Appendix 7.30

An environmental review should be undertaken on site as a first step. This looks at all of the company activities to identify the company s significant environmental effects (see glossary attached), and to identify areas where the company can make environmental improvements.

The review looks at the areas of:

• Raw materials- types, consumption, suppliers, handling and use, storage, associated environmental hazards and opportunities for reduction.
• Energy and water consumption.
• Wastes (including emissions and discharges)- types, sources, storage, handling, generation.
• Compliance with relevant environmental legislation.
• Contingency plans (in cases of fires and chemical spillages etc)
• Products- how environmentally friendly are products, are they designed for recyclability etc.

The results of the review will identify the company s significant environmental effects- those aspects of the company s operation s which do not comply with current or proposed environmental legislation and/or have a significant potential for pollution. These will be incorporated onto a register of significant environmental effects from which an improvement programme will be devised.

The improvement programme is made up of environmental objectives and targets, with dates for completion and defined responsibilities. This programme is based upon the review findings and the register of significant environmental effects and register of applicable environmental legislation.

A well designed EMS will ensure that the company is compliant with environmental legislation.

The Environment Agency enforces a great deal of environmental legislation within the UK. It is responsible for emissions to air and discharges to land and water. Local authorities also enforce some air emissions legislation.

Responsibilities should be allocated to workers throughout the company and they should be provided with suitable training so that they can act with due care for the environment.