DIEM Ltd

Emergency prepareness and response, including testing this, is a requirement of the ISO 14001 environmental management standard, plus makes good business sence.

This webinar discusses some easy to use techniques on how to do this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJwFZrVzmtA&feature=share&list=UUh3ArqAPK2wFFn_na9bjIaA

QHS Solutions Ltd are hosting a half day Environmental & Waste Management Explained course in Burnley on Friday 26th October.

 

Delivered by Chartered Environmental Surveyor and Chartered Environmentalist David Inman, of Blackburn based environmental consultants DIEM Ltd, this course will give sensible and practical expert advice on reducing environmental and waste management risks and potential costs, plus demystify some common environmental challenges that businesses face today.

 

For more details and to book please contact Alison at QHS Solutions on:

01282 839103 

Email, info@qhs-solutions.com

I’ve got to say that I’m very disappointed that Virgin Trains lost the West Coast Main Line (WCML) franchise as a regular user.

When they took over the franchise, they inherited out of date rolling stock running on out of date infrastructure.

As someone who worked on West Coast Route Modernisation (WCRM) on PWay, OLE & civils projects, I saw at first hand the engineering challenge of carrying our “open heart surgery” as Network Rail say of such work on Victorian infrastructure.

I worked on WCRM under the days of Railtrack and sadly the Pendolino’s so admirably sought by Virgin Trains to replace the Class 86, 87 and 90 electric traction on WCML never has had the opportunity to run at it’s design speed on 140mph due to problems within Railtrack.

OK, the “Voyager” class 220 and 221 do not come up to the HST sets they replaced, but Virgin revolutionised service levels from one which was pretty poor to being customer focused.

They also changed the way people think about ticketing. Yes, some of the walk on fares are very expensive, but they are for airlines too. For planned journeys off peak, even first class travel is very affordable.

My main worry with the next WCML franchise holder, First, is that the great customer service levels will be cut.  I enjoy the first class lounge at London Euston and have spent many a productive hour working from there waiting for trains and then having complimentary food onboard makes business trips to London, if planned in advance, affordable and efficient.

So, on reflection, the red revolution of Virgin changed attitudes of service and punctuality from some awful standards and via a painful experience of providing services through WCRM and the Railtrack blanket speed restrictions post-Hatfield. I hope First West Coast can meet these standards and hope all Virgin staff who have delivered this service retain their jobs with the new franchise holder.

Is your organisation is responsible for storing and transporting materials that could cause pollution if they leak or are spilt, such as

•       diesel

•       oil

•       chemicals?

 

If so have you prepared an environmental incident response plan?

 

I’ve been working a construction client in this area to reduce their risk and meet the requirements of ISO 14001:2004.

 

You may want to carry out and emergency response planning exercise which can cover:

• identifying sources of pollution
• causes of spillages
• internal procedures for spill management
• responsibilities on site for spill control
• equipment for spill control
• managing spills
• the subsequent clean up.

 

Testing the plan can take the form of:

• deploying spill equipment to show staff what to do under controlled conditions
• do a desk top exercise where a spill scenario on a site is discussed by staff, with in a group or one to one 

 

Items included in your exercise will be site specific but can include typically:

• Identify the location and type of site drains from both drawings & on site information
• Review your site drainage plan
• Review then brief staff to chemicals and substances on site including COSHH requirements
• Use of diesel plant and plant nappy/drip dray use
• Security risk of keeping fuel on site and how to prevent theft
• Review and brief staff on refuelling & chemical use, plus confirm authorisation to do so
• After checking contents, brief staff to location and type of spill kit on site
• Review and brief staff on arrangements for safe and compliance disposal of used spill kits as hazardous waste

 

 

Don’t forget to create a record of what was discussed and who attended. 

 

For work with my client, I’ve videoed one spill response test session in order to make a training video for them. So, there are lots of ways, but please ensure that you know your environmental risks, minimise them and prepare for the unexpected as spills and leaks can

• cause environmental damage which can result in prosecution
• lead to civil claims
• give loss of reputation
• affect you winning work

I’m noticing recently a slow improvement of energy saving measures on construction sites.  For example I’ve attached a photograph of a sensor activated hot water tap. Many clients ask for energy saving examples, so please explore the options when ordering site accommodation for energy saving measures such as light sensors, timers for heating, alternative heating sources (to diesel) and LED lighting.

cl

Thanks to all who responded to my poll for

“Are you in favour or against the new High Speed 2 rail link in the UK?”.

The total result was

Yes to HS2 126 (71%)

No to HS2 52 (29%)

The results are interested and varied between the groups I invited to participate on Linkedin:

Linkedin group “Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors”

Yes 98 (70%), No 42 (30%)

Linkedin group “RICS Sustainability”

Yes 9 (90%), No 1 (10%)

Linkedin group “IEMA - Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment”

Yes 19 (67%), No 9 (32%)

This free webinar gives a brief introduction to the 8 principles of quality management.

The rise in fuel prices in the UK may result in an increase of thefts of fuel nationwide.

 

Did your organization know it’s fuel was stored safely out of hours over this weekend?

 

Fuel theft does not only cost firms and organizations money, but if the theft causes a pollution incident by releasing diesel this could result in prosecution, civil claims and loss of reputation which may affect firms winning new work.

 

Measures which may reduce the risk of fuel theft are:

ü Keep fuel bowsers locked at all times

ü Keep smaller fuel caddies in locked stores (if safe to do so)

ü Lock fuel bowsers in a steel container or outbuilding (if safe to do so)

ü Consider fitting a hitch lock to bowers to prevent them being removed from site

ü Keep keys for fuel bowsers secure

ü Consider erecting a fence around refuelling areas to shield from view

 

Sussex Police Service provide some good advice on preventing fuel and oil theft at:

 

http://www.sussex.police.uk/advice-and-support/crime-prevention/fuel-and-oil-theft/

 

 

Remember report any suspicious activity in your area to your local police station

As you can notice in the UK, our climate rapidly changes. From winter like conditions yesterday to full summer today.

Please take heed & plan ahead for weather changes and extremes.

Check on the EA website in England & Wales whether you are in an area of flood risk for when the weather changes quickly and flash floods arise. Sign up to free flood alerts if you are at risk as it’s likely only to get worse.

Also, start thinking about adapting long term to the effects of climate change as many already are.