With many businesses shutting down during the holiday season, Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is reminding everyone there’s a duty to manage pollution issues even when taking a break.

Factories, warehouses, construction sites and many other businesses will need to take steps to make sure they have secured their operation, so it does not pose an environmental risk.

“Under the General Environmental Duty, everyone has to act to prevent pollution. That means taking the necessary steps to ensure machinery is properly turned off, chemicals are properly stored and there’s no leaks escaping the site to stormwater drains,” said EPA CEO Lee Miezis.

“It also means security and fire management systems such as alarms and sprinklers are working and firewater containment systems are operational.

“Construction sites should also be managing any litter they create. That can often be as simple as making sure the skip bin lid is closed and that waffle slab styrene is properly tethered on site.

“We are working over the holiday period and will enforce compliance, with heavy penalties for anyone who fails to comply.

“The best present we can give to community and the environment is a safe, pollution-free one.”

EPA has been in frequent contact with the construction industry and has published the Civil construction, building and demolition guide (publication 1834) for people whose role involves site planning or environmental management in supporting activities and projects of all scales and complexity. It will help builders and land developers manage their environmental and public health obligations, such as:

• Noise and vibration – scheduling works, community consultation, managing noise and vibration at the source, and managing noise using offsite controls 
• Erosion, sediment and dust – managing stormwater flows, minimising dust, managing stockpiles and working within waterways
• Contaminated land and groundwater – identifying presence of contaminated land, and preventing contamination of stormwater and groundwater   
• Chemical storage and handling – managing storage and handling of liquid and solid chemicals, spill response and cleanup, and managing volatile liquids 
• Waste – managing different types of waste, storage, collection, transport and removal

For more information go to https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/find-a-topic/construction-industry-guidance/hazards-and-risks-in-construction

And for more information on managing stormwater runoff issues, visit https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/find-a-topic/prevent-water-pollution/urban-stormwater-management-guidance