Lesson 14 – Environmental Management

Environmental Management

The Environment is everything that makes up our surroundings and affects our ability to live on the earth, the air we breathe, the water we need to survive, the plants and animals around us, and much more.

The Four Elements of Our Environment that need to Managed to ensure our Survival are:

• Air
• Land
• Water
• Waste

Air: The air that we breathe ensures our survival. Pollution from Industries is the main source of Air

Water: Nothing on earth can survive without water. Water sources are being polluted by chemicals from Industries, making it unfit for humans to use.

Land: Land is where we live and grow our food. It provides raw materials, food and shelter and Oxygen.

Waste: Households and Industries alike generate an enormous amount of waste that needs to be recycled or disposed of.

Environment – Legislative Requirement

Section 24 of SA’s Constitution states Everyone has the Right:

1.To an environment that is not harmful to their health or well being; and

2.To have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that –

i.prevent pollution and ecological degradation

ii.promote conservation; and

iii.secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development

Environment – SHEQ Policy

What Our SHEQ Policy states about Environmental Commitment?

EGM (MPC)  SHEQ Policy outlines commitment to continual improvement in performance, efficient use of Natural Resources and aspires to Zero Harm to People and the Environment.

The commitment will be achieved by developing and maintaining systems for Safety, Health, Environment, Risk, Quality, and the Community that are consistent with the Internationally Recognized Laws and enables EGM (MPC)  to:

• Identify, Assess and Manage Risk to Employees, Contractors, the Environment, Quality and Communities and to achieve Industry Leading Practices
• Train and Develop people and provide resources to meet the targets which include Reducing and Preventing Environmental Harm
• Support the fundamental human rights of employees, contractors and communities in which EGM (MPC)  is operating and also respect the traditional rights of indigenous people. Everyone has the right to the Environment that is not harmful to their Health and well being and have their Environment Protected, for the benefit of present and future generations through legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and degradation

Environment – Our Responsibilities towards EMS

All Employees are Responsible for:

• Not polluting the environment
• Not littering on site or in public places
• To report any pollution/environmental incident to the SHEQ Department or Authorities
• Ensure that you know what is your significant environmental aspect in your workplace.
• Discuss environmental newsletters among fellow employees.

Management is Responsible for:

• Responsible to identify all significant environmental aspects
• Establish Objectives and Targets for the EMS that are consistent with the SHEQ Policy
• To allocate a Budget for the relevant Resources to Implement and Sustain the EMS
• Establish and Maintain a Procedure to Identify and Revise Environmental Aspects and Impacts of all Activities, Products and Services that can be Controlled or Influence the EGM (MPC)
• Responsible to Monitor Compliance to EMS
• Educating employees about the Environmental Risks of their work
• Ceasing, Modifying or Controlling any Activities or Processes causing Pollution
• Eliminating any Sources of Pollution
• Remedying the Effects of Pollution or Degradation of the Environment

Environment – Air Management

Air contaminates have no boundaries and these pollutants can move freely.

Exhaust Fumes – Reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions by regular vehicle maintenance and monitoring emission levels from factory / plant stacks.

Fires – NO unnecessary veld fires and NO burning of rubber and plastic.

Processes – Minimize dust from Tailings dams, Stock Piles and open cast mining operations.

Environment – Water Management

South Africa is a Water Scarce Country!!

• Hazardous Spills – Spillage of hazardous substances into our water resources can destroy natural habitats and contaminate drinking water. ELIMINATE OIL SPILLS AND LEAKS INTO WATER SYSTEMS!
• Zero Discharges – Water is a very scarce commodity and water from our processes and operations should be treated and re-used after re-cycling

Save Water – Prevent water wastage by closing taps properly and repairing leaking taps. USE WATER WISELY & EFFICIENTLY!

Environment – Land Management

Land Degradation can include littering, incorrect disposal of hazardous waste, spills or leaks of Petroleum or Chemical Products and soil erosion.

Oil and Chemical spills – Destroys soil quality and can pollute our water resources.

Waste – Can cause deceases, water pollution and injury to animals

Land Clearing – Minimize soil disturbance & conserve soil resources to reduce ground erosion.

Flora – Protect plant life as the cutting down of trees will cause deforestation.

Fauna – Protect all species of animals and don’t kill what you are not going to eat.

Environment – Waste Management

Different Types of Waste and their Colour Codes:

“Garden Waste” – Waste generated from Domestic residences but may not include Sand, Stones or Building Rubble

“Domestic Waste” – Waste, excluding hazardous waste, that emanates from premises that are used mainly for residential, educational, health care, sport or recreation purposes.

“Hazardous Waste” – Waste that contains organic or inorganic elements or compounds that have a detrimental impact on health and the environment due to them being Toxic, Corrosive, Explosive, Flammable, Infectious or Radioactive.                           

“Industrial Waste” – Non hazardous waste generated from business operations.

“Scrap Metal Waste” – Metallic waste generated from business operations.

Environment – Waste Management

EGM (MPC)  WM Waste Management Objective is Aimed at:

• Preventing the generation of waste from all Sites at our Operations.
• Where such generation of Waste cannot be avoided, to minimise the toxicity and amounts of waste that are generated;
• Reduce, Re-use, Recycle and Recover waste.
• Where waste must be disposed of, it must be treated and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.
• Manage the waste in such a manner that it does not endanger Health or the Environment or cause a nuisance through noise, odour or visual impacts.
• Prevent any employee from contravening this Act.
• Prevent the waste from being used for an unauthorised purpose.

Environment – Non Conformances

Management of Environmental Non-conformances

• No matter how we try, abnormal conditions on our sites result in Environmental Incidents.
• Accidents or Abnormal Conditions could lead to events like large Oil and Diesel Spillages, spills from Acid Containers, contaminated Water Spillages, Bund Wall or Sewage spillages.
• We need to anticipate these events so as to ensure that Effective Controls and Emergency Measures are put in place.
• Diesel and Petrol Spillages are examples of an Emergency Situation.
• Spillage Kits are available at all the Sites to ensure Hazardous Spills are managed before they result into Environmental Harm.

Environment – Spillage Management

SPILL MANAGEMENT KIT

Environment – Steps for Spillage Management

1.Limit the Spill:

• Trace the source or cause of the spillage
• Take preventative actions to stop it from spreading further

2.Report:

• Record the incident on IMS
• SHEQ Superintendent to report incident to Department of Water Affairs if a watercourse is affected or to Department of Environmental Affairs if serious.
• Environmental Superintendent is to prepare a flash report if required.

3.Extent:

• Determine the lateral extent along the surface or downstream by flowing method.
• Visual observation of water or soil surface and Chemical Analysis Profile.
• Chemical analysis of Water Samples up & downstream and Soil in grid pattern.
• Determine the depth of infiltration into the soil by means of grid pattern.
• Monitor boreholes to determine if groundwater or saturated soil has been polluted from the initial spill or by secondary mobilization of the pollutants by runoff.

4.Recover and Clean up:

• Once Spill has been contained and impact assessment done, the method of clean up must be selected.
• Clean up and dispose the waste generated from the clean up exercises into hazardous waste facilities.
• Replace all materials and Equipment used and rehabilitate the contaminated Top Soil or Vegetation if required.