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October 30, 2013

Preventing environmental damage: what permissions do I need?

 

By David Thompson

 

All businesses within the UK are subject to both UK and European laws that have been enacted specifically to protect the environment. In order to trade successfully and within the bounds of the law, it is imperative that business owners are aware of and comply with such laws. Having a good attitude towards environmental management can help a business to:


€ᄁ save money by reducing waste disposal and production costs;
€ᄁ reduce liabilities and control risk;
€ᄁ improve customer relations;
€ᄁ earn recognition with regard to environmental practice;
€ᄁ meet legal obligations.

It is a mistake to believe that it is only large businesses and manufacturers that are subject to legally enforceable environmental obligations, so regardless of the size of business or the industry in which it is based, seeking advice from experienced and professional environmental solicitors can ensure that all such laws are complied with.

Your environmental permit

The permissions that your business requires depend on the nature of that business, although there are some permits that apply to all companies. A bespoke permit is specifically for your business, whereas a standard rules permit applies to all businesses. Standard rules apply to issues such as composting or waste storage and the distance from housing or protected species and habitats at which such matters can be dealt with.

Pollution is one of the issues that permits deal with and it is this issue that can have the biggest impact on the environment. Reasonable measures should be taken in order to prevent or minimise the chances of pollution, but what constitutes ‘reasonable’ can differ from site to site and from business to business. The impact of getting this wrong can be great for both the environment and the business, so it is important to know exactly what is required of you in terms of pollution counter-measures.

Due to the complexity of the law on environmental matters, seeking help from environmental solicitors is recommended. Not only can they cut through the legal jargon and present you with a plain-English version of what is expected of you as a business owner, they can also help you if you fall foul of any of the regulations, thus minimising the impact of any sanctions that might be imposed on you and your business.

The general purpose of environmental regulation is not only to protect the environment, but also to improve it and these requirements are incorporated into standard permits. A written management system is key to assessing the effectiveness of your ability to both protect the environment and minimise risk of pollution. Ensuring that you have a good management system is another way in which an environmental solicitor can help, as they have experience in such matters and can pinpoint the issues that need addressing. No matter what the nature of the business you are in and no matter what its size, permissions will apply and need to be complied with for both legal reasons and for the protection of the environment for future generations.

 

David Thompson is a member of the Health and Safety Lawyers Association, Road Haulage Association and Law Society Personal Injury Panel. He specialises in regulatory law, defending companies and individuals facing charges relating to corporate crime and professional misconduct, health & safety, environmental and transport. He is also a member of the Law Society’s Personal Injury panel. 

 

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In this episode  of the Safety & Health Podcast, ‘Burnout, stress and being human’, Heather Beach is joined by Stacy Thomson to discuss burnout, perfectionism and how to deal with burnout as an individual, as management and as an organisation.

We provide an insight on how to tackle burnout and why mental health is such a taboo subject, particularly in the workplace.

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MJ
MJ
11 years ago

So how does this tell me what permissions I need, other than the vague reference to an Environmental Permit and an advert for Moore Blatch solicitors?