A risk that isn’t always visible in the moment
Environmental risk is the chance something goes wrong for the environment or human health because of an activity — industrial, agricultural, urban. Often the damage only shows up later.
Where this risk usually comes from
- Waste dumped in the wrong place, contaminating the soil.
- Polluting gas released into the air by an industrial process.
- Untreated wastewater flowing straight into a river or groundwater.
- Accumulated emissions contributing to climate change.
A direct link to those who work
Many of the same agents that harm the environment also harm workers exposed to them — controlling one side generally helps the other.
How this risk gets managed
First identify where it comes from in the operation, then assess how likely and severe the impact is, and finally put control measures in place and track closely.
The cost of getting this wrong
A lapse can cause damage to the ecosystem that’s beyond repair, along with heavy fines and even criminal liability for whoever is technically responsible.