Environmental Precautions (page 3 of 4)

GENERAL INFORMATION

03-5

Local issues
A number of environmental issues will be of 
particular concern to residents and other neighbours 
close to the site. The sensitivity of these issues will 
depend on the proximity of the site and the layout 
and amount of activity carried on at the site.

Noise is a major concern and therefore consideration 
should be given to the time spent carrying out noisy 
activities and the location of those activities that can 
cause excessive noise.

Car alarm testing, panel beating, hammering and 
other such noisy activities should, whenever 
possible, be carried out indoors with doors and 
windows shut, or as far away from houses as 
possible.

Running vehicle engines may be an outside activity 
which could cause nuisance to neighbours because 
of both noise and smell.

Be sensitive to the time of day when these activities 
are carried out and minimise the time of the noisy 
operation, particularly in the early morning and late 
evening.

Another local concern will be the smell from the 
various materials used. Using less solvent, paint and 
petrol could help prevent this annoyance.

Local residents and other business users will also be 
concerned about traffic congestion, noise and 
exhaust fumes, be sensitive to these concerns and 
try to minimise inconvenience from deliveries, 
customers and servicing operations.

Checklist
Always adhere to the following:

l

identify where the neighbours who are likely to 
be affected are situated;

l

minimise noise, smells and traffic nuisance;

l

prevent litter by putting waste in the correct 
containers;

l

have waste skips emptied regularly.

Use of resource
Another environmental concern is the waste of 
materials and energy that can occur in day to day 
activities.

Electricity for heating, lighting and compressed air 
uses resources and releases pollution during its 
generation.

Fuel used for heating, running cars or vans and 
mobile plant is another limited resource which 
consumes large amounts of energy during its 
extraction and refining processes.

Water has to be cleaned, piped to site and disposed 
of, all of which creates more potential pollution;

Oil, spares, paint etc., have all produced pollution in 
the process of manufacture and they become a 
waste disposal problem if discarded.

Checklist
Always adhere to the following:

Electricity and heating –

l

keep doors and windows closed in the winter;

l

switch off machinery or lights when not needed;

l

use energy efficient heating systems;

l

switch off computers and photocopiers when 
not needed.

Fuel –

l

don't run engines unnecessarily;

l

think about whether journeys are necessary and 
drive to conserve fuel.

Water –

l

don't leave taps and hose pipes running;

l

mend leaks quickly, don't be wasteful.

Compressed air –

l

don't leave valves open;

l

mend leaks quickly;

l

don't leave the compressor running when not 
needed.

Use of environmentally damaging materials –

l

check whether a less toxic material is available.

Handling and storage of materials –

l

have the correct facilities available for handling 
liquids to prevent spillage and wastage as listed 
above;

l

provide suitable locations for storage to prevent 
frost damage or other deterioration.