ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS – Lesson 8

BIODIVERSITY

“Variety of life in an area, including the number of different species, the genetic wealth within each species, the interrelationships between them and the natural areas where they occur”

Cause of Destruction

• Human activities
• Invader plants/animal species
• Species extinction

HOW TO MOVE TO SUSTAINABILITY

• People must be made aware of the value of the environment
• Companies must implement policies & principles
• Harmful impact of humans must be minimized

What is EMS (Emergency Management Systems):

• System ensure environmental impacts are managed
• Know what impacts they have
• Know how to lessen the impacts
• Comply with legislation
• Improve environmental performance and show it
• Records must be kept

ENVIRONMENTAL INCIDENT

” Environmental Incident is an event that pollutes the environment or has the risk  of polluting the environment.”

Emergency incidents threatening the environment:

• Inform management immediately
• Stop pollution from spreading
• Management notifies authorities
• Clean up pollution
• Take steps so it does not happen again
• Person causing the incident or who was in charge can be held personally liable

Environmental Management Steps:

• Planning
• Organising
• Leading
• Controlling

• We are the first generation who can irreversibly transfer this planet from the worst.
• We are the last who can avert disaster.
• May cause respiratory problems over period of time.
• We humans did not inherit this planet but are borrowing the earth from our children.
• No water is to be polluted.
• Waste such as oil, chemicals or general waste are not allowed to run into ground water, water streams or rivers.
• Restore land to its pre-mining capability.
• Reduce or eliminate release of pollutants, air, land and water.

Community Awareness

• Training and education
• Enterprise development
• Unemployment
• Health
• Infrastructure

HOW TO MOVE TO SUSTAINABILITY

• People must be made aware of the value of the environment
• Companies must implement policies & principles
• Harmful impact of humans must be minimised

AIR POLLUTION

• Type e.g. Smoke, fumes, dust, smells, noise, heat
• Cause e.g. Industry, Mining – barring, drilling, blasting, scraping, sweepings, tipping and travelling, Motor Vehicles
• Results e.g. Global warming, ozone damage, acid rain
• Minimize e.g. Plant trees, clean up, reuse energy

DUST & FUMES

Dust

• Dilute dust to create healthy conditions
• Liberation by the use of water, dust allaying agent of by a dust extraction system
• Adequate ventilation
• All surfaces as well as machinery must be regularly cleaned (prevent accumulation of dust)
• Flammable gasses

THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Over a period of time dust will have Permanent detrimental effects on the lungs which could be fatal.

HEALTH EFFECTS

HEALTH EFFECTS DEPEND ON:

• Physical
• Chemical
• Toxicological

PROPERTIES OF INHALED PARTICLES

DUST SAMPLE TESTS

• Dust sample test are conducted randomly.
• You will be paraded by the Environmental Department and be informed that you have been selected to wear a Dust Sampler.
• The instrument must be worn at all times during the shift (8 hours).
• No water or any other liquid or substance must be placed onto or near the instrument.
• Any damages to the instrument the wearer will be held responsible.

WATER POLLUTION

• Resources e.g. Ground water, lakes & dams, rivers and oceans
• Type e.g. Sewage, effluent, animal waste, acid rain, fertilisers & waste
• Results e.g. Health – sick, factories cannot use it & harmful to all life forms
• Minimize e.g. use less water, reuse, recycle, keep clean & no chemical/ oil spills

SOIL POLLUTION

• Examples e.g. oil, erosion, mineral extraction, salvation, water logging & chemical substance
• Type e.g. Spills or leaks & spilled material transported by water
• Minimize e.g. Legal compliance

WASTE MANAGEMENT

• Identification (e.g. general/hazardous, re-cycle, can cause pollution)
• Characteristics (e.g. toxic, explosive, flammable, infectious, radio active)
• Waste cycle (e.g. generation, storage, transportation, disposal)
• Storage and separation (e.g. hazardous and non-hazardous)

What to do

• Reduce: Try to create less waste
• Re-use: Use some of the Reduce: Try to create less waste.
• Recycle: Use a waste product for something else – like waste paper for production inputs instead of raw wood.
• Treat: Certain waste must be treated before it is disposed of to make it safer, e.g. pH control.

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL

Chemicals can enter the body, namely by:

• Inhalation
• Skin absorption
• Swallowing
• Hazardous materials can cause immediate or long-term health problems if not handled safely!

• Fluorescent tubes contain a toxic powder which can be dangerous when inhaled or if absorbed into the body, for example, by a skin cut.
• All tubes must be kept intact and may only be crushed in the designated yellow drums (specifically designed containers). During crushing operations the required PPE must be worn.
• Tubes are supplied in a protective corrugated cardboard wrapping.
• When a new tube is installed the old tube, which is removed, must be inserted into the cardboard wrapper from the new tube and transported to the designated disposal yellow crusher drum. NOTE: A visual inspection of the tube will quickly reveal if the tube is old or new. An old tube will have black discolouring at the ends of the tube, where a new tube is unmarked.
• Placed the tube to be crushed carefully in the crusher whilst slowly turning the crusher handle. If the “crusher” does, for what so ever reason, not work, remove the tube and stored it safely until it can be safely crushed in a crusher that is operational.
• Report to the Engineering department if the yellow disposal container for fluorescent tubes is full. Hazardous waste is removed from site (surface) by a hazardous waste contractor as the container is filling up (minimum every 3 months). Collection must be prompted by business units.

• Never use alcohol or drugs
• Not only is it detrimental to your health but a person who is intoxicated does not react or think rationally, this in turn could result in serious to fatal injuries.
• Do not smell, taste or eat any known or unknown chemical substance. When necessary to drain or transfer chemical substances to another container make use of the correct tools or equipment. NEVER use your mouth.

CATEGORIES OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL

Categories of Hazardous material

• Corrosive materials:  e.g.  Battery acid
• Toxic material:  e.g.  paraffin
• Dangerous gases:  e.g.  exhaust pipe gasses

How to Identify:  Look at the Label-

• Information on the Label
• Content
• Effects on your health
• Special instructions e.g. storage, ventilation etc.
• Personal protection to be used
• First Aid required

Basic First Aid

• The DMR communicate information to you.

PPE

• Safety glasses, gloves, rubber boots, protective suit, respirator & wash basins.

SNAKE BITES

• Always assume that all snakes are poisonous and avoid all contact
• Immediately after a snake bite, contact the emergency control centre and answer questions accordingly
• The emergency control centre will notify the clinic immediately
• Try to identify the snake to give a description of the snake to the emergency control officer

If possible, kill the snake so that positive identification can be made upon arrival at the scene.  This will assist in ensuring that the correct type of anti venom is administered to the patient.

SNAKE BITES

Treatment prior to the arrival of medical assistance:

• Shock is the major problem
  • Apply shock treatment
  • Direct pressure on the bitten area
  • Apply firm bandage from the bite area down the limb and back again
• Watch victim for signs of panic and try and ensure that he/she remains conscious and calm
• Apply ABCDE
  • Airways
  • Breathing
  • Circulation
  • Danger
  • Environment

Do not

• Wash the bitten area
• Elevate the limb
• Remove the bandage
• Allow the victim to run or walk
• Make an incision or suck out the wound to remove venom
• Don’t apply a tourniquet.
• Don’t panic.
• Wait for ambulance to transport the victim to hospital
• Complete the necessary incident report forms

Bee or wasp stings may result in injuries needing a variety of treatments including first aid and medical treatment beyond first aid.  These injuries, although most may be minor in nature, can be uncomfortable, painful, and even lethal.

What to do if you are stung by a bee or wasp

• A bee will leave behind a stinger attached to a venom sac.  Don’t try to pull it out, which may release more venom.  Gently scrape it out with a blunt-edged object, such as a credit card or a dull knife.
• Wash the area carefully with soap and water.  Do this two or three times a day until the skin is healed.
• Apply a cold pack, an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a cold, wet washcloth for a few minutes.
• Apply a paste of baking soda and water and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
• For pain and itching, give over the counter antihistamine, if your doctor says it is OK; follow dosage instructions for injured age and weight

BEE & WASP STINGS

A sting anywhere in the mouth warrants immediate medical attention.

Stings in the mucous membranes of the mouth can quickly cause severe swelling that may block airways. You should also seek emergency care if you see any of the following symptoms, which may indicate an allergic reaction:

• Large area of swelling
• Hives or rash
• Abnormal breathing
• Fainting
• Tightness in throat or chest
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Persistent pain or swelling (more than 72 hours

SPIDERS

• Of the 35,000 species of spiders described worldwide, only a handful are considered to be dangerous and only 27 are known to have caused human fatalities.
• In Southern Africa there is 5 species of dangerous spiders which bite might be fatal and or of medical importance.
• The venom of the medically important spiders can be divided into those that have neurotoxic (affects the central nervous system) or cytotoxic (affects the tissue around the bite site) venom.

SPIDER BITE SYMPTOMS

• Determining whether a victim has been bitten by a spider may be impossible.
• Studies of brown recluse spiders have shown that victims seek treatment more than three days after their bites, making it nearly impossible to identify the culprit.
• Black widow bites are often identified only by symptoms of its venom, without any visible local bite.
• Local reactions to bites from all manner of toxic bugs look the same:
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Itching
  • pain

SPIDER BITE SYMPTOMS

• Victims should be concerned when a local reaction continues to get worse for more than 24 hours.
• Look for redness spreading away from the bite, drainage from the bite, increase in pain, numbness/tingling, or a discoloration around the bite that looks like a halo or bulls eye.
• Victims should also call a doctor if they are not up to date on their tetanus vaccinations.
• Anaphylaxis (allergic reaction) is always the biggest concern with any type of bug bite.
• If the victim exhibits any signs of allergic reaction or anaphylaxis shortly after a bug bite seek medical attention immediately.

SCORPIONS

Are all scorpions poisonous?

• Yes!
• All species of scorpion are poisonous.
• If you are an insect

The venom from scorpions is neurotoxic.

• Some components in scorpion venom appear to have no other function than to cause localized pain or discomfort in the victim.

SCORPIONS

• Western and Southern Africa – Parabuthus spp.
• Across Southern Africa to Southeast Asia – Buthotus spp. (also known as Hottentotta)

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF A SCORPION STING

• Pain, tingling or burning sensation at the sting site
• Sweating, nausea and vomiting
• Numbness
• Muscle twitching
• Abnormal neck, eye and head movements/twitching
• Heart palpitations
• Breathing difficulties may occur
• Blurring of consciousness
• Unconsciousness
• Convulsions
• Fall in blood pressure
• Shock
• The threat of death

Local treatment:

• Use ice bags to reduce pain and to slow the absorption of venom via vasoconstriction. This is most effective during the first 2 hours following the sting.
• Immobilize the affected part in a functional position below the level of the heart to delay venom absorption.
• Calm the patient to lower the heart rate and blood pressure, thus limiting the spread of the venom.
• Apply a topical or local anaesthetic agent to the wound to decrease sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of the skin.
• Administer local wound care and topical antibiotic to the wound.
• Seek medical attention immediately.