MODULE – 5

Importance of workplace inspections

● Workplace inspections help prevent incidents, injuries and illnesses.

● Through a critical examination of the workplace, inspections help to identify and record
hazards for corrective action.
● Health and safety committees can help plan, conduct, report and monitor inspections.
Regular workplace inspections are an important part of the overall occupational health
and safety program and management system, if present.

Purpose of inspections

Inspections are important as they allow you to:

● listen to the concerns of workers and supervisors

● gain further understanding of jobs and tasks
● identify existing and potential hazards
● determine underlying causes of hazards
● recommend corrective action
● monitor the steps taken to eliminate hazards or control the risk (e.g., engineering controls,
administrative controls, policies, procedures, personal protective equipment)
● meet regulatory and management system requirements

Benefits of safety inspections at a workplace

● Increases employee satisfaction, as regular checks give employees an increased sense of

safety.

● Companies can save money: When assessing the condition of equipment, inspectors can
point out when something needs repair, even if only a minor one. Otherwise, a piece of
equipment might be in use for a longer time until the damage is noticed, which in the end
results in higher costs for repair. Not even mentioning the potential risk a piece of
damaged equipment may mean for the employees.

● By preventing injuries, a company can also prevent related lawsuits, which again, in the
end, can save them a lot of money.

● Regular inspections create a high-performance safety culture across the workplace.

Plan for inspections

Planning is essential for an effective inspection.

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 1) What to Examine - Every inspection must examine who, what, where, when and how.
Pay particular attention to items that are or are most likely to develop into unsafe or
unhealthy conditions because of stress, wear, impact, vibration, heat, corrosion, chemical
reaction or misuse. Include areas where no work is done regularly, such as parking lots,
rest areas, storage areas and locker rooms.
2) Workplace Elements - Look at all workplace elements – the people, the environment, the
equipment, the materials, and the process.
● People include the number of workers, demographics, shift schedules, and
supervision.
● Environment includes the workplace structure and setting, and the conditions that
surround the workers such as noise, vibration, lighting, temperature, and
ventilation.
● Equipment includes machinery, tools, and apparatus for producing a product or a
service, as well as safety devices and personal protective equipment (PPE) that
may be required.
● Materials include items such as parts, ingredients, chemicals, services, and
wastes.
● Process involves how the worker interacts with the other elements in a series of
tasks or operations.

Types of hazards to look for in a workplace

Types of workplace hazards include:

1) Safety hazards such as those caused by inadequate machine guards, hazardous energy
(mechanical, electrical, gravitational, pneumatic, etc.), vehicles, machinery , tools , lack
of fall protection , confined spaces , and housekeeping .
2) Biological hazards caused by organisms such as insects, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and
parasites.
3) Chemical hazards caused by a solid, liquid, vapour, gas, dust, fume, or mist.
4) Ergonomic hazards caused by improper work methods, incorrect manual material
handling , and poorly designed workstations, tools, and equipment. These place
physiological (repetitive and forceful movements, awkward postures, overloading) and
psychological (workload, time pressure) demands on the worker that can lead to
musculoskeletal injuries.
5) Physical hazards caused by noise, vibration, weather , heat , cold , radiation, pressure,
combustible dusts , odours, and indoor air quality .
6) Psychosocial hazards that can affect mental health or well-being such as overwork,
stress , bullying , or violence and harassment .

Type of information is needed to complete an inspection

● Diagram of Area

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Use drawings of the plant layout or floor plans to help you draw a diagram. Divide the workplace
into areas based on the process. Visualize the activities in the workplace and identify the location
of machinery, equipment, and materials. Show the movement of material and workers, and the
location of air ducts, aisles, stairways, platforms, emergency response equipment, alarms and fire
exits.

● Equipment Inventory

Know what type of machinery or equipment is present. Review technical data sheets, or
manufacturers' instructions and safety manuals.

● Hazardous Product or Chemical Inventory

Determine which products are used in the workplace and whether safety data sheets are
available. Find out if all sources of exposure are properly controlled. Make sure that all workers
have received education and training in how to safely use, handle and store the products they
work with. Check that all hazardous products are labeled appropriately.

● Management Documents
These documents include workplace policies, rules and regulations, procedures, safe
work practices, emergency response plans, reports, and records.
● Checklists

A checklist helps to clarify inspection responsibilities, controls inspection activities and provides
a report of inspection activities. Checklists help with on-the-spot recording of findings and
comments but are careful.

● Past Inspection Records

Past inspection records show what has been previously identified. They also show what an
earlier inspection team concentrated on and what areas it did not inspect. Do not simply repeat or
copy previous inspection results. Use the older inspection reports to help look for issues, and
then determine whether recommendations were implemented. Note if the changes have been
effective.

Members of the inspection team

Health and safety committee members and representatives are obvious choices of personnel to
carry out formal inspections, especially if they have received training or certification.

Other criteria for selecting the inspection team are:

● knowledge of regulations and procedures

● knowledge of potential hazards
● experience with work procedures involved

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Engineers, maintenance personnel, occupational hygienists, health and safety professionals,
supervisors or managers may be a part of the inspection team or they may be called upon to help
with certain aspects of the inspection, or to help explain equipment or processes.

How long should an inspection take to do?

It is difficult to accurately estimate how long each inspection will take. The time required
depends on what is found, how many questions are asked, and how large and complex the work
area is. Inspections are ineffective when the given time allows for only a quick look. When it is
impractical to inspect the entire workplace at once, consider assigning smaller inspection zones
to more teams, or rotate which section of the workplace is inspected each month (if allowed by
jurisdictional safety regulations).

How frequent should inspections be done?

The purpose is to keep the workplace free of hazards. The schedule should state:

● when to inspect each area or item within the workplace

● who carries out the inspection
● what degree of detail to inspect each area or item

How often inspections are performed will depend on several factors:

1) legislative requirements for your jurisdiction

2) past incident records
3) number and size of different work operations
4) type of equipment and work processes
5) number of shifts - the activity of every shift may vary
6) new processes or machinery
7) High hazard or high risk areas and activities should receive extra attention.

How are inspections actually done?

1) Discuss the planned inspection route before undertaking the inspection. Review where
inspection team members are going and what they are looking for. For example, during
the inspection, "huddle" before going into noisy areas. This discussion eliminates the
need for arm waving, shouting and other unsatisfactory methods of communication.
2) For inspections, wear personal protective equipment (PPE) where required. If you do not
have PPE and cannot get any, do not enter the area. List this as a deficiency during the
inspection. Re-inspect the area when PPE is provided.

Observation

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Look for deviations from accepted work practices. Use statements such as: "a worker was
observed operating a machine without a guard." Do not use information derived from inspections
for disciplinary measures.

Some common hazardous work practices include:

● using machinery or tools without authority

● operating at unsafe speeds or in other violation of safe work practice
● removing guards or other safety devices, or making the devices ineffective
● repairing or adjusting equipment that is in motion, under pressure, or electrically charged
● using defective tools or equipment or using tools or equipment in unsafe ways
● using expired materials, and equipment that has not been inspected or maintained on
schedule
● using hands or body instead of tools, push sticks, lift-assists, or carts
● handling materials in unsafe ways, including improper lifting, carrying, pulling, or
pushing
● incorrect material storage including overloading, crowding, creating unbalanced stacks,
mixing incompatible items, or failing to use secure chemical cabinets
● failing to use or maintain, or improperly using, personal protective equipment or safety
devices
● creating unsafe, unsanitary, or unhealthy conditions by improper personal hygiene, poor
housekeeping, and eating or smoking in unauthorized areas
● using compressed air to clean a person’s skin, hair, or clothes
● standing or working under suspended loads, scaffolds, shafts, or open hatches
● psychosocial hazards, such as workers who are overloaded, fatigued, working in conflict
with others, or working in isolation (working alone)

Inspection Principles

When conducting inspections, follow these basic principles:

● Draw attention to the presence of any immediate danger - other items can await the final
report.
● Shut down and "lock out" any hazardous items that cannot be brought to a safe operating
standard until repaired.
● Do not operate equipment. Ask the operator for a demonstration. If the operator of any
piece of equipment does not know what dangers may be present, this fact is cause for
concern.
● Never ignore any item because you do not feel you have the knowledge to make an
accurate judgement of safety.
● Look up, down, around, and inside. Be methodical and thorough. Do not spoil the
inspection with a "once-over-lightly" approach.
● Clearly describe each hazard and its exact location in your rough notes. Allow "on-the-
spot" recording of all findings before they are forgotten. Record what you have or have
not examined in case the inspection is interrupted.

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 ● Ask questions, but do not unnecessarily disrupt work activities. This interruption may
interfere with efficient assessment of the job function and may also create a potentially
hazardous situation.
● Consider the static (stop position) and dynamic (in motion) conditions of the item you are
inspecting. If a machine is shut down, consider postponing the inspection until it is
functioning again.
● Consider factors such as how the work is organized or the pace of work and how these
factors impact safety.
● Discuss as a group, "Can a problem, hazard or incident be generated from this
situation?”. “How serious are the potential outcomes?” “Do any safety regulations
apply?” Determine what corrections or controls are appropriate.
● Do not try to detect all hazards simply by relying on your senses or by looking at them
during the inspection. You may have to request that equipment is monitored to measure
the levels of exposure to chemicals, noise, radiation, or biological agents.
● Take a photograph if you are unable to clearly describe or sketch a particular situation.

Concept of Welfare in Factories Act

1. First-aid-appliance

Injuries are somehow an inescapable part of life for the workers especially working in the
factories. Looking at the safety and welfare of the workers this section provides that:

(a) The factory should provide and maintain proper first-aid boxes at every workroom. Under
this Act, the number of boxes should not be less than one for every 100 or 50 workers.
Moreover, the first-aid boxes should have all the relevant contents according to the Act.
(b) There should be nothing except the prescribed contents in a first-aid box.
(c) Each box should be under control of a first-aid in-charge who will handle all its requirements
and its utilization. The in-charge should be an expert in First-aid field.
(d) In case the number of workers exceeds 500, then the factory should arrange an ‘Ambulance
Room’ with the availability of all necessary equipment.

2. Canteens

This section states:

a) Every factory where the number of workers exceeds 250, then the State Government may
direct the factory owners to provide and maintain a canteen for the workers.
(b) Moreover, the government may lay down certain conditions in the construction of canteen,
like:

● The standard in respect of construction, accommodation, furniture and other equipment

of the canteen.
● The food stuffs to be served therein.
● The date by which such canteen shall be provided.

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 ● The constitution of a managing committee for the canteen.
● The delegation to Chief Inspector subject to such conditions as may be prescribed

2. Shelters, rest-rooms, and lunch-rooms

This section states:

(a) If the number of workers in a factory crosses 150, then the factory owners should construct
and maintain shelters, rest-rooms and lunch rooms for the workers. It allows the workers to eat
the food which they bring along with them.

Special Point: Provided further that where a lunch-room exists no worker shall eat any food
in the work-room.

(b) The shelters, rest-rooms and lunch rooms should be properly ventilated and lighted.
(c) The State Government may prescribe the standards, in respect of construction
accommodation, furniture, and other equipment.

3. Facilities for sitting

There are various kinds of jobs in a factory. Some of them require the workers to stand for a
longer period of time. There is no doubt that human power to stand has limits. Looking at such
case, this section states:

(a) Firstly, the factory should provide suitable arrangements for sitting for the workers. This
is important because whenever the worker gets some free time, he/she may be able to
take some rest by sitting. This will also enhance their efficiency.
(b) Secondly, if the Chief Inspector finds that any worker can do his work more efficiently
while sitting, then he can direct the factory officials to arrange sitting arrangements for
him.

4. Washing facilities

This section states that every factory should:

● Firstly, provide and maintain adequate and suitable facilities for washing for all the
workers in the factory.

● Secondly, provide separate and adequately screened facilities separately for men and
women.
● Thirdly, make accessible all the facilities to all the workers

5. Facilities for storing and drying clothes

This section contests some powers with the State Government. It states that the State
Government has the powers to direct the factories regarding the place of storing the clothes
of the workers. Moreover, they can also direct them regarding the manner of drying the

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 clothes of the workers. It applies to the situation when workers are not wearing their working
clothes.

First aid

● First aid is the first and immediate assistance given to any person with either a minor
or serious illness or injury, with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition
from worsening, or to promote recovery.
● It includes initial intervention in a serious condition prior to professional medical help
being available, such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while
waiting for an ambulance, as well as the complete treatment of minor conditions, such
as applying a plaster to a cut.
● First aid is generally performed by someone with basic medical training. Mental
health first aid is an extension of the concept of first aid to cover mental
health, while psychological first aid is used as early treatment of people who are at
risk for developing PTSD.

Aims of First - Aid

The primary goal of first aid is to prevent death or serious injury from worsening. The key aims
of first aid can be summarized with the acronym of 'the three Ps”

● Preserve life: The overriding aim of all medical care which includes first aid, is to save lives
and minimize the threat of death. First aid done correctly should help reduce the patient's
level of pain and calm them down during the evaluation and treatment process.
● Prevent further harm: Prevention of further harm includes addressing both external factors,
such as moving a patient away from any cause of harm, and applying first aid techniques to
prevent worsening of the condition, such as applying pressure to stop a bleed from becoming
dangerous.
● Promote recovery: First aid also involves trying to start the recovery process from the
illness or injury, and in some cases might involve completing a treatment, such as in the case
of applying a plaster to a small wound.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

● Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure consisting of chest

compressions often combined with artificial ventilation in an effort to manually preserve
intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood
circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest.
● It is recommended in those who are unresponsive with no breathing or abnormal
breathing, for example, agonal respirations.
● CPR involves chest compressions for adults between 5 cm (2.0 in) and 6 cm (2.4 in) deep
and at a rate of at least 100 to 120 per minute.
● The rescuer may also provide artificial ventilation by either exhaling air into the subject's
mouth or nose (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) or using a device that pushes air into the
subject's lungs (mechanical ventilation).

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● CPR alone is unlikely to restart the heart.
● Its main purpose is to restore partial flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart. The
objective is to delay tissue death and to extend the brief window of opportunity for a
successful resuscitation without permanent brain damage.

CPR steps: Quick reference

Use CPR when an adult is not breathing or when they are only gasping occasionally, and
when they are not responding to questions or taps on the shoulder.

In children and infants, use CPR when they are not breathing normally and not responding.

Check that the area is safe, and then perform the following basic CPR steps:

1. Call 112 or ask someone else to.

2. Lay the person on their back and open their airway.
3. Check for breathing. If they are not breathing, start CPR.
4. Perform 30 chest compressions.
5. Perform two rescue breaths.
6. Repeat until an ambulance or automated external defibrillator (AED) arrives..

CPR step-by-step

There are two main stages to CPR: the preparation stage and the CPR stage.

Preparation steps

Before performing CPR on an adult, use the following preparation steps:

Step 1. Call 112

First, check the scene for factors that could put you in danger, such as traffic, fire, or falling
masonry. Next, check the person. Do they need help? Tap their shoulder and shout, “Are you
OK?”

If they are not responding, call 112 or ask a bystander to call 112 before performing CPR. If
possible, ask a bystander to go and search for an AED machine. People can find these in
offices and many other public buildings.

Step 2. Place the person on their back and open their airway

Place the person carefully on their back and kneel beside their chest. Tilt their head back
slightly by lifting their chin.

Open their mouth and check for any obstruction, such as food or vomit. Remove any
obstruction if it is loose. If it is not loose, trying to grasp it may push it farther into the
airway.

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Step 3. Check for breathing

Place your ear next the person’s mouth and listen for no more than 10 seconds. If you do not
hear breathing, or you only hear occasional gasps, begin CPR.

If someone is unconscious but still breathing, do not perform CPR. Instead, if they do not
seem to have a spinal injury, place them in the recovery position. Keep monitoring their
breathing and perform CPR if they stop breathing.

CPR steps

Use the following steps to perform CPR:

Step 4. Perform 30 chest compressions

Place one of your hands on top of the other and clasp them together. With the heel of the
hands and straight elbows, push hard and fast in the center of the chest, slightly below the
nipples.

Push at least 2 inches deep. Compress their chest at a rate of least 100 times per minute. Let
the chest rise fully between compressions.

Step 5. Perform two rescue breaths

Making sure their mouth is clear, tilt their head back slightly and lift their chin. Pinch their
nose shut, place your mouth fully over theirs, and blow to make their chest rise.

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If their chest does not rise with the first breath, retilt their head. If their chest still does not
rise with a second breath, the person might be choking.

Step 6. Repeat

Repeat the cycle of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until the person starts
breathing or help arrives. If an AED arrives, carry on performing CPR until the machine is
set up and ready to use.

CPR for children and infants

The CPR steps for children and infants are slightly different to the steps for adults, as below.

Preparation steps

To perform CPR on an infant or child, use the following preparation steps:

Step 1. Call 112 or give 2 minutes of care

First, check the surrounding area for factors that could put you in danger. Next, check the
child or infant to see whether they need help. For children, tap their shoulder and shout, “Are
you OK?” For infants, flick the sole of their foot to see if they respond.

If you are alone with the child and they are not responding, give them 2 minutes of care and
then call 112. If there is a bystander, ask them to call 112 while you give 2 minutes of care.

If possible, ask a bystander to go and search for an AED machine. Offices and other public
buildings tend to house these.

If the child does respond, call 112 to report any life-threatening conditions.

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Step 2. Place them on their back and open their airways

Place the child or infant carefully on their back and kneel beside their chest. Tilt their head
backward slightly by lifting their chin.

Open their mouth. Check for any obstruction, such as food or vomit. If it is loose, remove it.
If it is not loose, do not touch it, as this may push it farther into their airways.

Step 3. Check for breathing

Place your ear next to their mouth and listen for around 10 seconds. If you do not hear
breathing, or you only hear occasional gasps, begin to administer CPR.

Changes in an infant’s breathing patterns are normal, as they usually have periodic breathing.

Keep monitoring their breathing and perform CPR if they stop breathing.

CPR steps

Use the following steps to perform CPR on a child or infant:

Step 4. Perform two rescue breaths

If the child or infant is not breathing, perform two rescue breaths with their head tilted
backward and their chin raised.

For a child, pinch their nose shut and place your mouth over theirs. Breathe into their mouth
twice.

For an infant, place your mouth over their nose and mouth and blow for 1 second to make
their chest rise. Then, deliver two rescue breaths.

If they are still unresponsive, begin chest compressions.

Step 5. Perform 30 chest compressions

Kneel beside the child or infant.

For a child, use one of your hands. Place the heel of the hand at their sternum, which is in the
center of the chest, between and slightly below their nipples. Press down hard and fast
around 2 inches deep, or one-third the depth of the chest, at least 100 times per minute.

For an infant, use two fingers. Place your fingers in the center of their chest, between and
slightly below the nipples. Perform 30 quick compressions around 1.5 inches deep.

Step 6. Repeat

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Repeat the cycle of rescue breaths and chest compressions until the child starts breathing or
help arrives.

First aid measure to be taken during gas poisoning

● Take the person away from the site of gas poisoning to a well-ventilated area.

● If the person is unconscious, check for injuries before moving.

● Turn off the source of leakage without harming yourself.

● Call 112

● Begin CPR, if Necessary. If the person is unresponsive, not breathing, or not breathing
normally.
● Take the person to the hospital without wasting any time.

● Follow Up. Once at the hospital, the person is treated with 100% oxygen.

● Mild poisoning is treated with oxygen delivered by a mask.

● Severe gas poisoning may require placing the person in a full body, high pressure
chamber to help force oxygen into the body.

First aid measure to be taken during heart attack

● Call 112 or your local emergency number and ask for an ambulance or connect with
nearby healthcare institutions.
● Analyze the affected person’s health condition and check if he/she is breathing.
● Additionally, check if the person has a pulse by examining the same on their wrist.
● Begin CPR if the person is unconscious. If the person isn't breathing or you don't find a
pulse, begin CPR to keep blood flowing after you call for emergency medical help.

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● If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is immediately available and the person is
unconscious, follow the device instructions for using it.
● If the person is not experiencing unconsciousness but has other obvious signs of heart
attack, you should do the following:
a) Ask the person to sit down and try to relax
b) You should ask them to loosen if they are wearing tight clothing
c) Ask them if they are taking any medications for chest pain. If yes, arrange the
medication and help them take it

First aid measure to be taken during electrical shock

● Call 112
● Separate the Person From Current's Source
● To turn off power: Unplug an appliance if plug is undamaged or shut off power via
circuit breaker, fuse box, or outside switch.
● If you can't turn off power: Stand on something dry and non-conductive, such as dry
newspapers, telephone books, or wooden boards. Try to separate the person from the
current using non-conductive objects such as wooden or plastic broom handles, chairs, or
rubber doormat.
● If high voltage lines are involved: The local power company must shut them off. Do not
try to separate the person from current if you feel a tingling sensation in your legs and
lower body. Hop on one foot to a safe place where you can wait for lines to be
disconnected.
● If a power line falls on a car, instruct the passengers to stay inside unless explosion or fire
threatens.
● Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of circulation, such as breathing, coughing or
movement.
● Check for Other Injuries : If the person is bleeding, apply pressure and elevate the wound
if it's in an arm or leg. There may be a fracture if the shock caused the person to fall.

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 ● Check for burns.
● Wait for 112 to Arrive
● Follow Up : A doctor will check the person for burns, fractures, dislocations, and other
injuries. An ECG, blood tests, urine test, CT scan, or MRI may be necessary. The person
may be admitted to the hospital or a burn center.

First aid measure to be taken during chemical splash

Skin: If this chemical contacts the skin, immediately flush the contaminated skin
with soap and water. If this chemical penetrates the clothing, immediately
remove the clothing and flush the skin with water. If irritation persists after
washing, get medical attention.

Eye: If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash (irrigate) the eyes with
large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get
medical attention immediately.
Use clean, lukewarm tap water for at least 20 minutes.
Use whichever of these approaches is quickest: Get into the shower and aim
a gentle stream of water on your forehead over your affected eye. Or direct
the stream on the bridge of your nose if both eyes are affected

Method for Controlling Water pollution

1. Stabilization of ecosystem:
It involves following practices:

● Reduction of waste at source

● Harvesting and removal of biomass
● Trapping of the nutrients.
● Fish management.

2. Using water hyacinth to remove water pollutants:

Water hyacinth is extremely efficient in absorbing and concentrating dissolved nutrients from
water in which it lives.

3. Using chemical methods:

(a) Ion Exchange:

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It is a reversible reaction where in an iron from solution is exchanged for a similar charged ion
attached to an immobile solid particle which is either naturally occurring inorganic zeolite or
synthetically produced organic resins.

(b) Reverse Osmosis:

It involves the purification of water with the semipermeable membrane. When used as pre-
treatment steps for deionization systems, reverse osmosis will remove feed water bacteria,
organics and silica and reduce the dissolved salt content by greater than 95% only.

(c) Precipitation:

This process transform dissolved contaminants into an insoluble solid, facilitating the
contaminant’s subsequent removal from the liquid phase by sedimentation or filtration.

(d) Coagulation:

Chemical coagulation enhances the removal of colloidal particles by destabilising and

chemically precipitating them and accumulating the precipitated material into larger floe
particles which can either removed by gravity setting or filtration.

4. Cooling methods:

For preventing thermal pollution such methods are used like cooling waste water effluent,
evaporation tower, cooling ponds, dry cooling towers, wet cooling towers etc.

5. Recycling, Renovation, Recharge and Reuse (4R concept) of wastewater:

The waste water consisting of domestic sewage industrial effluents, thermal and radioactive
pollutants receive some sort of treatment before mixing into water bodies. Urban sewage and
sludge etc may be recycled and reused to generate cheaper fuel, gas and electricity.

6. Sanitation and sewage treatment

Municipal wastewater can be treated by centralized sewage treatment plants, decentralized

wastewater systems, nature-based solutions or in onsite sewage facilities and septic tanks. The
use of safely managed sanitation services would prevent water pollution caused by lack of access
to sanitation. Well-designed and operated systems (i.e., with secondary treatment stages or more
advanced tertiary treatment) can remove 90 percent or more of the pollutant load in sewage.

7. Industrial wastewater treatment

Industrial wastewater treatment describes the processes used for treating wastewater that is
produced by industries as an undesirable by-product. After treatment, the treated industrial
wastewater (or effluent) may be reused or released to a sanitary sewer or to a surface water in the

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environment. Some industrial facilities generate wastewater that can be treated in sewage
treatment plants.

8. Agricultural wastewater treatment

Agricultural wastewater treatment is a farm management agenda for controlling pollution from
confined animal operations and from surface runoff that may be contaminated by chemicals in
fertilizer, pesticides, animal slurry, crop residues or irrigation water. It may be performed in
plants using mechanized treatment units similar to those used for industrial wastewater. 9.

9. Management of erosion and sediment control

Sediment from construction sites can be managed by installation of erosion controls, such as
mulching and hydroseeding, and sediment controls, such as sediment basins and silt fences.
Discharge of toxic chemicals such as motor fuels and concrete washout can be prevented by use
of spill prevention and control plans, and specially designed containers and structures such as
overflow controls and diversion berms.

10. Control of urban runoff (storm water)

Effective control of urban runoff involves reducing the velocity and flow of stormwater, as well
as reducing pollutant discharges. Local governments use a variety of stormwater management
techniques to reduce the effects of urban runoff.

Sources of water pollution

1. Point source

Point sources of pollution are those which have a direct identifiable source. Example
includes pipe attached to a factory, oil spill from a tanker, effluents coming out from
industries. Point sources of pollution include wastewater effluent (both municipal and
industrial) and storm sewer discharge and affect mostly the area near it.

2. Non-point source

Non-point sources of pollution are those which arrive from different sources of origin and
number of ways by which contaminants enter into groundwater or surface water and arrive
in the environment from different non-identifiable sources. Examples are runoff from
agricultural fields, urban waste etc.

3. Organic water pollutants

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They comprise of insecticides and herbicides, organohalides and other forms of chemicals;
bacteria from sewage and livestocks farming; food processing wastes; pathogens; volatile
organic compounds etc.

4. Inorganic water pollutants

They may arise from heavy metals from acid mine drainage; silt from surface run-off, logging,
slash and burning practices and land filling; fertilizers from agricultural run-off which include
nitrates and phosphates etc. and chemical waste from industrial effluents.

Characteristics of point and non point sources

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 Point Sources Non point Source

Wastewater effluent (municipal and industrial) Runoff from agriculture (including return
Runoff and leachate from waste disposal sites flow from irrigated agriculture)

Runoff and infiltration from animal feedlots Runoff from pasture and range

Runoff from mines, oil fields, unsewered Urban runoff unsewered and sewered
industrial sites
areas with a population <100,000

Storm sewer outfalls from cities with a Septic tank leachate and runoff from
population >100,000
failed septic systems

Overflows of combined storm and sanitary Runoff from construction sites, abandoned
sewers
mines.

Runoff from construction sites >2 ha Atmospheric deposition over a water

surface.

Activities on land that generate

contaminants, such as logging, wetland
conversion, construction, and development
of land or waterways.

Role of an Individual in prevention of Pollution

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● Individuals should minimize wastage of resources such as electricity. Every unit of
electricity saved is the equivalent unit of electricity produced as it not only saves the fuel
that would be used to produce that electricity, but also helps to prevent pollution that is
accompanied by burning of that fuel. Therefore, a person should always switch off
appliances when not in use.
● Individuals should prefer walking or use cycles instead of using motor vehicles,
especially when distances to be travelled are small.
● Individuals can make considerable contributions by using mass transport (buses, trains,
etc) instead of using personal vehicles.
● When going to the workplace, colleagues from nearby localities should pool vehicles
instead of going in individual personal vehicles.
● Taking personal vehicles for periodic pollution checks at centres approved by authorities.
● Individuals should reuse items whenever possible.
● Products that are made of recycled material should be given preference.
● Use gunny bags made of jute instead of plastic bags.
● Take part in environment conservation drives such as tree planting drives.
● Use water resources efficiently.
● Use renewable resources by installing equipment such as solar heaters and using solar
cookers.
● Dispose potentially harmful products such as cells, batteries, pesticide containers, etc
properly.
● Use of refrigerators should be minimised wherever possible as they are the main source
of CFC, which is responsible for Ozone layer depletion.
● Follow and promote family planning, as more population means more resources utilized
and more resources utilized imply more pollution.
● Avoid making noise producing activities such as listening to loud music.
● Use handkerchiefs instead of paper tissues.
● Organize drives to clean streets and clean drains with help of other people of the locality.
● Spread awareness and inspire other people to prevent pollution. Individuals should be
encouraged to acquire information and innovations from around the world and implement
them locally.

Preventive measures for Air Pollution

● Establish or transfer factories or industries away from residential areas.

● Reduce the use of automobiles and make use of the public transport system.
● Keep vehicle filters clean and use only quality fuels.
● Make the vehicle's engine off while taking or standing at any crossing.
● Use CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) as fuel for auto engines instead of liquid petroleum.
● Use self or low noise horns and avoid blowing them unnecessarily.
● Use an efficient silencer in vehicles.
● Use of crackers should be avoided.
● Use LPG for cooking instead of wood, coal.
● Do not burn plastics.
● Quit smoking.
● Reduce the use of air conditioners, refrigerators etc.

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● Support companies that are committed to sustainable manufacturing practices and
reducing pollution in the air.
● Plant trees around our home and in our community that can help to reduce air pollutants.

Preventive measures for Water Pollution

● Sewage disposal is the main cause of water pollution in big cities. One should take care
of proper disposal of sewage.
● Sewage should be released to water only after treatment.
● Industrial effluents should be released into water bodies only after proper treatment.
● Use of chemical pesticides, weedicides, insecticides etc. should be minimized. Promote
the use of bio-pesticides, fertilizers etc.
● Proper checking of super tankers in the sea in order to prevent oil spillage.
● Use the minimum amount of detergent.
● Use only phosphate free soaps and detergents.
● Use only phosphate free soaps and detergents.

Preventive measures for Solid Waste Pollution

● Divide the domestic wastes into biodegradable and non biodegradable components
before discharging
● Biodegradable wastes can be used as fertilizers.
● Non bio degradable waste should be collected and disposed for recycling processes
● One should never allow scattering of domestic wastes
● Recharge batteries rather than using disposable.
● Give items to charity or sell in a yard sale rather than throwing them away.
● Use of cloth bags rather than plastics.
● Buy environmentally friendly electronics.
● Recycle & reuse items rather than sending them to the landfill.
● Ensure the proper disposal of solid wastes

Indirect Role of an Individual in prevention of pollution

● Man can participate in various activities for solving the problem of pollution.
● One should support expansion of environmental education by participating or
supporting the system.
● One should make efforts to develop awareness of environmental pollution by:-
a) Publishing information on pollution

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 b) Organizing various exhibitions or competitions
c) Sponsoring environment related advertisement
● One should make Non Governmental Organizations or encourage and help in developing
NGO for social services against environmental pollution.
● One should celebrate environmental dates as festivals of society and develop them as
non-caste and non-religious occasions for all.
● One should organize special programmes and rallies on Tree Plantation Day (7 July) &
World Environmental Day and raise slogans in the society.
● One should encourage to follow Environmental Laws by making them popular and help
people to respect.

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