Risk management: Environmental risks

This control measure should be read in conjunction with Risk management

Fire and rescue service risk management plans should consider environmental risk from polluting materials to the built or natural environment.

Planning may be supported through joint working with environmental agencies, to identify sites of risk and determine suitable response measures. This becomes essential when planning for sites that pose a high risk to the environment, for example where an incident could contaminate water supplies. This should be reflected in the environmental protection section of their risk management plans. For more information refer to Foundation for environmental protection – Fire and rescue service roles and responsibilities in pollution intervention planning.

Sites that have an environmental permit are required by environmental agencies to prepare accident plans. For high-risk sites that do not have environmental permits, fire and rescue services and environmental agencies should jointly carry out visits and inspections and share information about the potential hazards. For more information refer to Foundation for environmental protection – Roles and responsibilities in pollution intervention planning: Site operators.

Some sites may be subject to the gathering of Site-Specific Risk Information (SSRI). For more information refer to:

• Corporate guidance for operational activity – Site-Specific Risk Information
• Foundation for environmental protection – Site-specific risk identification and planning

Fire and rescue services should work with environmental agencies and other organisations to prepare Flood Risk Assessments. For more information refer to Geophysical hazards – Emergency response plans: Flooding.

Operational risk information plans should include information on pollution, prevention and control if a risk to the environment is identified. For more information refer to Foundation for environmental protection – Using an environmental risk assessment to inform operational risk information plans.

Evaluating the success of the measures covered by risk information and plans, and updating them based on learning from incidents, will ensure that these plans remain effective. If relevant, this information should be shared regionally or nationally. For more information refer to Corporate guidance for operational activity – Operational learning.