Assessing Pollution Risks

Environmental damage and the resulting claim and clean up costs are becoming more prevalent and costly and businesses need to assess the risk both at their premises and any location where they may be working.

Environmental risks have three features:

• A source of pollution

• A pathway for it to travel

• A receptor (where the damage/harm is done).

Each of these needs to be considered separately in assessing the pollution risk from a particular event. For each source of pollution there can be several pathways and receptors.

The effects of pollution can be felt at great distance from the initiating event and can include pollutant release, damage to property, plants and animals and harm to human health.

A Five Step Assessment Procedure

1. Identify the hazards posed by the site

2. Identify the consequences of an incident

3. Identify the extent of the consequences


4. Estimate the probability of the consequences identified

5. Estimate the risk of pollution at the site.

Key Action Steps

• Review the activities, substances, quantities, and nature of processes on site.

• Ensure that all legal liabilities are met in terms of Authorisations, Licences, Permits and Consents

• Ensure that your broker is fully aware of the activities carried out by your business

• Develop and test emergency plans and review results

Assessment

Site management systems will greatly affect the risks posed by ensuring that adequate control systems are in place. When estimating the extent and consequences of an incident, the geography and surroundings of the site must also be carefully considered.

Risk assessors should consider the pollutant pathways as well as the nature and toxicity of the release.

Since pollutant pathways can be long, damage may occur at great distances from the site. Estimation of liabilities may require expert help and should consider at the very least the impact of pathways through air, surface water, groundwater and the soil. Pollution can travel through these media very quickly and easily. Site drains also provide a quick and easy pathway for pollutants to leave the site.

Factors which can have a profound effect on the damage which may be incurred include the proximity and density of population, land use, water abstraction points, sewage works, fish farms, and boreholes.

If your business is in a location where it can cause pollution, then it should carry out a full assessment. We may be able to introduce someone who can help but above all let us know of any potential risk so we can advise on any insurance implications.

Call Rob Clapshaw to discuss further on 0118 979 2121.