Consider all operations of the department. Consider the process flow of each such operation & divide it into different activities, so that each activity can be considered separately for identifying the releases & discharges, Land intake, visual impact, resource consumption, health & safety risks, etc.Record activities in the ‘Initial Review Report’.
While dividing operations into activities, consider :
ACTIVITIES (e.g. handling of hazardous materials, receiving activities, storage, Processing, Disposal activities, etc.)
SERVICES (e.g. Transportation, Maintenance, washing, conditioning, etc.)
PRODUCTS (e.g. Use of Raw materials, consumables, Packing materials, finished products, Bye-products, etc.)
Classify activities into ‘Direct’ and ‘Indirect’Â
DIRECT : Those which are under the direct control of the organization
INDIRECT : Those which are not under the organization’s direct control , but over which it can be expected have an influence (e.g. the activities performed by the contractors, sub-contractors, or suppliers )
Identify Aspects of each activity by considering the following :
INPUTS:
Use of raw materials, consumables, etc. (in case of natural resource), use of a non bio-degradable material (for possible material substitutions)
Use of
Water
Use of
Energy
Use of Land, etc. (in case of new developmental activity)
OUTPUTS:
Releases
to Air
Discharges
to Water
Solid
Waste
Discharge
/ releases to Land
Noise
Nuisance (Smoke, Odour, Dust, Vibration,
Light, Heat, Radiation, etc.)
Visual
Impact
Finished
Products
Bye
Products
Identify health & safety risks
considering following:
Use
the following potential source for identifying hazards
a)Ask your people working in relevant areas.
b)Task analysis/ job safety check.
c)Injury and illness history (first aid
reports, compensation claims etc.
d)Â Safety audit reports.
Physical Hazards:Â Electricity, Noise and vibration, Heat & cold, Dust & fibres, Radiation, Exposed moving machinery parts, Occupational Overuse Syndrome (RSI)
Chemical Hazards: Liquids (e.g. office supplies, cleaning products, paints, acids), Vapours and fumes (e.g. welding fumes, toluene), Gases (e.g. oxygen, acetylene, propane, carbon monoxide), Flammable, combustible, and explosive materials
Biological
Hazards: Unclean restrooms, improperly stored medical waste, Mould, fungus, and mildew, Bacteria
& viruses, Plants (e.g. poison ivy), Insect stings, Animal bites
Ergonomic Hazards: Lighting, Workstation layout, Video Display Terminals (VDTs), Worksurfaces, Chairs, Colour, Lifting, Repetitive movements, Posture, Shift work.
Psychological hazards
Identify issues under all the following conditions for each activity:
Normal running conditions of the activities