IOSH Protecting Our Environment

Question 1

What is 'environmental management' in the context of IOSH Managing Safely?

Accepted Answer

Systematically managing an organisation's impact on the natural environment, including waste, emissions, energy use and pollution prevention

Answer

Environmental management involves systematically identifying, controlling and reducing an organisation's environmental impacts. This includes managing waste, controlling emissions to air and water, conserving resources, preventing pollution, and complying with environmental legislation.

Question 2

What is the 'waste hierarchy'?

Accepted Answer

A ranked system prioritising waste management options: prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal as a last resort

Answer

The waste hierarchy ranks waste management options from most to least environmentally preferred: Prevention (reduce waste at source), Preparation for reuse, Recycling, Other recovery (e.g., energy recovery), and Disposal (landfill) as the last resort. It mirrors the hierarchy of control for safety.

Question 3

What is 'duty of care' in relation to waste management?

Accepted Answer

A legal duty on anyone who produces, imports, keeps, stores, transports, treats or disposes of waste to manage it properly

Answer

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty of care on anyone who produces, imports, keeps, stores, transports, treats or disposes of controlled waste. They must take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised management, prevent escape of waste, ensure transfer to authorised persons, and provide waste transfer notes.

Question 4

What is 'pollution prevention'?

Accepted Answer

Proactive measures to prevent or minimise the release of pollutants into the environment before they occur

Answer

Pollution prevention focuses on avoiding or minimising pollution at source, rather than treating or cleaning up after release. It includes substituting less polluting materials, improving processes, reducing resource consumption, implementing containment measures (bunding), and having spill response plans.

Question 5

What is an 'environmental permit'?

Accepted Answer

A permit required under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations for activities that could pollute the environment

Answer

Environmental permits are required under the Environmental Permitting Regulations for activities that could release substances to air, water or land. They set conditions on emissions, monitoring, reporting and operational practices. Operating without a required permit is a criminal offence.

IOSH Managing Safely Practice Test

IOSH Managing Safely Practice Test

IOSH Protecting Our Environment