Environmental management practices are essential. The world is experiencing an increase in carbon emissions, water pollution, deforestation, and many other harmful ecological actions.
Australian businesses have been put on notice regarding their part in causing these environmental problems. There are several different pieces of legislation that have been passed by the Australian federal government and state governments to combat this problem.
These laws require businesses to manage their environmental obligations by handling hazardous materials in safer and less environmentally threatening ways.
Below are seven ways Australian businesses can safely handle hazardous materials without impacting the surrounding environment.
Table of Contents
Spill Kit Training
The Protection of the Environment Operations Act of 1997 was passed in New South Wales. It forbids any business from negligently causing a hazardous substance to spill from its container and cause harm to the environment.
It is even worse if they do not take the proper actions to clean up the spill. Therefore, all businesses must undergo spill kit training.
It will ensure they can both prevent hazardous chemical spills and manage hazardous chemical spills when they do occur.
Each employee will undergo specialised training as they handle these dangerous substances.
Audit Your Environmental Practices
You may think that your business does not harm the environment much, but you will not know for sure unless you conduct an environmental audit. It is the only way to determine how much damage your business inflicts on the environment.
Based on the assessment, you can come up with new ways to improve your company’s environmental practices regarding how it handles hazardous waste materials and pollutants.
Furthermore, you can produce an audit report for your stakeholders and the government. Then you can show them how your company has taken environmental safety measures seriously.
Obtain the Proper Permits
Do not handle waste materials without the proper permits from your local government regulatory agency.
In New South Wales, for example, the Protection of the Environmental Operations Act of 1997 requires businesses to obtain a permit if they are going to explore, produce or assess petroleum in environmentally sensitive locations.
Respect the permit laws because they are in place for a reason. They are meant to ensure that you handle hazardous waste materials properly in sensitive locations.
No Extreme Pollution
The State of Victoria passed the Environment Protection Act of 1970 which forbids businesses from polluting the water, land, or air with substances that are potentially harmful or poisonous to people, animals and other wildlife.
Read these acts to ensure you are complying with them.
Establish an Environmental Management System
An environmental management system is needed to manage the level of impact that your business will have on the environment in the future and the present.
When you have a transparent system in place like this, it is easier to manage the use of your company’s resources.
If these resources are hazardous and used incorrectly, then you can change your company’s operational procedures so that they are more environmentally friendly when using these resources.
Dispose of Waste Materials Properly
There are many different types of waste materials, such as asbestos, radioactive waste, medical waste, electronic waste, and other harmful chemicals.
You must follow the proper procedures in disposing of this waste. Do not just throw it in a trash dumpster because that will harm the environment.
There are several recycling programs designed to recycle various types of harmful waste products. Take advantage of these recycling services so that you stay in compliance with the laws of your state.
Keep Waste Types Separated
Make sure you separate the different types of waste products. For instance, do not mix medical waste with garden chemicals or lithium batteries.
It is crucial to keep waste products separated so that you can dispose of each type correctly.
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