How about waste?

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in capacitors, sulphur hexafluoride, mercury, WEEE, cadmium, nickel etc?

quote=zoltangera]Totally out of my comfort zone here!

What would be the Environmental aspects and impacts for an electrical contractor on site, in need of some ideas, the things I have come up with today seem absolutely ridiculous..... and elf and safety has a bad name! I have been searching the net all day and have seen things such as oil leaking from a cars engine sump. I really do not have a clue of where to draw the line with my approach to this matter. This is all for a tender that needs to be in on Friday......help

It might help if you tell us exactly what you've been asked.

In truth, as a contractor you'll have little say over the environmental impact of the "Project" and particularly in the context of your particular line of work, where components, consumables and installations are defined and determined by BS EN Standards.

Unfortunately, things environmental will continue as a focus in all procurement, along with "carbon reduction" and "sustainable procurement" etc. In that context, copper, sliver and other mining activities, and the production of various cable insulation materials cannot be considered as "sustainable" by any possible measure and rather make a mockery of the process.

As a prospective contractor, you will of course have to 'jump through the hoop' in addressing this aspect in a tender process.

What many contractors do is produce their own generic "Environmental Policy" document (there are many on the web to choose from) either first hand, or else by translating the prospective Clients own Policy (often published on the web or available via their tender portal) and feeding it back to them. The stark truth of the matter is that many Clients won't even bother to read what you prepare, and will merely 'tick the box' (just as they will often do with the Health and Safety Policy Statement they have no doubt requested).

(I am getting a bit cynical as I get older). Prequalification Schemes such as CHAS are now assessing contractor environmental compliance and performance, and you might want to visit their website for more information.

In England and Wales, there are now statutory pressures on larger Construction Projects to reduce waste (particularly landfill). Your involvement there will depend on what you are contractually being asked to do. You may be stripping out old wiring, but the scrap arising may be the responsibility of the client or Principal Contractor.

Just reading Bob's post #5 again.

Agreed there is a risk of people running with information gathered from this Forum, not all of which is correct or authoritative.

Bob, at least in the context of the question posed here, you do seem to suggest or infer that the Environmental aspects (and by inference the H&S aspects) are best left to the appropriate competent person.

There is, I believe, a strong counter argument to this. My view is that our job (and respectively, that of the Environmental Specialist) is to ensure that H&S becomes part of everyone's job.
The corollary approach of exclusive expertise is I think part of the reason our profession is currently the number-one target for lapooning, scapegoat and mischief making. If we as a profession focus on selling the concept that H&S is everyone's responsibility, then the exclusive bogeyman should surely cease to exist?
Yes there are many areas of specific areas of expertise (ergonomics, occupational hygiene, etc.) but then you don't see these people getting pilloried or lampooned on the "One Show" etc.

In other respects, and in the context of the post, many SMEs struggle to maintain a source of competent H&S advice, never mind Environmental advice. The same can be said of many client or principal contractors at the other end of the supply chain. The questions and assurances normally asked for via Pre-quals and tenders are usually not that complex and those with the knowledge that we and other specialists have imparted to them should, in a proper and balanced world, be in a position to address them in broad terms.
The final recourse, as in any walk of life, is to know your limitations and when (and where) to seek further competent advice.

I too support CHAS, SSIP etc. but would stress that these schemes are evidence based in the context of the service they seek to provide, somewhat beyond the "tick box"/ yes/no approach of many employers who attempt these things by themselves. I believe poor management of this element of procurement does more harm to our profession in the commercial world than anything the popular press can spew out.