NR RT/E/G/00007 ISSUE 2 PDF

INTRODUCTION

Due to the nature of the activities routinely carried out at LMDs and the materials involved, there is a risk of generating significant environmental impacts. These can be caused by:

• Accidents and spillages.

• Poor stabling of trains/idling trains.

• Improper use or poor maintenance of equipment.

• Improper handling or disposal of fuels, oils, lubricants or chemicals.

• Vandalism and theft, usually due to poor site security.

Inadequate training.

An environmental incident can cause an impact in many areas:

• Direct impact to the environment - spillage of chemicals or other pollutants can cause irreparable damage to the local ecology.

• Financially through fines imposed or costs incurred through clear up - the cost of clean up can be 20 times the actual fine.

• Reputation - investors, stakeholders and potential clients do not want to be associated with a ‘dirty company'.

All staff should receive adequate relevant training in environmental legislation and good practice, know their responsibilities, and be aware of the importance of pollution prevention. For details of some training course providers, see Appendix B.

All staff must be familiar with emergency procedures. This includes reporting procedures and the location and use of an appropriate spill kit.

All staff must have easy access to important telephone numbers such as the Emergency Services, the local Water Company and the Environment Agency (EA) or the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), and spill response contractor, Network Rail's Property Action Line (or equivalent contractor help line) and TOC Estate Management. These must be displayed around the site. For contact details, see Appendix B.

This guidance note has been written as a guide to encourage best practice as you plan and carry out your work to prevent incidents occurring and improve environmental management. It is by no means exhaustive, nor its contents mandatory (although reference is made to mandatory elements of the depot access conditions).