Corporate Sustainability MGMT2001
Corporate Sustainability MGMT2001
Tutorial 6: Business & the Natural Environment
Managing Risk II: Environmental risk
These questions may be submitted for assessment
Weekly tutorial preparation assignment 3 Week 7 or Week 8
But not both
Revised word limit: total number of words 250-600
Seminar Preparation Assignment Q. 1
Define the precautionary principle and explain how it differs from:
a general presumption in favour of development, and
preventive action
Seminar Preparation Assignment Q. 1
a) The precautionary principle is the belief that we should take protective action in advance even if there is no complete scientific proof of a risk. In other words, eventhough the full scientific details is lacking, action should not be delayed.For instance, if there is unanticipated outbreak of an animal infection suspected being associated to the imports, we can apply precautionary principle by imposing trade restrictions immediately while more information about the actual source of the outbreak and its degree are collected.This principle is different from the general presumption that favour development, where it assume if there is no confirmation or unawareness in regard to the implications of the activities such as release of pollutants, mining and fishing, we can continue doing those activities unless there are a clear scientific proof that those avitivites can lead to environmental harm.
b) Preventive action is addressing the risks that are tangible while percautinory principle deals with scientific unpredictibality. For example, preventive principle is when there is a causation between an incident and damage is revealed by undeniable scientific evidence. Such riks can be certified as certain because we can demonstrate the casual link between the initial incident and its unfavourable effects, and to to compute the likehood of their occureence. In conclusion, under the preventive action the authorities will intervene if the risks to the envrioment are tangible whereas, under percationary principle the decision maker are ready to tackle threats even if there is no definitive evidence either if there is link of causation between the suspected event and the harm or that the presumed harm will occur.
Seminar Preparation Assignment Q. 2
Identify three (3) risks presented in the BP case; using the risk analysis model from Wild-River & Healy (2006)
In-Class Learnings Q. 2
Risk Likelihood Consequences Priority Action (question 4 b)
4(major) moderate Seminar Preparation Assignment Q. 3
How could BP have prevented pollution by applying:
the precautionary principle
In-class Learnings Q. 3
They need to do matainance pratices such as checking the equipmets more often and develop a contingency plans by planning ahead incases there are risks that occurred. Next, for the pipe corrosion related leaks the action that can be employ is spotchecking using ultrasound to check the thickness of pipe walls for inside the corrosion because that is something that is neglected when the leak happen because it is found out that 80% of the pipe walls has been corroted by decrease in water. Next, we can enhance the technological design by conducting a thorough risks assignment and identify potential weakness and based on this assignment they can also implement design changes to implement a strong maintence procedure.
Seminar Preparation Assignment Q. 4
How could BP have prevented pollution by applying:
b) risk management processes? In-Class Learnings Q. 4
