Risk ANALYSIS
Risk analysis analyses how likely it is for a hazard
that could damage the environment to happen.
As every case is different, we analyse each risk situation in its own unique, specific way
Studying an environmental risk analysis helps us define the potential environmental damage any economic and professional activity may cause.
Purpose and Scope of the Analysis
The primary aim of environmental risk analysis is to identify hazards that could lead to environmentally harmful accidents, to assess associated risks and any existing or potential preventive measures to mitigate their impact and, as a secondary goal, to propose improvements to reduce these risks.
In accordance with Ministerial Order APM/1040/2017 and Ministerial Order TEC/1023/2019 all priority 1, 2 and 3 activities included in Annex III must carry out a risk analysis for each activity or facility subject to administrative authorisation, in order to:
Identify accidental scenarios potentially arising from their activity.
Determine the probability associated with each scenario, always following UNE 150008 or equivalent standards.
Calculate the financial guarantee limit for the scenario in question.
What role does the Public Administration play?
The Public Administrations responsible for granting environmental permits carry out checks, with varying levels of detail and through a broadly uniform system, on the characteristics and preventive measures of certain industrial activities considered to be potentially polluting.
Industrial activities with a high contamination potential are key in the decision-making process for administrative authorisation. This task is carried out by inspecting the facility, analysing the relevant information, or both.
Extent of the Analysis
The Environmental Liability Act extends this obligation to a series of activities included in Annex III and Decree 2090/2008, which partially develops the Environmental Liability Act that regulates its content.
Apart from being required by the Administration, analysing environmental risk is a core aspect of the Pool’s role as an insurer, and also benefits other private stakeholders, including:
1
The industry undergoing risk assessment, which needs an objective tool to identify and assess environmental risks for effective management.
2
The public administration, whose fundamental role is to authorise the commissioning of industrial facilities.
3
The client with whom the company has a long-term supply contract.
4
The potential investor, who needs to view the environmental risk linked to the company they invest in as a significant factor, alongside the financial entity considering a loan or guarantee.
Assessment System
The assessment system (Standard UNE 150008) has been developed to benefit all potential stakeholders, adopting the aforementioned regulation as a recommended approach. This also takes into account systems designed to simplify the task, such as environmental risk assessment forms and methodological guides issued by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, alongside an economic valuation system for assessing potential damage to natural resources based on a supply model (M.O.R.A.).
FURTHER DETAILS
What is excluded?
The environmental risk analysis specifically excludes any purpose other than the one previously formulated, in particular:
• Assessing environmental liabilities.
• Implementing an environmental management programme