Environmental Protection Department - Environmental Performance Report 2005

We will ensure that all services and programmes offered by the EPD, as well as our own internal operations, are developed and conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.

We will implement ISO 14001 environmental management systems to improve continually the environmental performance of our major facilities.

We will review our Environmental Policy and the department's environmental objectives and targets vis-a-vis the changing internal and external factors, and seek continual improvement in our environmental performance.

We are committed to achieving a high standard of safety and health for all our staff and others who may be affected by our activities. We shall provide all necessary resources and employ sound management practices to implement our policy, and provide training, information and guidelines to our staff so that they are competent to perform their duties in a safe and healthy manner. Also, we shall pursue continual improvement in safety and health by regularly reviewing our performance.

The Green Policy Statement was first issued in 1996, personally signed by the Director of Environmental Protection. It was later re-written in 2000 to include the department's response to environmental incidents and the development of partnerships in pursuance of sustainable development objectives. The Statement was revisited in 2004 by the Departmental Environment, Safety and Health Committee (DESHC – see below) to strengthen our commitment, under Management Review, to seek continual improvement of our environmental performance.

The Departmental Environment, Safety and Health Committee (DESHC) is responsible for reviewing the EPD's environment, safety and health management systems and ensuring their continuing suitability and effectiveness. The committee provides direction and strategies, sets targets, monitors progress and is consulted on internal operations with regards to environmental, safety and health issues.

The DESHC was formed in 2002, when green management and safety and health management were merged. It is chaired by the head of our Corporate Services Division and has representatives from all six divisions in the EPD.

Support for the DESHC is provided by the Environment, Safety and Health Unit (ESHU), which takes an integrated approach to its work. Audits are conducted on the safety and environmental management practices of selected groups within the department. In 2004, 48 environmental self-audits were completed. The unit also monitors internal operations and daily activities with potential environmental impacts. This has resulted in improvement programmes being devised to save paper and electricity, and the appointment of Energy Wardens in each branch office to strengthen housekeeping measures that reduce electricity consumption. The ESHU, as well as individual groups in the EPD, also report on overall performance in green management to the DESHC. Further details on safety initiatives are provided below.

The ESHU devises safety and health programmes and practices in the department. Staff training needs are regularly reviewed and safety induction and training are provided to keep staff up to date on safety performance. We were the first government department to receive certification under the Occupational Safety and Health Council's Continual Improvement Safety Programme Recognition of System (CISPROS), and also the first to obtain renewal of our certification. There has been continual improvement in the occupational injury rate since we were first certified in 2001 (see Table 1 - EPD Incidents Statistics).

The EPD is keen to introduce new initiatives to improve safety and health. Purpose-built manhole cover lifters were introduced in 2003 and the ESHU is also sourcing other safety equipment applicable for manhole cover lifting, to further reduce the risk of injury.

Table 1 – EPD Incidents Statistics
Year	EPD’s Occupational Injury Rate (Per 1 000 staff)	Labour Department Figures for Occupational Injury Rates Covering All Major Economic Activities (Per 1 000 workers)
1999	5.6	24.3
2000	5.6	23.3
2001	0.6	21.6
2002	3.7	19.2
2003	0	17.7
2004	1.25	Not yet available

The EPD aims to continuously improve on its environmental performance and set an example to other government departments and the private sector. Our Waste Facilities Business Unit renewed its ISO14001 certification for 3 years in 2003. The Unit also requires contractors of new waste management facilities to obtain ISO 14001 certification.