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Environmental,
Safety and Health Frequently Asked Questions
The ES&H discipline manages environmental, safety and health impacts from industrial operations. Responsibilities include protecting workers and the general public. ES&H activities are typically focused on the life cycle of a manufactured product or system. As a simple example, automobile environmental impacts may result from hazardous materials used on assembly lines, and engine emissions from vehicle operation. ES&H professionals are involved in all aspects of the automobile industry to produce (and maintain) an environmentally friendly product. 2. How does "safety" relate to protecting the environment and human health? Industrial safety inherently fosters protection of the environment and human health. For example, accidents can result in hazardous material discharges to the environment. ES&H professionals have expertise that can supplement a traditional system safety analysis performed by safety engineers. A typical ES&H recommendation might involve substituting different adhesives within an industrial process. These newer adhesives can reduce atmospheric emissions, minimize worker exposures to toxic chemicals, and may offer the safety benefit of being non-flammable. 3. Do industry and the military really care about ES&H considerations? Yes. Organizations can no longer function efficiently and profitably without well managed ES&H programs. There are a large number of dedicated ES&H professionals in all walks of industry and the military. Societal changes since the beginning of the environmental movement, including government regulation and pressures applied by non-governmental organizations (e.g., United Nations), mandate proactive ES&H programs. Public sentiment generally views environmental protection as a concept similar to "motherhood and apple pie", requiring industry to satisfy this consumer demand. 4. What are the major environmental problems and challenges? How do they rank in importance? Many of the highly visible public concerns, such as chemical exposures leading to illness, are not ranked as the most pressing problems by environmental experts. From a Western/first world perspective, global warming and biodiversity protection are major concerns. From a third world perspective, where billions of people do not have clean drinking water or wastewater treatment systems, and indoor cooking smoke presents serious health risks, the challenges are different. There are many additional concerns, which periodically make the national news. All of these topics relate to the concept of sustainability, which may be imperiled as developing countries achieve a higher quality of life. 5. What is sustainability? Why is biodiversity important? What are invasive species? Sustainability refers to an industrial society that protects the environment and promotes human health for current and future generations, without harming irreplaceable natural resources. Biodiversity initiatives attempt to protect the variety of life forms on earth, as they all contribute to biosphere functioning. Ecosystems are a complex mixture of individual components. Species losses (extinction) can alter natural processes and reduce potential sources of future medicines, raw materials, etc. Invasive species, one biodiversity concern, involve plants and animals introduced to ecosystems where they did not naturally develop. Invasive species can wreak havoc on an ecosystem and cause substantial economic losses. 6. How do scientists determine ES&H risks? How do these risks compare to other activities in a modern industrial society? Many industrial health risks are discovered when workers get sick, or through detailed epidemiology studies. For example, in the 19th century, it was determined that mercury caused worker illness in the felt and hat industries (Mad Hatter's Disease). Epidemiology studies assess large numbers of people for relationships between exposures and illness. Other risks are identified through hypotheses/observations based on scientific principles and lab experiments. Scientists started monitoring for ozone depletion when they realized specific chemicals released to the atmosphere undergo reactions resulting in ozone destruction. In an ES&H context, chemical risks to health are generally much less than the routine dangers of driving an automobile. Peer review of research data will typically result in a scientific consensus regarding ES&H risks, and actions required to reduce these risks. 7. What are future trends in the environmental discipline? Most industrial organizations, including the military, are implementing Environmental Management Systems (EMS) based on international standards (ISO 14000 series). An EMS is a continual improvement process similar to other initiatives such as Total Quality Management. European countries, which are highly attuned to environmental protection, make use of the precautionary principle. This principle minimizes risk by erring on the side of caution whenever science does not fully understand an activity's potential impacts. Advances in the biomedical sciences will lead to an understanding of pollutant health effects at the molecular level. Other emerging topics include industrial society's impacts on children's health, and assessing subtle chemical effects which are not well understood (e.g., endocrine disrupting compounds). Nanotechnology could provide significant environmental benefits by manipulating matter at the atomic scale, and also presents potential ES&H concerns. Climate change has recently become one of the most visible environmental issues with significant management initiatives now underway by the world community. 8. How does ES&H relate to homeland security? The emphasis on chemical, biological and radiological contamination associated with homeland security results in ES&H ties. Challenges include drinking water and wastewater vulnerability assessments, decontamination techniques associated with anthrax and "dirty" (i.e., radiological) bombs, etc. Pollution prevention principles, labeled "green chemistry" and "inherent safety", have resulted in chemical plants reducing their on-site storage and use of hazardous materials. This helps prevent accidents and reduces potential consequences from a terrorist attack. 9. What is "environmental security"? Environmental considerations can affect a nation's military readiness and may contribute to regional conflicts, presenting "environmental security" concerns. The Department of Defense (DoD) has experienced high costs for environmental cleanups, and from controversies surrounding environmental impacts at training sites. Veteran's illnesses, potentially tied to military service, have resulted in new DoD health protection programs. These costs and adverse public relations influence the military's primary warfighting mission. Future conflicts in the world may result from matters such as disputed water rights between neighboring countries. Environmental management techniques may play a role in diffusing these tensions. 10. What is systems engineering? How is ES&H integrated with the systems engineering process? Systems engineering is the process by which complicated systems are designed, built and maintained. For example, automobiles are produced and supported worldwide using this approach. Systems engineering manages the entire life cycle of a product, from the gleam in a designer's eye until the product is disposed. ES&H is integrated with the systems engineering process in the same manner as other disciplines (e.g., electrical engineering, maintenance). Upper management must foster ES&H efforts throughout the project, and ES&H professionals need access to the entire design program to recommend measures that will minimize impacts. Although younger systems engineering participants are environmentally savvy, some older engineers do not understand the nuances of ES&H management. 11. What are the ES&H components of systems engineering? DoD has developed
an evaluation process that includes: Sound ES&H management will result from an Environmental Management System applying these principles and using metrics to measure performance. The earlier these concepts are implemented in the system life cycle, the greater the benefits. 12. What is an "environmentally friendly" product/system? Environmentally friendly systems have undergone thorough life cycle analyses, and are designed and managed to minimize impacts. The military has a number of "green" weapon system programs, including green ammunition/missiles and "environmentally sound" ships. For example, the military has reformulated paints to reduce hazardous air pollutant emissions. Other initiatives eliminate cadmium and chromium in metal finishing operations. DoD has been quite successful in implementing pollution prevention strategies throughout the weapon system life cycle. 13. What are typical ES&H costs for a product's life cycle? Does proactive ES&H management really save money? ES&H requirements constitute approximately 1% of a system's life cycle costs. Some studies have argued these costs are much higher. Hidden ES&H costs can include impacts on worker morale and adverse public relations. The history of asbestos litigation leading to corporate bankruptcies shows how costs can skyrocket. Proactive ES&H management can prevent expensive future liabilities and program delays due to legal challenges. Monetary savings from implementing pollution prevention measures can be determined through standard engineering cost-benefit analyses. For example, if a production line change results in reduced sludge disposal costs from a facility's wastewater treatment plant, the economic payback period can be calculated. 14. Where can I find additional information? Environment News Service provides daily updates on national and global issues. The United Nations Environment Programme site provides a unique international perspective. American Chemical Society publications serve as excellent resources for environmental professionals, including Chemical & Engineering News and Environmental Science & Technology.
DoD
and the Swedish Armed Forces have published an excellent guide entitled,
"Environmental Considerations in the Systems Acquisition Process".
The Defense Environmental Network & Information Exchange (DENIX) is a good DoD resource that can be accessed by the public.
This
FAQ was developed by Steve Sobol. |
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Copyright © 2009 ESH Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved.
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