Inspector’s gadgets

When undertaking an environmental inspection of a construction site, the first area to consider is its location. This will warn of any specific environmental issues, for example, is the site located:

• near a watercourse – drainage, canal, river or stream;
• with access restrictions – one way street or shopping district;
• still fully or part occupied – housing estate;
• near wildlife – special plants, trees or reptiles.

It is also important to be aware of the land’s history. Have all checks been carried out to ensure that there is no contamination from past use?

Once on site, the following areas should be considered:

• discharge to atmosphere – it must be ensured that plant exhaust pollution is kept to a minimum by correct servicing. If plant is hired, make sure that it is correctly serviced beforehand. If hot work is being carried out, ensure that all correct health and safety measures are in place, avoiding any local pollution;
• discharge to water – this is where the site location is an important factor. If working close to a watercourse, or the site compound is located near to one, remove the risk of pollution by ensuring that oil-using plant has drip trays; oil storage is bunded or stored in double-skinned bowsers; and any designated waste area is located away from the edge of a watercourse. If water is an issue, ensure that spill containment kits are available and training has been given on their use;
• contamination of land – general measures are the same as for discharge to water. Drip trays, bunding and bowsers will be more significant as plant will be moved all over the site. Are there refuelling procedures and are these fully understood on site? Is there a designated surfaced plant maintenance area on the site and is it away from any watercourse? Check that spill response kits are available and suitable training has been given;
• chemicals – ensure that all chemicals used on the contract are subject to COSHH assessment, as per health and safety procedures;
• site waste – ensure that waste is stored in containers suitable for their contents. Do not store waste material near watercourses or surface drains. Where possible, segregate waste materials for recycling or to prevent cross contamination in suitably marked skips or storage areas. Ensure that skips are regularly inspected for corrosion and leaks and they are replaced when full. Skips should be covered to prevent dust, litter and organic waste being blown out;
• noise, odour, dust and vibration – all of this should be addressed by your health and safety documentation;
• visual impact – this is an area commonly overlooked by contractors, but will have great significance on fully or part occupied sites such as housing estates. Good site housekeeping will avoid the creation of a visual eyesore for the existing tenants.

Waste – The Duty of Care

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 defines construction waste as ‘controlled waste’ and places a Duty of Care upon the producer to ensure its safe delivery and disposal. The Duty of Care covers all material that leaves the site and requires that:

• waste is securely stored and not allowed to escape from containers;
• waste is collected by a registered waste carrier;
• a transfer note is completed giving details of the originator of the waste, its description, the carrier and disposal arrangements;
• waste to be disposed of is sent to a site that is licensed at the Environment Agency.

An exception to controlled waste is ‘special waste’ as defined in the Special Waste Regulations 1996. These are particularly hazardous substances where a more rigorous consignment note applies. Listed substances that may be encountered include:

• wood preservatives;
• paints and varnishes;
• adhesives and sealants;
• solvents;
• oil;
• batteries (lead, nickel-cadmium and mercury dry cells);
• fluorescent lighting tubes.

Before special waste can be removed for disposal by a contractor, the Environment Agency must be informed and a special waste consignment note completed. A reputable disposal contractor will provide help with this procedure, but it is the producers’ responsibility to ensure that the waste is correctly described, collected by a licensed carrier and disposed of at a suitably licensed site.

If during a site inspection you encounter problems with contractual implication, use a camera for a permanent record. Also, make sure you fill out an in-house environmental inspection sheet when on site.