Air, Water, Land and Resources

Environmental impact is not limited to dramatic events. Routine activity reaches four receptors continuously.

Air

Combustion from boilers, engines and vehicles; process emissions and solvent vapour; dust from cutting, handling and traffic; refrigerant leaks, which are potent greenhouse gases; and odour, which generates more complaints than any other emission.

Water

Trade effluent to sewer; surface water run-off carrying oil, silt and chemicals; spills reaching drains; wash-down water; leaking underground tanks and pipework; and firewater during an incident. Water pollution is the most commonly prosecuted environmental offence in many jurisdictions, and it usually results from a small spill reaching the wrong drain.

Land

Spills to unmade ground; leaking containers and bunds; historical contamination disturbed by excavation; and fly-tipping or poor waste storage.

Resources

Energy, water, raw materials and packaging. Resource use is an environmental impact in its own right and usually the one with a direct cost attached, which makes it the easiest to get attention for.

Most environmental incidents at ordinary workplaces are small volumes of ordinary substances reaching a drain that goes somewhere unexpected.