Protecting Our Environment Flashcards
6 cards from real IOSH practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Protecting Our Environment flashcards as text
What is a 'waste transfer note'?
Answer: A document that must accompany controlled waste when it is transferred from one party to another, describing the waste and the parties involved
A waste transfer note is a legal document required when controlled waste is transferred from one holder to another. It must contain a description of the waste, its quantity, the type of container, the date of transfer, details of the transferor and transferee, and their waste carrier/permit details.
What is 'hazardous waste' and how must it be managed?
Answer: Waste that has properties making it harmful to human health or the environment, requiring special handling, storage, transport and disposal
Hazardous waste has one or more hazardous properties (explosive, oxidising, flammable, irritant, toxic, carcinogenic, corrosive, infectious, etc.). It must be segregated from non-hazardous waste, stored safely, transported by registered carriers, and disposed of at authorised facilities with hazardous waste consignment notes.
What is 'bunding' and why is it important for environmental protection?
Answer: A secondary containment structure (such as a wall or barrier) around storage tanks to contain spills and prevent environmental contamination
Bunding is secondary containment — a structure built around storage tanks or areas where spillage could occur. Bunds should hold at least 110% of the largest container's volume (or 25% of total volume if multiple containers). They prevent spillages from reaching drains, watercourses or soil.
What are an organisation's 'environmental aspects' and 'environmental impacts'?
Answer: Aspects are elements of activities that can interact with the environment; impacts are the resulting changes to the environment
An environmental aspect is an element of an organisation's activities, products or services that can interact with the environment (e.g., fuel combustion, waste generation, chemical use). An environmental impact is the resulting change to the environment (e.g., air pollution, land contamination, resource depletion).
What is the role of the Environment Agency in the UK?
Answer: To protect and improve the environment by regulating industry, managing waste, preventing pollution, and managing water resources
The Environment Agency (in England) is the principal environmental regulator. It regulates industrial emissions, manages waste regulation, prevents pollution, manages flood risk, protects water quality, and enforces environmental legislation. Scotland has SEPA; Wales has NRW; Northern Ireland has NIEA.
What is 'sustainable development'?
Answer: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Sustainable development, as defined by the Brundtland Commission (1987), means meeting today's needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs. It balances economic growth, environmental protection and social equity — the three pillars of sustainability.