Your business can affect the environment around you and sometimes environmental risks will also be health and safety risks. Businesses must comply with a range of environmental legislation as well as covering health and safety. Each business has its own concerns.
Businesses that allow wastewater to flow from their premises into the sewerage system must get consent from their local water company. In addition permits are necessary if any wastewater from your premises goes directly into rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, canals, estuaries, the sea, or even groundwater. Contact the Environmental Agency for further information. Businesses that cannot meet their water needs through the mains water supply must also apply to the Environmental Agency.
Air emissions also need to be checked. Refrigeration, air-conditioning, fire-fighting equipment and solvents, such as those used in dry cleaning, can contain ozone depleting substances. If the equipment does contain CFCs, HCFCs or halons there are a number of rules with cover their use storage and disposal. Again check with the Environmental Agency and also the local authority.
Useful contacts: www.dti.go/uk/access/ozone.htm
You can get further guidelines on complying with environmental legislation from www.environment-agency.gov.uk
