EPA Victoria is offering tips and advice to local businesses to ensure they do the right thing by the environment.
Environmental damage caused by industrial accidents such as spills, fires and explosions have been a consistent problem in the inner west which is home to a large number of factories, warehouses and depots.
Companies responsible for such incidents can be found in breach of the General Environmental Duty (GED) part of Environment Protection Act 2017 and face stiff penalties as a result.
The GED requires everyone to understand the risks to human health and the environment from their activities and take reasonable steps to minimise those risks.
To help companies comply the EPA have provided five tips.
Firstly, companies should minimise the risk of harm by installing devices such as air filters on machines, managing stock volumes, undertaking regular maintenance on sprinklers and alarms and making sure staff are trained in safety procedures.
Secondly, companies should identify and control sources of risk by knowing exactly what’s happening on their premises, including measuring heat and gas levels to reduce fire risk and checking machinery and buildings for damage or corrosion.
Thirdly, companies must have systems to minimise harm if something goes wrong.
These can include having in-house fire fighting equipment, having systems to contain leaks or spills and doing regular emergency response training drills.
The fourth tip is for companies to store, handle and transport substances safely.
Keeping large quantities of materials carries greater risk as does transporting volatile substances.
The fifth and final tip is to provide training and supervision.
Proper training reduces risk, prevents human errors and makes sure your harm reduction systems work when you need them.
To learn more: epa.vic.gov.au/ged
