Environmental contamination

Waste, spills, slurry or residue reaching soil, drains, waterways or water catchments.

Also known as: Waste disposal, Spills, Waterway contamination, Stormwater pollution, Environmental impact, Environmental damage, Improper waste disposal, Chemical disposal, Waterways, Adverse impacts on fauna, Contamination of waterways & water catchment, Contamination of waterways, Water catchment contamination

How to control environmental contamination

Plan the work to minimise waste, and use less harmful products, such as water-based alternatives, where they suit the task.
Bund fuel, chemical and slurry storage, and keep it away from drains, waterways and sloping ground.
Protect stormwater drains with covers or filters, and use sediment controls such as silt fences around disturbed ground.
Keep a spill kit suited to the materials on site, and train workers to contain and report spills promptly.
Collect washout water, slurry and residue for proper disposal instead of hosing it into drains or onto soil.
Dispose of waste through licensed carriers and facilities, and keep records where the waste is regulated or prescribed.

Typical controls, most effective first. Your SWMS sets the controls for your own job and site.