Published 27 Oct 2021
An environmental risk assessment (ERA) identifies potential environmental hazards caused by a business and determines its likelihood or probability to negatively affect various aspects of the environment such as living organisms, natural habitats, and ecosystems. By doing so, organizations are informed and able to take precautions in reducing those risks. Performing an environmental risk assessment also helps a business conform with environmental policies and regulations. In some cases, it has helped determine common hazards from a business such as improper chemical waste disposal, air and water pollution, and soil contamination. Carrying out an environmental risk assessment involves the following 6 steps: 1) problem identification; 2) hazard characterization; 3) exposure characterization; 4) risk characterization; 5) documenting the assessment and implementing precautions; and 6) monitoring at regular intervals.
Use this comprehensive environmental risk assessment to evaluate any hazards present in your workplace that can cause harm to the surrounding environment. Start with a general problem formulation which states what and who needs to be protected from harm. Next list the hazards observed at work. You may take a photo of the hazards to provide evidence. Record information about the possible effects on the environment if these risks are not mitigated. Also, determine the probability of exposure. Lastly, provide some control measures and the overall risk assessment. Complete the audit by affixing a digital signature.
This article will discuss the following:
We feature 4 of the best environmental risk assessment templates you can download for free and customize based on your business needs. Perform more effective environmental risk assessments on-site. Spend less time recording risks and more time fixing them.
Environmental risk assessments are important because they help businesses assess how their operations affect the environment so they can mitigate or eliminate any negative impact. Key contributing business activities that are potentially harmful to the environment include improper disposal of chemicals, heavy usage of air polluting equipment and machinery, asbestos handling, soil contamination, and industrial noise. Mining, manufacturing, and construction industries are especially recognized as main contributors to water, air, and soil pollution.
Employers should carry out thorough risk assessments and inspections to develop a good Environmental Management System (EMS) and ensure that businesses operate without any contributing factors that may cause harm to the environment. Here’s an example of a business doing just that:
Background:
Some of our processes emit harmful chemicals and pollutants. Parts of the factory are also being renovated or demolished.
What needs to be protected from harm:
We want to protect the nearby community from acquiring any health risks.
Hazard: Asbestos
Probability of Exposure to Hazard: High
Risks:
(1) Asbestosis
(2) Mesothelioma
Severity: Long-term illness
Likelihood: Likely
Risk Rating: High
Control Measures:
Remove any asbestos-containing materials safely. Communicate asbestos hazards to workers. Use proper work practices and controls to limit exposures.
To learn more about how to perform environmental risk assessments, refer to this section of the article and review this environmental risk assessment example PDF.
Environmental decision making is the process of implementing changes based on the risks identified in environmental risk assessment. Though environmental decision making is often used to refer to the act of creating and/or enforcing environmental laws, the term also applies to actions taken by a business to lessen their environmental impact.
Here are examples of how risk assessment is used in environmental decision making, based on a publication by the European Environment Agency and adapted to fit a business use-case:
An environmental risk assessment template is used by risk managers and policymakers to document non-conformance and potential environmental hazards caused by the business.
Here are 6 steps to help you perform an effective Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA):
Performing an ERA can be a cumbersome process requiring significant documentation and on-site gathering of evidence. This is where technology and modern mobile applications can assist.
iAuditor by SafetyCulture is a powerful form building app that converts your risk assessment forms into mobile inspection applications. iAuditor’s intuitive system enables assessors to do the following:
To save you time, we have built these environmental risk assessment templates you can download immediately to start using. All templates are 100% customizable – no programming skills required. iAuditor is free to use for small teams and offers advanced features for premium plans– view pricing and features.
This template focuses on 4 major environmental hazards: odour, noise and vibrations, emissions and structural ground. Determine if your workplace is free from these risks by answering “Safe or At Risk”. If it is “At Risk” then conduct a thorough risk assessment to evaluate if these hazards exist in the workplace. A risk matrix is also available for your reference.
This basic environmental risk assessment template is fully customizable to suit your business needs. All members of your organization should have an access to this template to report any potential hazards in a timely manner. Use iAuditor to electronically send reports with the convenience of using your hand-held devices.
Based on information provided by the New South Wales (NSW) Ministry of Health, this environmental health risk assessment can help risk assessors/risk managers do the following: