Environmental risk

The University currently holds an Environment Protection Licence for the generation and storage of Hazardous, Industrial and Group A waste. The Department of Environment and Climate Change also monitors the operation of the University’s Veterinary Science Incinerator. The University is committed to the safe and environmentally responsible management of hazardous waste. Where possible, the generation of hazardous waste is actively avoided. Where this is not possible, the volume of hazardous waste is handled in accordance with relevant legislation and established best practice. The University’s program for the disposal of hazardous waste and associated Environment Protection Licence is administered and monitored by the OHS & Injury Management Unit. For more information refer to the Hazardous Waste Policy and Guidelines.

In 2004, the Environmental Strategies team in Campus Infrastructure Services piloted an environmental monitoring program that used the Comparative Environmental Risk Assessment Method (CERAM) for the identification and monitoring of environmental risk at University facilities and properties. This aimed to identify and responsibly manage less obvious areas of environmental risk. Further development of this program is planned for 2008.

The CERAM was developed by Dr Su Wild River, and has been successfully used to monitor environmental risk at the Australian National University (ANU) for several years. The CERAM allows the assessor to place numerical values on environmental risk using an environmental risk matrix. CERAM measures the inherent and residual environmental risks to determine a percentage overall environmental risk. The results of the environmental risk assessment can be used to prioritise environmental education and maintenance programs. It can also be used to determine improvement in the environmental management of the University.