Environment
Introduction
The Middleton business has a tradition which has been established for over 75 years, for providing services of the highest quality, delivered within the highest standards of The Health & Safety Act 1974 and with the minimal impact on the environment, both the environment local to our area of work and our global environment, in which we all live.
Our policies, aims and Green Action Plan affirm this commitment.
The entire management of Middleton have become increasingly aware that the earth is being despoiled, and that its resources are not finite. Clean air and water can no longer be taken for granted. Global climatic change, depletion of the ozone layer, acid rain, forest destruction, desertification and increased pollution and contamination are urgent issues, for the future of the planet.
Our mantra for the future must be :
Reduce • Reuse • Recycle • Energy Recover • Disposal
The main principals of our Environmental Policy
This policy forms part of the company’s Safety Integrated Management System, (SIMS) which provides a structured method for assessing risk, identifying requirements, establishing control procedures and monitoring performance and therefore minimise any risks in relation to its operational functions.
The company will ensure that pollution prevention is carried out by means of risk assessment and controlled procedures shall be implemented as required for minimising any pollution to air, land or water.
The company shall eliminate, reduce, reuse or recycle waste as practically possible. This shall be through ensuring accurate specifications and bills of quantities, storing unused materials for future use and through recycle fluorescent tubes and paper. Middleton are registered with the Environmental Agency as a waste carrier and broker [BUT/771603/CB], and as a producer of hazardous waste [Registration Number NCN 196].
Company and legal requirements shall be communicated to sub-contractors and clients to ensure protection of the environment. This may include the correct waste disposal and transfer of waste materials.
The company conserves energy within its own premises and advises all employees on ways this can be instigated. This includes turning lights off; minimising lighting levels, using energy efficient lamps and process timers.
The company takes into consideration the environmental impact of materials, services and goods that are used by the company, when selection of Suppliers is taken into account and that they are full filling their obligations in regards to environmental issues.
As a building maintenance company Middleton’s is heavily reliant on vehicular transportation. The arrangements within the Fleet Management System monitor the efficiency of the fleet in order that pollution of air and land is kept to a minimum
The company shall effectively and at the earliest time, ensure that all employees of the company are aware of this Environmental Policy together with other policies. This may be through employee induction, workshops, and toolbox talks. The Policy is included in Site Files within the company Health and Safety Policy.
Environmental objectives and targets shall be derived from this in order to ensure that issues are being met within adequate resources and within a suitable time frame. The Health and Safety Director, reporting to the Managing Director has the overall responsibility for the establishment, implementation, and maintenance of the policy to all persons working on behalf of the company.
The Health and Safety Director shall ensure that the level of commitment is regularly monitored, including internal auditing and reviews, and identify any improvements to the companies Board of Directors.
The Company shall foster a sense of personal responsibility through its training and awareness of environmental issues, and to motivate and commit all employees to continue their efforts of improvement for the environment. The Middleton Sustainability Policy complements this.
The Company will ensure that Environmental issues are taken into account when planning and designing operations and works and that reasonable resource is afforded Middleton's strategy for protecting and improving our environment, is complimented by our Corporate Action Programme.
The strategy sets the frameworks and principles for environmental protection and improvement, the Green Action Plan details what we are going to do.
The Green Action Plan details the Company's policy aims for key environmental topic areas and lists over 150 action which will be implemented. The Action Plan includes ways in which we can improve our methods of working and improve our environmental performance. The Plan is regularly revised.
The Green Action Plan
Waste and pollution need to be kept to a minimum. It is essential that the activities of our Company, meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The techniques for realising Environmental improvements are already well advanced in many areas of pollution control and in the development of alternative production methods. More information is becoming available as investment is made into this kind of research and development.
Action needs to be taken now at all levels, Individual, Local, National, and International to safeguard our futures and the quality of life for our future generations.
We must all work together with our Colleagues in the Company, with our Clients, together with our Sub Contractors and Suppliers, in order to attempt to achieve the following Action Plan:
Operational Activities
Operating and Maintenance Procedures have been developed to ensure that the Company operates within the Health & Safety at Work Act and to ensure that all employees comply with the
Company Safety Rules (copies are available upon request). Operating and Maintenance Procedures have also been developed to ensure that the Company's standards comply with Quality Management Systems which has been accredited BS EN ISO 9001:2002 Certification . The Company's Safety Rules and Quality Management Systems will ensure that every effort will be made to control the risk of accidents or incidents which might cause harm to the environment.
Waste Disposal
Transport and the disposal of waste from Clients sites will be conducted in total compliance with legislation. Middleton Maintenance Services Ltd., are registered by the relevant Waste Regulation Authorities as carriers of controlled waste in compliance with Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989.
The possibilities of reducing waste by operational means, or by recycling, or by use of alternative materials will be kept under continuous review.
Waste Generation, Disposal & Recycling
Waste paper generated by Office Procedures, will be collected, stored and transported to recycling centres.
Scrap Metals, will be transported to recycling centres wherever possible.
Fluorescent lighting tubes and luminaires will be disposed of in accordance with the Approved Code of Practice.
Oils and grease, organic solvents, de greasers, paints and adhesives will be disposed of in accordance with the Approvers Code of Practice.
Concrete, brick, wood and waste building materials will be disposed of in accordance with Waste Regulation Authorities Control Systems.
Air Quality and Air Pollution
Middleton Heating Service Engineers and all employees, dealing with Heating Plant and Combustion Plant emitting the products of combustion, will ensure that any plant installed on Clients premises, which does not conserve energy of minimises pollution and waste production, is actioned by compliance with the Company's Quality Management Systems. Such causes of pollution must be drawn to the attention of the Middleton Management and the Client, in order that modification can be recommended so Combustion Plant will operate effectively to conserve energy and minimise waste production.
Middleton Service Engineers have been trained and are technically qualified to monitor the following combustion processes:
- Combustion Processes
- Combustion Efficiency
- Flue Gas Emissions
- Fuel Type (gas, light, oil, heavy oil, coal)
- Liquid Fuel Spillages
- Disposal into the atmosphere of ash and soot from boilers and flue
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Plant
- Monitoring of refrigeration usage
- Containment of Spillage
- Conversion/Replacement of CFC Refrigerants
- Reclamation & Recycling of CFC's in accordance with Approved Codes of Practice
- Energy Conservation
- Control of Systems for Energy Management
- Insulation (Plant & Premises)
- Ventilation and Air Handling Systems Efficiency
- Combustion Plant Efficiency
- Refrigeration Plant Efficiency
- Air Conditioning Plant Efficiency
Company Transport
Positive initiatives are being taken by the Company to use the most efficient forms of fuel available, including serious proposals regarding alternatives to petrol where viable.
All Company transport is regularly inspected by the Regional Transport Managers, to ensure that engines are running efficiently, emitting the minimum volumes of hydro carbon to the atmosphere through exhaust fumes.
Asbestos and Asbestos Dust
The Company has a Policy which is clearly stated within its Company Safety Rules, which prohibits any employee from attempting to remove asbestos of any kind. In the event that asbestos is located, employees must advise their supervisory management, who will arrange for Licensed Contractors to remove the asbestos in accordance with Approved Codes of Practice and the Statutory Provisions for the Removal of Asbestos.
Noise as pollution
The degree to which a noise becomes a nuisance depends on factors, such as the nature of the noise, the attitude of the listener, the location, circumstances and the time of day.
There is no recognised standard for ambient noise levels. However, all Middleton employees are instructed to reduce noise levels by wherever possible by the following means:
- All machinery, plant and tools wherever possible will be suitably insulated to reduce noise levels
- When working in an environment where the other people are to be considered, noise levels must be kept to a minimum
- During night time operations, if working in residential areas, or where people are asleep, particular attention must be taken to avoid generating high noise levels
- Company vehicles, plant and machinery will be regularly inspected by the Regional Transport Manager, to ensure they are operating correctly and not generating high noise levels
Water
Surface Water, Ground Water, Drinking Water, Water Conservation.
All Middleton employees are aware that the pollution or contamination of surface waters is an illegal offence under The 1991 Water Resources Act, which replaces the Pollution Control provisions previously covered by The Control of Pollution Act 1974 and the Water Act 1989.The Company's Health & Safety Rules strictly prohibit all employees from working with hazardous substances, e.g. caustics, corrosives, acids or hazardous chemicals, as listed in Schedules 1 & 2 of COSHH Act. All employees are prohibited from disposing into surface water systems or the sewerage systems, any fuels, oils, paints, greases, solvents, de greasers and adhesives, other than disposal by the Company's Policy of Waste Disposal as described under Waste Disposal.
Water Conservation
As our water resources are not finite, water conservation is important and all employees are instructed to conserve water wherever possible.
Middleton plumbers and craft operatives are trained to conserve water by reducing leakages, using toilet and urinal systems that reduce water consumption and to improve labelling on appliances indicating their use of water, water metering and charging for water abstractions.
Sewerage, Pollution and Spillages
The Company being involved in drains hygiene and drain clearance operation, comes into contact with the contents of drains and as such, has many years experience in dealing with sewerage and waste water.
The Company operates methods and procedures to ensure that sewerage is not discharged into rivers or other surface water systems.
Any spillages of sewerage in or around the area of our operations are washed down and cleaned with disinfectant, in accordance with the Company Safety Rules.
Wildlife and Flora
The Company strives to comply with the EC Directives and National Legislation (i.e. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981), which seeks to protect flora and fauna. Middleton has a commitment to the protection of wildlife and flora and is committed to have a minimal impact when carrying out it's operations in such environmental areas.
All employees are trained to collect all raised articles which should be removed from the site of works and the site is to be left properly cleared of all litter, debris, and wherever possible, signs of disturbance.
Tree cutting or tree surgery, plant removal or wildlife disturbance should not be carried out without reference to supervisory management, who should ensure that all operational procedures are being carried out in accordance with the Statutory Legislation and Codes of Practice.
Green Purchasing
The Company aims to move to a position where all purchases made by the Company will reflect our desire to protect and improve the environment. We will carry out a series of
productivity packed assessments, including the way products are used, manufactured, transported, and disposed of.
The Company will increase its use of recycled paper and the remaining paper used will be environmentally friendly paper, except in special conditions.The Company will, wherever possible reduce its use of photocopying paper.
The Company will develop a replacements/disposal policy for computer hardware, which minimises its life span and considers the best environmental practice.
We, where possible, adhere to the Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) which forces us to challenge not only the effectiveness of the item we are using, but also its source, style and type of manufacture and where the raw materials originate from. The main focus of such procurement is our central purchasing function and its network of supply chain partners. We are working wit them to ensure they embrace the same principles as ourselves in procuring for renewable or sustainable resources.
Whilst it is easier to use and procure such materials on bulk construction projects (recycled, aggregate “waste” cement products etc) and to use prefabricated units to avoid environmental impact on site it is more challenging in a maintenance environment.
However, we have identified the following areas of potential gain:
- Timber -Certified to Forest Stewardship Council for sustainability
- Boards - Low formaldehyde MDF and “smart” plasterboard
- Paints / Glues -Selected for low VOC emissions
- Foams / Sprays -Non-ozone depleting accelerants
In addition to this where we can have input into specification we will focus on whole life costing, for example, the use of low energy light bulbs or higher specification products which although more expensive to purchase need less frequent replacement, produce less (frequent waste) and give better long term value!