World Environment Day 2010

Established by the United Nations at the General Assembly in Stockholm in 1972, World Environment Day (WED) is the principal vehicle through which the UN stimulates awareness and influences governments throughout the world to act on protecting the environment.

Once again WED is on the 5th of June with this years theme being "Many Species, One Planet, One Future". The UN are aiming to make this WED the biggest yet and are calling on governments, organisations, communities and individuals to make a difference.

There are many small things you and your organisation can do to reduce your workplace environmental impact.

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UN Workplace Environmental Tips

Some of the workplace environmental tips included on the official web page include:

• Providing staff with washable mugs instead of Styrofoam or plastic cups
• Encourage people to use both sides of writing pads, as well as when printing or photocopying
• Ensure people use recycling bins, where relevant. If you don’t have recycling bins, get some. If you’re in a serviced building that doesn’t provide recycling, influence them to make it happen
• Set office equipment to switch to energy saver in a shorter period of time
• Turn off equipment at the end of the day. Energy saver modes burn coal
• Turn lights off in unused offices and conference rooms
• Consider adding some plants to the office. They look good and assist in managing the cleanliness of your office air
• Organise tree planting
  

OSHEM Solutions Workplace Environmental Tips

Some of the initiatives we have recommended / assisted clients with include:

• Using industrial / construction waste disposal service providers who separate waste for reuse and recycling, where possible
• Including environmental risk assessment when determining which products to purchase (typically chemicals)
• Including environment (along with safety & HR) in employee and contractor inductions
• Including environmental considerations in safe work method statements (SWMS) or Job Safety Analysis (JSA or, in fact JSEA)
• Providing environmental awareness training to supervisors and managers
• Spill kit training for emergency wardens and other key personnel
• Development of an integrated risk assessment tool (OH&S, environment, quality community, reputation etc)
• Development of environmental impact reduction objectives and targets in annual plans
• Conducting an environmental audit and/or workplace inspection

For more information on WED2010, including registering your activities and more tips, visit www.unep.org/wed

If you would like some assistance managing your workplace environmental aspects and impacts, visit www.oshemsolutions.com.au.