Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

This thesis reviews the implementation of Environmental Management System at a construction company. The object of the study is the Gottlieb Skanska construction site at Shaft 10 of the Delaware Aqueduct at the West Branch reservoir north of New York City.

The thesis emphasizes the current identification of environmental aspects and risk assessment and presents a quantitative alternative to this process. The alternative approach is applied on the construction site both with and without implemented preventive controls. A comparative risk analysis is carried out and contrasted to the current procedures.

The analysis shows that the controls have a tremendous impact on the risk of pollution from activities at Shaft 10 to the West Branch reservoir. Regarding the relative effect on the total environmental impact, the change foremost reflects the effectiveness of the controls; especially those aimed at the most severe hazards like discharge of PCB, Mercury and Lead.

The greatest threats to the water of West Branch reservoir after the controls are implemented seem to be spillage, mostly from workers and trucks. Manual spill will be the sole greatest contributor to discharges, since humans more easily slip through preventive systems.

In comparison with the present risk assessment, the Quantitative Risk Analysis results do not deviate much from the current outcomes, although it in more detail addresses environmental threats. The strength of this probabilistic approach is in using available data and opinions to statistically determine whether conclusions can be drawn, providing "hard numbers" for decisions regarding allocation of resources toward protective actions.

Since Quantitative Risk Analysis provides an assessment of environmental safety, and safety in turn is highly dependent on environmental management, the link between Quantitative Risk Analysis and environmental management is crucial for minimizing environmental impact.