Environmental Literacy: A Comprehensive Guide to Sustainable Resource Management - Prof. D, Study notes of Information Technology

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CBET

STANDARD LECTURE NOTES

ALL DIPLOMA COURSES – LEVEL 6

ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY

Unit Description This unit describes the competencies required to control environmental hazard, control environmental pollution, comply with workplace sustainable resource use, evaluate current practices in relation to resource usage, identify environmental legislations/conventions for environmental concerns, implement specific environmental programs, monitor activities on environmental protection/programs, analyze resource use and develop resource conservation plans.

1. Control environmental hazard Purposes and content of Environmental Management and Coordination Act 1999 Storage methods for environmentally hazardous materials Disposal methods of hazardous wastes Types and uses of PPE in line with environmental regulations Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) 2. Control environmental Pollution control Types of pollution Environmental pollution control measures Types of solid wastes Procedures for solid waste management Different types of noise pollution Methods for minimizing noise pollution 3. Demonstrate sustainable resource use Types of resources Techniques in measuring current usage of resources Calculating current usage of resources Methods for minimizing wastage Waste management procedures Principles of 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Methods for economizing or reducing resource consumption 4. Evaluate current practices in relation to resource usage Collection of information on environmental and resource efficiency systems and procedures, Measurement and recording of current resource usage Analysis and recording of current purchasing strategies. Analysis of current work processes to access information and data Identification of areas for improvement

surroundings to ensure that they can support and sustain current and future generations. Environmental management helps you identify degradation factors and implement strategies to mitigate them. It also helps you predict future impacts of environmental degradation and initiate processes to minimise the effects The various benefits and importance of environmental management are as follows:

 Environmental management reduces the chances of risks of environmental incidents like oil spills in oceans or forest fires, or the blowing up of coal mines, thereby ensuring environmental protection.  It improves company’s reputation by promoting their brand image as eco- friendly and helps secure the market, which further helps them gather clients and lower their operating costs.  Environmental management helps improve public health and the overall health of the ecosystem by minimizing the harm done due to the negligence of big companies and promoting environmental protection.  Increases the workforce’s knowledge about the impact of careless business policies on the environment and focuses their attention on adopting ways that will help reduce environmental depletion.  Environmental management and protection help in the reduction of waste produced by companies as by-products during manufacturing.  It helps with new business ideas using waste by-products to create new products. The by-products of petroleum are used to manufacture Vaseline, LPG, gasoline, paraffin wax petrochemicals, etc.  It will help us to combat all main types of pollution i.e., air, water, land, thermal, radiation, and noise pollution.  It helps to set objectives and different frameworks for training to achieve optimum results.

 Achieving optimum utilization of resources by following proper order and maintaining consistency throughout the process.

Coordination Act 1999

The Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA), 1999, is the framework law on environmental management and conservation. EMCA establishes among others the following institutions; National Environment Management Authority, Public Complaints Committee, National Environment Tribunal, National Environment Action Plan Committees, and County

Environment Committees. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) was established as the principal instrument of government charged with the implementation of all policies relating to the environment, and to exercise general supervision and coordination over all matters relating to the environment. In consultation with the lead agencies, NEMA is empowered to develop regulations, prescribe measures and standards and, issue guidelines for the management and conservation of natural resources and the environment. The Act provides for environmental protection through;

 Environmental impact assessment  Environmental audit and monitoring  Environmental restoration orders, conservation orders, and easements.

NEMA is also the Designated National Authority for certain Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

Environmental hazard

Environmental hazards creates numerous effects on adverse health events. This hazard faces some factors such as physical, chemical and also some biological which can be natural and manmade. In addition, examples of environmental hazards such as Air, water, and soil pollution from transportation, agriculture, industry, and other sources such as: “Chemicals, Toxic waste, Radiation”. Another type of hazard such as “hazard resulting from chemical, biological, or physical agents either from ongoing or previous human activity”. Natural hazards also include some difficulties such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and flooding. Environmental hazards also cause diverse effects on the working field and also on employees. There are numerous categories of environmental hazards such as

 Physical hazards Circumstance that can cause harm with contact. They can be classified as type of occupational hazard or environmental hazard. Physical hazards include ergonomic hazards, radiation, heat and cold stress, vibration hazards, and noise hazardsPhysical hazards are a common source of injuries in many industries  Biological hazards

and set of thoughts and feelings shared by the members of a society. Just as there are cultural practices that are good for health, such as breastfeeding a child, there are also cultural practices that adversely affect health and these can be considered to be cultural hazards

Causes of environmental hazards

The causes of environmental hazards such as

 Unplanned construction,

 Defective policies of agriculture,

 Deforestation,

 Population exploitation

 Transport.

Unplanned construction can create air pollution in every rural area and

through their unplanned behaviour, it is also caused through trapping the

solar radiation and also making all construction areas warmer.

Environmental hazards can create difficulties and which creates some

single obstacles.

Hazard Controls

Effective controls protect workers from workplace hazards; help avoid

injuries, illnesses, and incidents; minimize or eliminate safety and health

risks; and help employers provide workers with safe and healthful

working conditions. The processes described in this section will help

employers prevent and control hazards

To effectively control and prevent hazards, employers should:

 Involve workers, who often have the best understanding of the

conditions that create hazards and insights into how they can be

controlled.

 Identify and evaluate options for controlling hazards, using a "hierarchy

of controls."

 Use a hazard control plan to guide the selection and implementation of

controls, and implement controls according to the plan.

 Develop plans with measures to protect workers during emergencies and

no routine activities.

 Evaluate the effectiveness of existing controls to determine whether they

continue to provide protection, or whether different controls may be

more effective. Review new technologies for their potential to be more

protective, more reliable, or less costly

When evaluating the risks associated with specific hazards, the results of

this evaluation should guide the in the selection of risk management

techniques including elimination, substitution, engineering controls,

This is known as the Hierarchy of Controls.

Elimination and Substitution

The most preferred method of controlling risk is to eliminate the hazard

altogether. In most cases, elimination is not feasible and when possible,

basis while engineering controls are being developed. See the

standalone PPE section of this site for more information.

Storage methods of Hazardous Waste Materials

Proper storage and handling of hazardous waste containers is an

important practice that not only promotes a safe work environment, but

also ensures you’re following legislative requirements.

In addition to understanding and following all federal, provincial and

municipal hazardous waste legislation, here are 8 tips to help you safely

store and handle your waste:

1. Prominently display weather-resistant labels that indicate the name

of the hazardous waste. Follow all WHIMIS, Safety and

Legislative guidelines.

2. Use sealable containers that prevent release of contents and

prevent other substances from entering the containers.

3. Use storage containers that are compatible with the type of waste

stored, and are made of durable, weather- and corrosion resistant

materials.

4. Ensure wastes are stored in an area that is inaccessible to

unauthorized persons, clearly identified as a hazardous waste

storage area, and designed to prevent secondary containment.

5. Implement a secondary containment system for all containers used

to store hazardous wastes, and for all equipment used in

transporting hazardous wastes that are in a liquid or gas form.

6. Limit the amount of hazardous waste on-site by continually

monitoring your hazardous waste volume.

7. Ensure all employees are adequately trained on the handling and

storage of your hazardous waste. This should include emergency

response training.

8. Keep your hazardous waste contingency plan up-to-date,

including current contact information for the facility owners or

operators as well as procedures to follow in the event of an

emergency.

Disposal methods of hazardous wastes

1: Underground disposal

The only way this method is compliant is when the hazardous waste is

brought to mines that are either inactive or partially active (along with

meeting additional geological and technical specifications). Many

companies need to dispose of radioactive waste, whether from medical

treatments, laboratory experiments, nuclear fuel production, or

radioactive ore mining. For those cases, this method is considered

a strong, cost-effective option.

According to the EPA, these hazardous material disposal facilities will

vary in their sustainability. The agency is responsible for protecting

people and the natural world by verifying that these units’ design,

operation, and maintenance adhere to its standards.

2: Landfill disposal

Dumpsites and landfills are the most commonly used and oldest method

of hazardous waste disposal. Hazardous waste landfills are specially

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 seeks to ensure that where risks cannot be controlled by other means PPE should be correctly identified and put into use.

Under the requirements of The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (external site), employees will not be charged with or contribute to the provision and maintenance of PPE. If there is a need for PPE items they must be provided free of charge by the employer.

The regulations do not apply where requirements are detailed in other regulations such as respirators in The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). Many other regulations have specific requirements for the provision, maintenance and the use of PPE.

Such as the regulations dealing with asbestos, noise or ionising radiation. This ensures that specific hazards and their controls are dealt with by specific regulations.

1. SAFETY FOR THE HEAD

Wearing a helmet offers protection and can prevent head injuries. Select

a sturdy helmet that is adapted to the working conditions. These days

you can find many elegant designs and you can choose extra options

such as an adjustable interior harness and comfortable sweatbands.

2. PROTECT YOUR EYES

The eyes are the most complex and fragile parts of our body. Each day, more than 600 people worldwide sustain eye injuries during their work. Thanks to a good pair of safety glasses , these injuries could be prevented. Do you come into contact with bright light or infrared radiation? Then welding goggles or a shield offer the ideal protection!

3. HEARING PROTECTION

Do you work in an environment with high sound levels? In that case it is very important to consider hearing protection. Earplugs are very comfortable, but earmuffs are convenient on the work floor as you can quickly put these on or take them off.

4. MAINTAIN A GOOD RESPIRATION

Wearing a mask at work is no luxury, definitely not when coming into contact with hazardous materials. 15% of the employees within the EU inhale vapours, smoke, powder or dusk while performing their job. Dust masks offer protection against fine dust and other dangerous particles. If the materials are truly toxic, use a full-face mask. This adheres tightly to the face, to protect the nose and mouth against harmful pollution.

5. PROTECT YOUR HANDS WITH THE RIGHT GLOVES

shower is mandatory, so that he can rinse the substances off his body at any moment.

Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS )

Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) deals with all aspects of health and safety in the workplace and has a strong focus on primary prevention of hazards. Its goal is to prevent accidents and harm to people from work-related activities.

Research has shown that safety and well-being at the workplace equals good business and profitability. Employers have primary responsibility for the occupational safety and health of workers. They are responsible for conducting risk assessments and organizing business operations with safety as the first priority. Governments set the frameworks to enable employers to provide flexible solutions to manage workplace safety. OSH performance is key to reputation management, particularly where businesses depend on the relationship with global consumers.

What is International Organization for Employers (IOE) position on

OSH?

Occupational safety and health is an important priority of the IOE. IOE supports the development of a basic legal international framework, managed through effective enforcement mechanisms at the national level. IOE strongly supports the replacement of a piecemeal approach to the development of legal instruments by pursuing:

 A programme to review the relevance of current standards (ILO Standards Review Mechanism);

 A flexible approach as offered in the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health (C187, 2006);  The development of practical guidance and codes of practice which will assist employers.

How does IOE’s work on OSH advance the agenda for business?

IOE represents the interests of employers in the development of standards and other instruments for OSH at the international level. In addition, IOE provides guidance on OSH areas of interest to its members and employers, in particular on topics where other international bodies have not developed authoritative guidance or information. IOE also leads the Global Occupational Safety and Health (GOSH) network, comprised of senior safety and health risk management and sustainability professionals from multinational enterprises and employers organisations. GOSH debates current and emerging global OSH issues on a confidential basis.

Chapter 2.

Control environmental Pollution control

Environmental pollution is the continuous contamination of the biological elements of the earth resulting in the adverse destruction of normal environmental processes.

The effect and cause of Environmental pollution reveal the contaminated physical and biological aspect of the earth, in a way that negatively impacts the ideal environmental systems. The pollutants could result in major or minor destructions, of which the main destruction can be measured and its effectiveness monitored. On the other hand, the minor destruction happens as a marginal disruption to the fragile stabilized natural food web pyramid offset and this can only be recognized for a very long period.

Air Pollution: Causes, Effects, and Control measures.

Air Pollution

Air pollution is the release of contaminated air, indoors or outside. It is a biological and chemical shift into the atmosphere.

Causes:

Some of the causes of noise pollution include:included noise: Traffic noise reports for one of the most polluting noises noises

Noise from Construction sites

Loud music from music.

Animals

Effects

Some of the effects of Noise Pollution includes:

 Bodily effects such as ear pains, Respiratory turmoil, heart issues, HBP, migraines, and colitis.  Psychological effects such as depression, tiredness, stress attack, hysteria, aggressiveness, anxiety, loss of sleep, and irritability.  Memory loss and lack of concentration.

Control measures

 Avoid noisy activities.  Choose a less noisy transport medium such as electric vehicles over cars.  Sleep at the appropriate times.  The Use of The regulators to absorb nosy materials.  The government rates residential areas from noise-producing ones. noise- producingution.  Water pollution: Causes, Effects, and Control measures.  Water pollution is the discharge of harmful substances into the water.

Causes

Some of the existing water pollutants include:

 Included Waste  Insecticides  Pesticides  Fertilizers

Effects

Intake of polluted water in humans causes water-borne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, and others.

 Chaos in the Ecosystem.  Increase in the oxygen content affecting aquatic organisms.  Disturbance in the food chain when pollen is consumed.  Control measures  Proper treatment of sewage.  Conservation of water.  Using environmentally favorable material  Using products that do not end up as pollutants.

Sustainable resource use

Sustainability is the term used to protect and conserve the environment or nature. In our environment, natural resources play a crucial role in human life. Natural resources exist on the earth independently. But, due to human activities, these resources are going to be damaged or become extinct in the near future. The main objective of Enviromental sustainability is to make a balance between nature and natural resources.

So much of what we buy, do or use every day has an environmental impact or effect. Using petrol in our cars, electricity in our homes and paper in our offices makes an impact on the environment. In our modern lives, it is not realistic to expect that we stop using our cars or our appliances completely. But we can start to use them in a way that reduces their environmental impact.

Chapter 3.

Demonstrate sustainable resource use

Natural Resources and its Types