Environmental

Risk Assessment
and Case Studies
Nikka Nissa Lopez

What is environmental risk assessment?

Hazard: is the inherent potential for something to cause harm.
Hazards can include substances, machines, energy forms, or
the way work is carried out.
Risk: is a combination of the likelihood or probability that the
hazard will cause actual harm and the severity of the
consequences.
In general, the term environmental covers the physical surroundings that are
common to everybody including air, water, land, plants and wildlife. Thus
environmental risk assessment covers the risk to all ecosystems, including
humans, exposed via, or impacted via, these media

Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) is a process

for estimating or evaluating the likelihood or probability
of an adverse outcome or event due to pressures or
changes in environmental conditions resulting from
human activities.

Stages in carrying out an environmental

risk assessment:
Problem formulation is to set out the problem being addressed
and the boundaries within which any decisions on environmental
risk are to be are made.
Hazard identification
Identification of the consequences if the hazard is to occur
Estimation of the magnitude of the consequences
Estimation of the probability of the consequences
Evaluating the significance of a risk (often termed risk
characterization or risk estimation)

Risk assessment and contaminated land

remediation: Argentinian oil refinery
A company (Refinsan San Lorenzo S.A.) was established to
assume ownership and operation of the refinery. Refinsan is
committed to cleaning up severe land contamination resulting
from poor operational practices during 48 years of public
ownership of the refinery.

Essential elements to any risk

A contaminant a substance that is in, on or under the land and has the
potential to cause harm or to cause pollution of controlled waters;

A source a point of contamination

A receptor in general terms, something that could be adversely affected

by a contaminant, such as people, an ecological system, property, or a
water body;

A pathway a route or means by which a receptor can be exposed to, or

affected by, a contaminant.

What is a risk assessment matrix?

A risk assessment matrix is a project management tool that
allows a single page quick view of the probable risks
evaluated in terms of the likelihood or probability of the risk and
the severity of the consequences.

How to Place Risks in the Matrix

A risk assessment matrix risks are placed on the matrix based on
two criteria:
Likelihood: the probability of a risk
Consequences: the severity of the impact or the extent of
damage caused by the risk.

Likelihood of Occurrence
1. Definite: A risk that is almost certain to show-up during project
execution. If youre looking at percentages a risk that is more
than 80% likely to cause problems will fall under this category.
2. Likely: Risks that have 60-80% chances of occurrence can be
grouped as likely.
3. Occasional: Risks which have a near 50/50 probability of
occurrence.
4. Seldom: Risks that have a low probability of occurrence but
still can not be ruled out completely.
5. Unlikely: Rare and exceptional risks which have a less than
10% chance of occurrence.

Consequences
1. Insignificant: Risks that will cause a near negligible amount
of damage to the overall progress of the project.
2. Marginal: If a risk will result in some damage, but the extent
of damage is not too significant and is not likely to make much
of a difference to the overall progress of the project.
3. Moderate: Risks which do not impose a great threat, but yet a
sizable damage can be classified as moderate.
4. Critical: Risks with significantly large consequences which
can lead to a great amount of loss are classified as critical.
5. Catastrophic: These are the risks which can make the project
completely unproductive and unfruitful, and must be a top
priority during risk management.

What is a Risk Mitigation?

Risk mitigation planning is the process of developing
options and actions to enhance opportunities and
reduce threats to project objectives.

Case Study 1: Open Cut Mine

The Project Design includes the following activities for extraction of ore

The design elements intended to reduce

environmental risks:

The following aspects of the environment are

considered as part of the risk assessment:

Ratings for the Assessment of the Consequence

Level

Ratings for the Assessment of

Likelihood

Risk Assessment Matrix

Environmental Risk Assessment

Risk Ratings for Environmental Aspects

Total Risk Ratings Before and After

Mitigation

Case Study 2: Willows Energy from

Waste Facility
This provides the relevant risk assessments of amenity and
accident risks associated with the proposed Willows Energy
from Waste (EfW) Facility.

The scope of the assessment has covered the

following:
Odor;
Noise and vibration;
Fugitive emissions; and
Accidents.

ERA has
followed the following four stage process:
1. Identify the risks;
2. Assess the risks (assuming those control measures
proposed are in place);
3. Choose appropriate further measures to control these (if
required); and
4. Present the assessment.

References
Environmental Risk Assessment. (2013). Environmental Risk
Assessment, 2, 1-6. Retrieved February 13, 2016, from
http://www.rsc.org/images/Environmental Risk Assessment Version
2_tcm18-236384.pdf
Bailey, H. (n.d.). Environmental Risk Assessment. 1-26. Retrieved
February 13, 2016, from
https://www.south32.net/South32Web/media/library/GEMCO
PDFs/Sections/4-Environmental-Risk-Assessment.pdf.
Environmental Permit Application-Willows Energy from Waste
Facility. (n.d.). Environmental Risk Assessment- APPENDIX G, 1-25.
Retrieved February 13, 2016, from http://www.westnorfolk.gov.uk/pdf/5637s_Appendix_G_report_draft_240511_Rev0
_PC_.pdf

Thank You

Nikka Nissa Z. Lopez

BSChE - 5