Policy Statement
Introduction
Clearcut recognise that our activities have an impact on the environment and we are committed to minimise that impact through seeking continually to improve our environmental performance and keep pace with most recent improvements in environmental protection and understanding.
General Policy Statement
The Company will put its environmental policy into practice by pursuing the following objectives,
• Meet all relevant legislation, regulations, government guidance and industry codes of practice on environmental issues.
• Ensure that all our staff have a good understanding of the environmental impacts of our business and what they are expected to do to minimise these impacts.
• Make efficient use of natural resources by minimising waste, recycling office paper and other materials
• Keep transport use to a minimum and service vehicles and plant regularly to maintain their efficiency.
• Keep sites clean, tidy and control noise, dust fume and other pollutants and statutory nuisance to ensure minimum disturbance and disruption to clients and neighbours.
• Refrain from burning of waste materials on site particularly to avoid “dark smoke”.
• Ensure that our suppliers are aware of this policy and encourage them to apply similar environmental standards to their own work.
Targets for 2024,
• Save energy consumption in our offices and on site.
• Improve our recycling arrangements.
• Reduce the number of vehicles used travelling to site.
Review this Policy periodically.
Signed: Michael Morgan. Date: June 2024
(Managing Director)
Environmental Protection
Introduction
Clearcut recognise the increasing importance placed on environmental protection and the general need to raise awareness of environmental matters. With this in mind and with positive support from our clients we will endeavour to implement the following policy in so far as it relates to our undertaking.
Control of Statutory Nuisance
A considerable weight of legislation and guidance under the banner of Environmental protection deals with the control statutory nuisance i.e. Noise, Vibration, Dust and Fume. The following sections detail the approach required when tackling these issues,
Control of Emissions from Vehicles,
• Every effort shall be made to ensure that vehicles comply environmental standards required by the various schemes implemented by local authorities affecting the movement of heavy goods vehicles. Other company vehicles will comply with the MOT emissions testing regime as a minimum.
• Site Supervisors and other operatives shall not allow engines to run while lorries or plant are waiting to be unloaded or leaving the site. The only exception is if an engine needs to be run for unloading e.g. Hi-AB or similar.
Dust Nuisances,
• We shall take all necessary measures to avoid creating dust nuisance before starting work.
• Before commencement of any work we shall assess the sensitivity of the locality to dust nuisances. The locality is defined as the area where any dust emissions form the works might disperse and settle.
• Our supervisors shall liaise closely with the local authorities and comply with any requirements of the local authority regarding dust emissions.
Control of Dust Nuisances,
• Where practicable, we shall provide easily cleaned, hard standing areas for vehicles. This is particularly important where we intend to use heavy vehicles or anticipate heavy plant or vehicular traffic.
• Where appropriate we shall damp down unsurfaced haul routes and verges, as well as cleaning areas of assessed sensitivity. Off-site road cleaning will be considered as a safety issue.
• Our supervisors will enforce proactive rules to minimise the creation and dispersal of dust namely,
1. Establish & enforce speed limits over unmade surfaces,
2. Ensure adequate enclose of material stockpiles and provide water sprays for periods of dry weather,
3. Control cutting, grinding and chasing processes on site
4. Ensure that all vehicles carrying surplus spoil are suitably cover to prevent unwanted spillage or loss of the load.
5. Store materials away from the site entrance and principal access routes.
6. Mix cementous and other damaging substances in controlled conditions to prevent unwanted leaching or run-off into nearby watercourses.
7. Replace topsoil and re-vegetate open areas as soon as possible.
General Noise Control,
• Prior to commencement of works an assessment will be made of the likely impact that noisy works may have upon the locality particularly residential areas.
• Where noisy works cannot be avoided an appointed person will liaise with local residents, third parties and the local authority at regular intervals and field any complaints or concerns.
Noise Control Strategy,
• Substitution,
Replace noisy plant or processes by less with less noisy alternatives or use pre-drilled or prefabricated materials. Use electric motors instead of combustion engines as power plants.
• Modification,
Stiffen resonating panels or components, ensure no parts are loose or rattling, fix resilient materials to moving parts that make contact, fit efficient silencers and mufflers.
• Enclosures,
Use acoustic screens around noisy operations such as breakers, enclose noisy operations as close to the source as possible.
• Location of Equipment,
Reduce noise by placing noisy operations away from sensitive areas, Use nature barriers where possible e.g. spoil heaps, fences or hills.
• Use of Equipment,
Do not leave equipment idling when not in use, do not drop or throw materials, keep covers engaged, do not excessively rev plant and machinery, ensure correct maintenance of equipment and train operatives in correct use.
Personal Noise Exposure,
• Where noise emission are likely to exceed 80dB carry out a noise assessment and ensure that controls reduce noise levels to within legal limits. Use PPE as a last resort.
Waste Disposal
Storage & Separation of Waste,
• Measures will be taken to ensure that any waste temporarily stored in safely secured. Skips should not be overloaded and should be suitably covered, lit and signed. Ensure that skips are located on stable ground and not liable to over turn or slide.
• The company will issue guidance as to the correct separation of waste materials to ensure that specified items (hazardous waste) is placed in special skips designated for purpose. Other controlled wastes such as fluorescent tubes, PCB’s, refrigerant gases and asbestos will be removed by specialist hauler to licensed reprocessing units.
Removal of Waste,
• The company will ensure that All duties are met in relation to the production of waste and relevant transfer as a duty of care. Documentation relating to waste transfer and licensed removal will be retained and special waste regulations observed where specified wastes are disposed off.
Water Pollution Control,
• In planning the works precautions will considered to ensure that deleterious materials do not reach open or underground watercourses or adversely affect local flora and fauna.
• Silt & Cement washout from concrete mixing will not be allowed to flow into surface drainage or watercourses.
Fuels & Oils,
• All fuel and oil storage will be located in an impervious base or bund. The base and bund walls will be impermeable and of sufficient capacity to contain 110% of the volume of the tank or drum. Filling and refuelling will be strictly controlled and drip trays will contain any localised minor spillage or leakage during fuelling.
• All valves will be as resistant to unauthorised interference and vandalism so far as reasonably practicable and securely lock off when not in use.
• The content of drums and tanks will be clearly labelled in accordance with CHIPR.