code for local
authorities
Mu ch of th e wor k of loca l a u th or ities in
r em ovin g litter a n d clea n in g r oa ds is su bject
to both th e Loca l Gover n m en t Act 1988 a n d
th e E n vir on m en t P r otection Act (E PA) 1990.
Th e 1990 Act set h igh er sta n da r ds to be
a dh er ed to. Section 89 r equ ir es loca l a u th or ities a n d oth er specifi ed la n dow n er s a s fa r a s
pr a ctica ble to k eep a ll la n d to wh ich th e pu blic h a s a ccess, a n d wh ich is open to th e a ir,
clea r of r efu se a n d litter.
Th e Secr eta r ies of Sta te issu ed th eir code of
pr a ctice, a s r equ ir ed by th e Act, in J a n u a r y
1991. Th is Litter Code lists fou r gr a des of
clea n lin ess:
1 n o litter or r efu se (gr a de A);
2 pr edom in a n tly fr ee of r efu se (gr a de B);
3 w idespr ea d litter a n d r efu se, w ith m in or
a ccu m u la tion s (gr a de C); a n d
4 h eavily litter ed, w ith sign ifi ca n t a ccu m u la tion s (gr a de D).
P h otogr a ph s a r e in clu ded in th e Litter Code
to illu str a te th ese gr a des. E leven ca te gor ies of
la n d a r e th en iden tified:
1
tow n cen tr es, sh oppin g cen tr es a n d
str eets, m a jor tr a n spor t cen tr es, cen tr a l
ca r pa r k s, a n d oth er pu blic pla ces wh er e
la r ge n u m ber s of people con gr e ga te;
2
h igh -den sity r esiden tia l a r ea s, r ecr ea tion a l a r ea s wh er e la r ge n u m ber s of
people con gr e ga te, a n d su bu r ba n ca r
pa r k s a n d tr a n spor t cen tr es;
3
oth er ca r pa r k s a n d tr a n spor t cen tr es,
low -den sity r esiden tia l a r ea s, a n d in du str ia l esta tes;
4
a m en ity bea ch es (a bove h igh tide);
5
m otor w ays, a n d tr u n k r oa ds wh ose
tr a ffic flow s exceed specifi ed levels;
6
a ll oth er r oa ds (beside 6, a n d th ose
in clu ded in 1 to 3);
7
la n d occu pied by edu ca tion a l in stitu tion s;
8-10 r a ilw ay em ba n k m en ts a n d tow pa th s;
11 a ll oth er a r ea s to wh ich th e Act a pplies.
Th e sign ifi ca n ce of th ese ca te gor ies is th a t
th e Code specifi es th e gr a des to wh ich la n d
sh ou ld be r estor ed, a n d by wh en , by ea ch
ca te gor y. For exa m ple, ca te gor y 1, w ith th e
h igh est specifica tion , h a s to be r estor ed to
gr a de A:
• w ith in six h ou r s if it fa lls to gr a de B
between 6 a .m . a n d 8 p.m .. (or w ith in th r ee
h ou r s if it fa lls to gr a de C, or w ith in on e
h ou r if to gr a de D);
• by 8 a .m . if it fa lls below gr a de A between
8 p.m . a n d 6 a .m .
Bu sin esses in in du str ia l esta tes ca n in vok e
th e Act, a s ca n th ose wh o fin d th e in fr a str u ctu r e of r oa ds a n d th e lik e is over -litter ed.
Other aspects of the
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Th e im petu s for th is a ct ca m e fr om E C le gisla tion a n d policy a s well a s fr om dom estic
in stitu tion s su ch a s th e Roya l Com m ission on
E n vir on m en ta l Pollu tion a n d P a r lia m en ta r y
Com m ittees. Th e a ct r epr esen ts th e be gin n in gs of th e pr a ctica l m a n ifesta tion of th e
pr in ciple th a t th e pollu ter pays. It a lso in tr odu ced th e n otion of in te gr a ted pollu tion con tr ol. P r eviou sly ea ch com pon en t of th e en vir on m en t – a ir, la n d a n d w a ter – h a d its ow n
sepa r a te law s a n d system s of con tr ol. N ow
Her Ma jesty’s In spector a te of Pollu tion w ill
con tr ol a ll r elea ses of a ir, w a ter, a n d la n d
fr om m ost pollu tin g in du str ia l pr ocesses. Th e
In spector a te w a s for m ed in 1987 th r ou gh th e
m er ger of th e th r ee existin g in spector a tes of
in du str ia l a ir pollu tion , r a dioa ctive su bsta n ces, a n d h a za r dou s w a stes, togeth er w ith
th e a ddition of n ew r espon sibilities in r ela tion to w a ter pollu tion . Com pa n ies h ave to
m eet th e ch a r ges of th e In spector a te, a n d w ill
pay pen a lties for br ea k in g th e specifi ed em ission lim its. Th er e is a r equ ir em en t for
[ 15 ]
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en vir on m en ta l im pa ct a ssessm en ts for n ew
developm en ts su ch a s n ew sh oppin g cen tr es
or fa ctor ies. Th er e is a lso a le ga l obliga tion to
m in im ize w a ste pr odu ction u sin g th e pr in ciple th a t goes by th e a cr on ym BATN E E C –
“best ava ila ble tech n ology n ot en ta ilin g
excessive cost”. Best ava ila ble tech n iqu es
u n der th e a ct in clu de tech n ology, u se of per son n el, a n d th e design , layou t a n d m a in ten a n ce of bu ildin gs. Gu ida n ce n otes a r e ava ila ble cover in g gen er a l a r ea s su ch a s fu el a n d
petr oleu m , m in er a ls, w a ste disposa l a n d
ch em ica ls, a n d m or e a r e issu ed w ith tim e.
It is sa lu ta r y to r ea lize th a t th er e is a r ever sa l
of th e n or m a l cr im in a l bu r den of pr oof. Th e
on u s is on th e a ccu sed to pr ove th a t th er e w a s
n o better ava ila ble tech n iqu e th a n th a t u sed.
Th er e a r e 12 cr im in a l offen ces r ela tin g to
br ea ch es of th e a ct. Th e m ost ser iou s offen ces
ca r r y a m a xim u m sen ten ce of two yea r s w ith
a n u n lim ited fi n e. Pen a lties a pply to both
com pa n ies a n d in dividu a ls, a n d wh er e a
com pa n y is m a n a ged by its m em ber s, th ey
m ay a lso be fou n d gu ilty. In du str ies cover ed
by th e a ct h ave to a pply for a u th or iza tion to
con tin u e to oper a te, to m a k e m a jor ch a n ges
to th eir pla n ts, or to bu ild n ew on es. Va r iou s
bodies, su ch a s th e Hea lth a n d Sa fety E xecu tive, h ave to be con su lted a n d th en th er e h a s
to be pu blic a dver tisem en t in a loca l n ew spa per. Attem ptin g to avoid com plia n ce is a h igh
r isk str a te gy, w ith ser iou s con sequ en ces for
both th e com pa n y a n d th ose w ith in it. A copy
of th e a ct is a vita l pa r t of th e com pa n y
libr a r y, a n d dir ector s a n d m a n a ger s n eed to
be aw a r e of th e ba sic stipu la tion s of th e a ct.
Le gisla tion is be gin n in g to bite, a n d
pr oa ctive com pa n ies a r e a lr ea dy be gin n in g to
a dju st th eir str a te gy, pla n s a n d pr ocedu r es to
cope. Com pa n ies su ch a s Hoffm a n -La Roch e,
Sw itzer la n d’s th ir d la r gest ch em ica l com pa n y, th e F in n ish con glom er a te N este, Volvo
in Sweden , Im per ia l Ch em ica l In du str ies in
E n gla n d, Opel in Ger m a n y, P h ilips in Th e
N eth er la n ds, a n d IBM a n d J oh n son a n d J oh n son in th e USA a r e ju st a few of a gr ow in g
n u m ber of com pa n ies th a t see com petitive
a dva n ta ge a s well a s m or a l ju stifica tion for
th e en vir on m en ta l a u dit. E n vir on m en ta l
sta tem en ts a r e pr odu ced by com pa n ies su ch
a s: La in g, Sa in sbu r y’s, Icela n d, ICI, a n d 3M.
Th e E n vir on m en ta l Review of Br itish Air w ays is a fu lly fl edged a n d a n a lytica l a ccou n t
– a r eview a cr oss th e en tir e com pa n y.
The environmental audit
I h ave n ever u n der stood wh y a n ybody
a gr eed to go on bein g a r u stic a fter a bou t
1400[3].
[ 16 ]
P r in ce Ch a r les, h eir to th e Br itish Th r on e,
spea k in g on Br itish television on 23 May 1990
on a pr ogr a m m e h e pr odu ced on th e en vir on m en t, em ph a sized th e n eed for pr oper a u dit
a n d a ccou n ta bility. He r ein for ced th e m essa ge in h is k eyn ote a ddr ess to th e Wor ld Com m ission on E n vir on m en t a n d Developm en t
(Th e Br u n dtla n d Com m ission ) on 22 Apr il
1992, a n d in su bsequ en t con ver sa tion w ith th e
w r iter. In h is speech , h e u r ged th e n eed to
seek to live in h a r m on y a n d ba la n ce w ith th e
r est of cr ea tion , even if we ca n n ot discer n a n y
dir ect a n d im m edia te m a ter ia l ben efit to
ou r selves in th e pr ocess:
Th is, of cou r se, poin ts to th e n eed for a fu n da m en ta l sh ift in a ttitu des. We h ave a ll been
ta u gh t to th in k in a lin ea r w ay; w ith a be gin n in g, a m iddle a n d a n en d. Lin ea r ity is th e
con cept we u se to devise in du str ia l
pr ocesses in ter m s of in pu ts, pr ocesses, a n d
ou tpu ts, w ith w a ste a n d pollu tion a s u n in ten ded (a n d, u n til r ecen tly, little con sider ed)
ou tpu ts. Th e solu tion to pollu tion is still, too
often , dilu tion . Ou r lin ea r w ay of th in k in g
h a s been a tr iu m ph in th e r ela tive sh or t
ter m . Bu t n ow, w ith th e dou blin g of wor ld
popu la tion in pr ospect, w ith in cr ea sin g
dem a n ds for a h igh er a n d h igh er m a ter ia l
sta n da r d of livin g, a n d w ith th e a dded n eed
to str ive for su sta in a bility, we m u st sta r t to
th in k a ga in .
It is a lw ays en cou r a gin g to h ave r oya l su ppor t to th e a u dit ca u se.
The content of the audit
Th e follow in g sta ges h ave pr oved to be su ccessfu l in pr a ctice.
The pre-audit
If th is type of a u dit is n ew to th e or ga n iza tion ,
th en it w ill be wor th wh ile to m a k e a qu ick
sca n a cr oss th e a ctivities con ta in ed in th e
section on “a r ea s to a u dit” below. Th is w ill
h igh ligh t a r ea s r equ ir in g a tten tion , su ggest
h ow th e a u dits w ill fit in w ith oth er wor k ,
wh a t r esou r ces m ay be n eeded, a n d th e tr a in in g in volved for a ll th ose wh o w ill pa r ticipa te,
both a u ditor s a n d a u ditees. Th is situ a tion
w ill a lso per ta in to a m u ltin a tion a l com pa n y
w ish in g to expa n d h om e a u dits to su bsidia r ies a br oa d. If th e a u dit is pa r t of a con tin u in g pr ogr a m m e, th en a r eview of pa st
a ch ievem en t a ga in st pla n a n d n ew n eeds, w ill
su ggest a r ea s for a tten tion .
Setting objectives
De fine go als
F r om th e pr e-a u dit th e m a jor a u dit con cer n s
w ill h ave em er ged. It is n ow n ecessa r y to
deter m in e wh er e ch a n ge is fea sible, a n d th e
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The o bje c tive s o f the
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im pa ct is gr ea test per u n it of expen ditu r e.
Fou r ba sic qu estion s sh ou ld set th e ton e:
1 Wh a t a r e we doin g?
2 Ca n we im pr ove?
3 Ca n we do m or e?
4 Ca n we do it m or e ch ea ply?
Th e a im w ill be to optim ize th e tr a de-off
between com pa n y efficien cy a n d n e ga tive
im pa ct on th e en vir on m en t.
De c ide audit sc o pe
Th e focu s m ay be on th e en tir e or ga n iza tion
(com pr eh en sive a u dit), a depa r tm en t (a ctivity a u dit) or site by site (site a u dit). Th e pr ea u dit w ill h ave given som e idea a s to wh ich of
th is, or m ixtu r e of th ese, wou ld be wor th wh ile.
Asc e rtain re gulatio ns, standards and
state -o f-the -art te c hno lo gy
Apa r t fr om pr esen t r e gu la tion s a n d sta n da r ds it is a lso im por ta n t to con sider th ose
th a t m ay be in gesta tion . P r ofession a l, gover n m en t, envir on m en ta l a n d tr a de bodies, a s
well a s lin e m a n a ger s, w ill be sou r ces of
in for m a tion .
Recen t tech n ologica l a n d pr odu ct developm en ts th a t ca n im pr ove en vir on m en ta l per for m a n ce a lso n eed to be a ccessed. Th e or ga n iza tion ca n th en be ju dged a ga in st th is
ben ch m a r k .
Prio rity se tting
It is r ea listic to sta r t w ith pr ojects wh er e
eith er th e r isk a n d m a ter ia lity a r e h igh , or
th e payba ck per iod is qu ick est. E n er gy con ser va tion a n d ta r iffs a r e a n exa m ple. Th e cost
of w a ter m ay well r ise sh a r ply, a n d con ser va tion h er e is in cr ea sin gly n ecessa r y. Su ch
pr ojects w ill esta blish cr edibility, a n d look in g
a fter th e cen ts w ill ta k e ca r e of th e dolla r s,
a n d lea d to th e a u dit of th e la r ger a n d som etim es m or e in tr a cta ble issu es.
Preparation
Se le c t the audit te am
It is im por ta n t to for m a n in ter disciplin a r y
tea m wh ich togeth er ca n ta ck le th e scien ce
a n d tech n ology in volved, a s well a s h avin g a
k n ow ledge of depa r tm en ts im plica ted in th e
a u dits. With in ter n a l a u dit’s r ovin g com m ission , it m ay be con sider ed th a t it is su ita ble to
pla ce th e co-or din a tion r ole h er e. Th is is a n
oppor tu n ity for in ter n a l a u dit to gr a b, sin ce
it w ill n ot a u tom a tica lly com e th is w ay, a n d in
m a n y r epor ted ca ses it h a s n ot, a n d in ter n a l
a u dit in volvem en t is m in im a l or n on -existen t.
De te rmine the ne e d fo r e xte rnal
assistanc e
Wh er e in ter n a l a u dit or th e or ga n iza tion la ck
th e exper tise, a m ixtu r e of in -h ou se sta ff a n d
in depen den t exter n a l con su lta n ts n eeds to be
con sider ed. Som e la r ge com pa n ies u se specia l dedica ted in -h ou se sta ff on ly, a n d h ave
en vir on m en ta l a u dit gr ou ps. Oth er s, su ch a s
Un ion Ca r bide a n d Allied-Sign a l, wh ile
h avin g th eir ow n specia list tea m s, in clu de a n
in depen den t con su lta n t on m ost of th eir
a u dits.
Establish the te rms o f re fe re nc e
Th is pr ovides a n a u th or iza tion to pr oceed, a s
well a s a n otifi ca tion to a ll em ployees, wh o
sh ou ld th en be en cou r a ged to pa r ticipa te.
Agre e time sc ale , and budge t
Th is pla ces bou n ds on th e a u dit in r ela tion to
th e pr ojected ben efits a n d th e per ception s of
top m a n a gem en t, a n d pr ovides a ta r get for
th e en vir on m en ta l a u dit m a n a ger to a im for.
Draw up audit documentation
Da ta n eed to be collected in a com m on for m a t
wh er ever possible, a n d in ter view a n d oth er
qu estion n a ir es con str u cted. Com pu ter ized
pr ocessin g w ill a lso n ecessita te for m design .
Sta n da r dized docu m en ta tion cou ld a lso
en cou r a ge self-a u dits, a n d becom e pa r t of th e
n or m a l m a n a ger ia l pr ocesses.
Areas to audit
Th ese w ill va r y fr om or ga n iza tion to or ga n iza tion , bu t h er e we give exa m ple a r ea s lik ely
to be com m on to m ost or ga n iza tion s, a n d
wh ich a r e cu r r en tly th e su bject of en vir on m en ta l a u dit a tten tion . We h ave devised th r ee
m a jor h ea din gs: or ga n iza tion str a te gy, fu n ction a l a r ea s, a n d oper a tion a l fa ctor s, a n d we
dea l w ith ea ch in tu r n .
Organizatio n strate gy
Un der or ga n iza tion str a te gy, th er e a r e th r ee
m a in a r ea s to con sider :
1 Ov era ll en viron m en ta l policy:
• Does it exist?
• Ha s it th e su ppor t of th e boa r d of dir ector s, top m a n a gem en t a n d wor k for ce?
• Is it a r e gu la r a gen da item for boa r d
a n d oth er m eetin gs?
• Ha s a sen ior execu tive been given th e
r espon sibility to en su r e im plem en ta tion of th e policy th r ou gh ou t th e or ga n iza tion ?
• Does th is sen ior execu tive r epor t
dir ectly to boa r d level?
• Have en vir on m en ta l lia ison officer s
been a ppoin ted for ea ch m a jor a r ea of
th e bu sin ess?
• Do th ey h ave th e r esou r ces a n d a u th or ity to m on itor com plia n ce w ith a n d
a ch ieve im plem en ta tion of or ga n iza tion -w ide en vir on m en ta l policy?
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Ar e th e co-or din a tion m ech a n ism s
between th e lia ison officer s a n d th e
sen ior execu tive a dequ a te?
Ar e th er e m ea n s w ith in th e policy of
r esolvin g con flict between th e en vir on m en ta l policy a n d oth er or ga n iza tion
policy?
Is th e policy com m u n ica ted w ith sh a r eh older s, em ployees, cu stom er s, su pplier s, loca l politicia n s, n eigh bou r s a n d
con tr ol a u th or ities?
Did it ta k e th eir view s in to a ccou n t ?
Is th e policy docu m en t da ted?
Is it r evised per iodica lly a n d a s soon a s
in ter n a l or exter n a l ch a n ge dicta tes?
Ar e a ll in ter ested pa r ties con su lted?
Is th er e a con sisten t ecologica l str a te gy
for th e or ga n iza tion ?
Ar e th e or ga n iza tion ’s objectives set
w ith du e r e ga r d for ecologica l fa ctor s?
2 S ta ff tra in in g a n d pa r ticipa tion :
• Is ever y em ployee issu ed w ith a copy of
th e en vir on m en ta l policy docu m en t,
u pda tes, a n d n ew edition s?
• Is th e per son a l a ccou n ta bility of ever y
in dividu a l em ployee m a de clea r ?
• Ar e con ta ct poin ts in dica ted to wh ich
th e em ployee m ay tu r n for m or e a dvice?
• Is th e en vir on m en ta l policy a r ou tin e
pa r t of in du ction tr a in in g?
• Ar e em ployees r equ ir ed to sign a sta tem en t th a t th ey h ave r ea d, u n der stood,
a n d a gr ee to a bide w ith th e policy?
• Ar e sta ff tested on th eir k n ow ledge of
th e policy?
• Is su ch com plia n ce a pa r t of th e sta ff
a ppr a isa l system ?
• Ar e su m m a r ies of th e policy on pr om in en t display a r ou n d th e wor k pla ce?
• Is th er e a system for in for m in g sta ff
a bou t w ays to im pr ove en vir on m en ta l
per for m a n ce?
• Ar e th er e tr a in in g pr ogr a m m es, su ggestion sch em es, qu a lity cir cles, per for m a n ce ta r gets, oper a tion a l a n d m a in ten a n ce sch edu les?
• Is en vir on m en ta l tr a in in g design ed
w ith pr ofession a l h elp?
• Is it in te gr a ted w ith oth er types of
tr a in in g?
• Is th er e a r e gister of a ll th ose wh o
sh ou ld r eceive tr a in in g?
• Ar e tr a in ees en cou r a ged to a pply th eir
n ew ly a cqu ir ed k n ow ledge a n d sk ills?
• Ar e th ey m on itor ed to discover th e
a fter m a th of th e cou r se, a n d r ea son s
wh y th ey m ay n ot be u sin g th e fr u its of
th e cou r se?
• Ar e r efr esh er a n d follow -u p cou r ses
su pplied a s n eed dicta tes?
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Wh a t m otiva tion a n d tr a in in g m eth ods
sh ou ld be em ployed, a n d h ow a r e th ey
eva lu a ted?
Ar e envir on m en ta l m a tter s r a ised a s
pa r t of socia l occa sion s, for exa m ple
open days, to sh ow wh a t th e or ga n iza tion is doin g?
Is th er e a r ecogn ition system for sta ff ?
Ar e sta ff en cou r a ged to becom e
involved in en vir on m en ta l pr ojects?
3 A ccid en t a n d em ergen cy proced u res:
• Ar e th er e a dequ a te con tin gen cy pla n s
for dea lin g w ith a cciden ts a n d em er gen cies?
• Is th e pu blic r ela tion s depa r tm en t
r ea dy to com m u n ica te w ith em ployees,
n eigh bou r s, th e P r ess a n d oth er s?
• Ar e th er e con tr ols to en su r e th a t on ly
P R sta tem en ts th a t w ill sta n d u p to
in depen den t scr u tin y a r e per m itted to
be issu ed?
Func tio nal are as
Th er e a r e sever a l a r ea s to be con sider ed h er e:
1 M a rk etin g:
• Do m a r k etin g in itia tives cr ea te or r ein for ce th e or ga n iza tion ’s im a ge a n d
r epu ta tion for its con cer n w ith en vir on m en ta l issu es?
• Ar e pr odu cts m a r k ed to dr aw a tten tion
to th eir en vir on m en ta lly positive fea tu r es?
• Is th e pa ck a gin g m a de fr om en vir on m en ta lly a ccepta ble m a ter ia ls?
• Ar e m a r k etin g ch a n n els set u p by
a gr eem en t between m a n u fa ctu r er s a n d
distr ibu tion to m a k e r ecyclin g system s
possible?
• If h igh er pr ices a r e a ttr ibu ta ble to ecologica l fa ctor s, a r e th e pr ice differ en tia ls du e to th e ecologica l fa ctor s h igh ligh ted?
2 Pu blic rela tion s:
• Ar e envir on m en ta list gr ou ps a ccepted
a s le gitim a te a lbeit cr itica l ch a llen ger s
to th e or ga n iza tion ?
• Is th er e a n open dia logu e w ith en vir on m en ta l gr ou ps w ith ou t a pr eten ce of
bein g gr een er th a n is th e ca se?
• Ar e dea ls avoided w ith en vir on m en ta l
gr ou ps wh ich cou ld be m iscon str u ed a s
br ibes?
• Is a ccou n t ta k en of th e existen ce of th e
differ in g a n d som etim es con flictin g
opin ion s a m on g th e Gr een m ovem en t?
• Ar e developm en ts a n d sh ifts w ith in th e
a gen da s of th e con stitu en ts of th e Gr een
m ovem en t tr a ck ed?
• Ar e con ta cts sou gh t w ith com m u n ity
a ctivities, a n d is su ppor t pr ovided by
th e or ga n iza tion ?
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Is th er e a m u lti-la ter a l dia logu e w ith
tr a de u n ion s, loca l a u th or ities, politica l
pa r ties, ch u r ch es, citizen a ction gr ou ps,
con ser va tion gr ou ps, a n d oth er in ter ested pa r ties?
Is th er e a n a ctin g togeth er w ith th e
bu sin ess com m u n ity th r ou gh ch a m ber s
of com m er ce, em ployer s’ a ssocia tion s,
th e Con feder a tion of Br itish In du str y,
th e In stitu te of Dir ector s a n d th e lik e?
Ar e th er e on goin g pu blic r ela tion s
a ctivities to in clu de:
– th e issu e of in for m a tion br och u r es;
– th e or ga n izin g of r ou n d ta bles;
– in vita tion s for fa ctor y or oth er visits;
– r e gu la r discu ssion s w ith pr essu r e
– gr ou ps;
– r epor tin g a n d en cou r a gem en t of
– em ployee in volvem en t in
– en vir on m en ta l in itia tives;
– in for m a tion pa ck s a n d pr ogr a m m es
– for differ en t ta r get gr ou ps in th e
– com m u n ity, su ch a s sch oolch ildr en ,
– stu den ts, wor k er s, pr ofession a l
– bodies, wom en , a n d r etir ed people;
– r e gu la r lia ison w ith th e pr ess?
3 Fin a n ce:
• Is en vir on m en ta l im pa ct ta k en in to
a ccou n t in a ll in vestm en t decision s?
• Ar e eth ica l a n d gr een in vestm en ts
ch osen wh er ever fea sible?
• If a n in vestm en t is lik ely to in cr ea se
pollu tion , h a s it been in vestiga ted
wh eth er th er e is a lower -pollu tion a lter n a tive or wh eth er th e lik ely costs h ave
been in clu ded in th e pr oject costin g?
• Is sh or t-ter m ism avoided, wh er e a
lon ger ter m per spective w ill lea d to
h igh er en vir on m en ta l dividen ds?
4 Prod u ction :
• Ha s th e ea r lier r epla cem en t of existin g
pr odu ction pla n t a n d th e a cqu isition of
n ew, n on -pollu tin g m a ch in er y been
con sider ed?
• Ar e ecologica l m a ter ia ls a n d pr ocesses
in u se?
• Ar e clea n tech n ologies, w ith better
in pu t-ou tpu t r a tios, in u se?
• Ar e u sefu l m a ter ia ls a n d h ea t r ecover ed?
• Ar e em ission s m in im ized by post-pr odu ction en vir on m en ta l pr otection m ea su r es?
• Ca n r aw m a ter ia l specifi ca tion s be
a lter ed w ith ou t u n du ly a ffectin g pr odu ct qu a lity a n d to im pr ove en vir on m en ta l a spects?
5 In su ra n ce:
• Ch eck wh a t in tr in sic da m a ge cou ld
en su e fr om en vir on m en ta l r isk s.
• Ch eck possible r isk s to th ir d pa r ties
ca u sed by da m a ge to th e en vir on m en t.
• Assess th e r isk m a n a gem en t str a te gy,
a n d th a t th er e is a su ita ble m ix of
a ssu m ption of r isk , tr a n sfer of r isk a n d
in su r a n ce cover.
• Is th er e a dequ a te in su r a n ce cover for :
– bu sin ess in ter r u ption a n d con sequ en t loss;
– bor r ow in g n eed a s a r esu lt of stoppa ge;
– r epa ir a n d r epla cem en t costs;
– clea n -u p costs
– off-site en vir on m en ta l da m a ge;
– sta ff cla im s;
– pu blic cla im s;
– le ga l fees;
– th e dea th , in ca pa city or im pr ison m en t of k ey sta ff vita l to th e sm ooth
oper a tion of th e or ga n iza tion ?
6 In ter n a tion a l bu sin ess d ivision s:
• Ar e expor ts, im por ts a n d for eign pr odu ction en vir on m en t-or ien ted?
• Br in g pr essu r e to a ch ieve ch a n ge?
7 L ega l d epa r tm en t:
• Ar e a ll steps ta k en to com ply w ith officia l r e gu la tion s?
• Ar e envir on m en ta l da m a ge a n d lia bility r isk s k ept to a m in im u m ?
• Ar e solicitor s or ba r r ister s em ployed
wh o a r e specia lists in en vir on m en ta l
law ?
• If n ot, a r e su ch r esou r ces r ea dily ava ila ble th r ou gh th e or ga n iza tion ’s exter n a l le ga l a dviser s?
Ope ratio nal fac to rs
Un der oper a tion a l fa ctor s, we sh ou ld con sider :
1 Disch a rges (in clu d in g a ir, w a ter a n d n oise):
Ar e pr ocess con tr ols a n d m a n a gem en t
system s a dequ a te to en su r e com plia n ce
w ith le gisla tion , fu tu r e objectives a s well
a s to avoid com pla in ts?
2 S ite tid in ess:
• Ar e m ea su r es ta k en to elim in a te litter
a n d sou r ces of u n tidin ess in side bu ildin gs, ou tside a n d in th e im m edia te
su r r ou n din gs?
• Ha s su ita ble la n dsca pin g been con sider ed to im pr ove th e a ppea r a n ce of th e
site?
[ 19 ]
Ge rald Vinte n
The o bje c tive s o f the
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Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt
and He alth
7 / 3 [1 9 9 6 ] 1 2 –2 1
3 T ra n spor t:
• Ar e sta ff en cou r a ged to u se pu blic
tr a n spor t a n d cou ld you in cr ea se th e
ava ila bility of pu blic tr a n spor t by pr ovidin g a ddition a l com pa n y-fu n ded
ser vices?
• Is th er e a n in ven tor y of a ll m ea n s of
tr a n spor t u sed by th e or ga n iza tion ?
• Is th e or ga n iza tion u sin g th e m ost efficien t a n d en vir on m en ta lly sou n d system s for tr a n spor tin g goods, people a n d
m a ter ia ls?
• Ar e on ly low -pollu tion veh icles pu r ch a sed?
• Ar e existin g veh icles r e-equ ipped a n d
ser viced w ith en vir on m en ta l con sider a tion s in m in d?
4 Wa ter u se:
• Is th er e a w a ter m a n a gem en t policy?
• Is th er e a w a ter m a n a gem en t officer
r espon sible for im plem en ta tion ?
• Is w a ter u sed efficien tly?
• Ar e r e gu la r r eview s ca r r ied ou t to
deter m in e w a ter con su m ption , lea k a ge,
a n d w a stew a ter pa tter n s?
• Ar e th er e per m a n en t m on itor s
in sta lled to a ssess u sa ge?
• Ar e ever tigh ter ta r gets set for th e
fu tu r e m a n a gem en t of w a ter ?
• Is th er e eviden ce of a ch ievem en t a n d
im pr ovem en t?
• Ca n you r edu ce con su m ption by u sin g
a lter n a tive coolin g m eth ods or con tr ollin g lea k a ges m or e effectively?
• Ar e th er e a lter n a tive su pplies ava ila ble
th a t cou ld r edu ce m eter ed costs:
– su r fa ce w a ter a bstr a ction ;
– u se of a bor eh ole;
– loca l gr ou n dw a ter ;
– ch ea per n on -pota ble w a ter fr om a
– loca l w a ter u tility?
• Wh er e possible, is in fer ior qu a lity
r eu sed/ tr ea ted w a ter u sed for in du str ia l u ses su ch a s w a sh in g, pr e-r in sin g
or in dir ect coolin g of a pr odu ct?
• Is su ch w a ter n on -cor r osive a n d n on sca le pr odu cin g?
• Is pipewor k str en gth en ed wh er e th er e
a r e h igh pr essu r es or tem per a tu r es?
• Is pipewor k in su la ted wh er e th er e a r e
extr em es of tem per a tu r e?
• Is soft or soften ed w a ter – w ith its
r edu ced h ea tin g costs – u sed wh er e
a ppr opr ia te?
• Is w a ter stor ed on site a s a r isk -m a n a gem en t ta ctic a ga in st in ter r u ption of
su pply?
• If so a r e con dition s in pla ce su ch a s to
sa fe gu a r d a ga in st con ta m in a tion by
m icr o-or ga n ism s a n d oth er sou r ces?
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Ar e th er e r e gu la r in spection s for con ta m in a tion a n d loss th r ou gh lea k a ge or
eva por a tion ?
Is optim a l qu a lity a n d qu a n tity of w a ter
for va r iou s ph a ses of th e pr odu ction
cycle a ch ieved a s per m a n u fa ctu r er s’
r ecom m en da tion s for th eir m a ch in er y
a n d equ ipm en t?
Ar e w a ter a n d en er gy-savin g devices
fitted in w a sh r oom s a n d toilets?
Have w ays been sou gh t to r edu ce w a ter
u sa ge in w a sh in g pla n t, floor s a n d veh icles?
Is r ecycled w a ter u sed wh er ever possible wh en w a ter is u sed for or n a m en ta l,
decor a tive or h or ticu ltu r a l pu r poses?
Ar e h oses fi tted w ith a u tom a tic cu t-off
va lves?
5 R ecyclin g:
• Ar e a ll oppor tu n ities con sider ed?
• Cou ld r edu n da n t, u sed pr odu cts be
r ecycled?
6 Wa ste:
• Ar e steps ta k en to m in im ize, elim in a te
or r ecycle it?
• Ar e r ecyclin g oppor tu n ities bein g lost
by fa ilu r e to se gr e ga te differ en t types
of w a ste?
• Is w a ste disposed of r espon sibly?
7 En erg y u se:
• Ar e electr icity, stea m , w a ter a n d ga s
m eter ed a t th e m a jor poin ts of u se, a n d
ta r gets set to r edu ce th eir u sa ge?
• Is fu ll u se m a de of a lter n a tive en er gy
sou r ces, su ch a s la n dfill ga s, w a steder ived fu el, sola r a n d w in d en er gy, a n d
com bin ed h ea t a n d power ?
• Ar e en er gy con ser va tion sch em es in
existen ce a n d a dequ a te?
• Ar e bu ildin gs a n d pla n t pr oper ly
in su la ted?
• Ca n savin gs be m a de in h ea tin g a n d
ligh tin g costs?
8 Ca n teen food :
• Is h ea lth y ea tin g en cou r a ged, a n d
h ea lth edu ca tion pr ovided?
• Is n u tr ition a l in for m a tion pr ovided?
• Is a n im pr oved r a n ge of h ea lth y dish es
a n d dr in k s pr ovided?
• Ar e th er e sa fe gu a r ds to en su r e food
h ygien e?
9 Occu pa tion a l h ea lth a n d sa fety:
• Is th er e a n occu pa tion a l h ea lth depa r tm en t?
• Does it pr ovide a dvice on pr a ctica l
a cciden t a n d in ju r y pr even tion ?
• Does it look a fter em ployees’ psych ologica l n eeds?
• Does it a dvise on h ea lth edu ca tion in
h om e a n d fa m ily?
Ge rald Vinte n
The o bje c tive s o f the
e nviro nme ntal audit
Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt
and He alth
7 / 3 [1 9 9 6 ] 1 2 –2 1
•
Does it a dvise on str ess r edu ction a n d
tim e m a n a gem en t?
Data processing
Th e da ta collected n eed to be a n a lysed, a n d
th en pr esen ted in a for m ea sily u n der stood
a n d fr om wh ich clea r con clu sion s m ay be
dr aw n . Possible con clu sion s sh ou ld be
discu ssed wh er ever possible w ith th e sta ff
dir ectly in volv