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BSBSUS201A PARTICIPATE IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE WORK PRACTICESPRESENTATION 2

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PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES

When you have completed this presentation you should be able to

understand:

• Who to report to in your job

• How to report on environmental sustainability

• Managing environmental sustainability – creating systems

• Legislation and breaches – what you need to do

• Improving resource use

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WHO TO REPORT TO AND HOW TO DO IT

Who to report to

• Managers/Supervisors• Local or State

Government• Supervisor or manager• Workplace Health and

Safety Officer • Specialist that the hazard

relates to• Conservation groups• Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA)

How to report

• Environmental Hazard/Incident Report Form

• Written documentation• Verbal account• Photographic evidence

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REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE IT’S AN OFFENCE TO:

Incorrectly dispose of

waste

Negligently harm the

environment

Wilfully or negligently cause a substance to leak, spill or otherwise escape

in a manner that harms or is likely to harm the

environment

Breach air, water, noise and other pollution control

legislation

Create a serious threat to public health or health

of employee

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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - EMSAn Environmental Management System is a tool for managing the impact of the activities of an organisation

on the environment. An effective Environmental Management System (EMS) provides a structure to aid in

the planning, implementing and monitoring of the organisations environmental protection practices. Use an

EMS to help manage an organisation’s

• Costs of materials

• Waste and energy impact and usage

• Compliance with legislation

• Help to maximise market and investment opportunities

• Staff morale

It can be a manual system or use an existing software application. Key questions in establishing an

Environmental Management System include:Which resources are being used (what are the inputs -energy,

water and materials)?

Where do the resources

come from?

Where do the resources end up after use?

How much is used and how much does it

cost?

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BREACHESIn real terms if you see an issue in your workplace your first action must be to

advise your manager, your organisation needs to support you and act on your

report, if they don’t you have a case to take it further.

At the worst case you are obliged to report serious breaches to the government

department who administers the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act.

Serious breaches include:

• Taking action without approval

• Breaching an approval condition

• Commencing an action after submitting a referral but it is not yet approved

• Failing to take action in a specific manner

• Failing to obtain or not complying with a permit

Internal• Manager/

supervisor

External• Department of the

Environment

Q 5

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UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATION PLANS

Organisational Values• How does your

organisation approach sustainability?

Sustainability Strategic Commitment• What

commitment have they made?

Policy and Procedures pertaining to sustainability• Where are they? Do

you understand them enough to be able to help to achieve the goals?

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TO FOLLOW SUSTAINABILITY PROCEDURES:

• Read and understand procedures

• Identify responsibilities and specific actions – for yourself and for

your colleagues

• Think of practical applications (if procedures are generic)

• Seek additional clarification, information, mentoring and/or

training if necessary

• Provide input where appropriate – sometimes changes need to be

made

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ACTIVITY 3

• Using your assignment, identify four (4) actions that

you could take as an individual to implement the

plan

• This activity will be based on Griffith University’s

sustainability procedures

IMPORTANT

If you are an online student please contact your trainer for

ways to complete this activity.

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OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

Your business needs to have a plan to improve their operations,

especially in the area of environmental sustainability.

Remember Sustain means to keep going and able means can. Can

you business keep going in the current format? Should they?

Organisations need to consider their impact on

• People, planet and profit (this is called the Triple bottom line)

Increasingly there is a move to look at organisations in terms of a

quadruple bottom line, some people include Progress, some include

Spirit.

Whatever we measure our success by we need to keep measuring

and improving our outcomes.

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OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

Consideration regarding resource efficiency can be grouped into

these areas:

Green office

• It’s your responsible

• Helps make better environmental decisions

• Saves money and makes sense

• Improves corporate responsibility

Supply chain management

• Demand sustainable alternatives in raw materials and packaging

• Be flexible and encourage innovation

• Work with your suppliers to create innovative alternatives

Energy, water and air

• Alternative sources of energy

• Minimise use• Reduce,

reuse, recycle especially if the resource is non renewable

• Solar, wind, natural light

• Turn off and unplug

Reduce waste

• Why is it being wasted?

• Was it not needed in the first place?

• Can someone else use your waste?

Reduce risks

• To the organisation and its bottom line financially PROFITS

• To the staff, the PEOPLE, WHS

• To the community PROGRESS

• To the PLANET, greenhouse gas emissions,

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SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS• Take note of staff suggestions

• Work with colleagues and stakeholders to ensure targets are met

• Change the organisation’s purchasing strategies to ensure sustainable

products and services are used

• Work with suppliers to encourage better outcomes for your purchasing

• Conduct regular reviews on resource usage and sustainability issues

• Form a workplace team or committee to look after these aspects of

business operation

• An annual (or bi-annual) review should result in an action checklist

where individual team members are given the responsibility of moving

the organisation forward and ensuring that sustainability targets are met

• Encourage philanthropy – giving back to the community

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ACTIVITY 4

• Identify improvements to work practices that could

improve various areas

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PRESENTATION SUMMARY

Now that you have completed this presentation you should be able to

understand:

• Who to report to in your job

• How to report on environmental sustainability

• Managing environmental sustainability – creating systems

• Legislation and breaches – what you need to do

• Improving resource use