Sustainability report 2009

If not properly controlled, stormwater runoff from construction sites can contain sediment and other contaminants. Spillage and leakage of oil, fuel and other hazardous substances can affect the natural environment and drinking water supplies. Runoff from highway depots, with salt stockpiles for road de-icing, can also impact local watercourses. Noise and dust can disturb communities.

Such incidents not only harm the natural environment and impact the communities we serve, they can also damage our reputation and can adversely affect our ability to win new contracts.

Controls are in place through our environmental management systems to minimise these impacts and meet regulatory requirements. These include careful project planning, mitigation measures and training. Stormwater management practices at construction sites in the US, particularly California, are considered to be the best in the world. During 2009, we shared this US best practice with our European businesses.

We encourage our businesses worldwide to systematically record, investigate and learn from environmental incidents. Incidents are categorised as either:

• Significant (resulting in irreversible or major environmental impact such as a large fish kill following a spill)
• Moderate (requiring management response and/or reportable to environmental regulators such as a discharge of silty water into a watercourse); or
• Minor (minimal or short-term local impact with natural recovery such as small oil spill onto hardstanding)

We will continue to look for best practice in pollution prevention and encourage knowledge sharing across our businesses.

During 2009, 370 environmental incidents were recorded across our global operations (451 in 2008, restated). Of these, none were classified as causing irreversible or major environmental impact. Nine moderate incidents were reported in 2009. One of these was considered to have impacted the environment when approximately 200 litres of insulating electrical oil from a leaking transformer was discharged onto open ground during utilities work near Peterborough in the UK. The contaminated soil was removed and the Environment Agency notified.

Spills, primarily minor quantities of hydraulic oil, and fuel, remain the single largest contributor to environmental incidents recorded by our operating companies with over 75% of the total.

Seven minor environmental incidents resulted in enforcement action and fines in 2009 (5 in 2008) totalling £15,600 equivalent:

• One incident involved incorrect labelling of hazardous waste in Jacksonville, Florida (US$5,000 fine)
• Another, in the UK, related to noise nuisance for ‘out of hours’ working at Basil Street Hotel, London (£8,000 fine)
• Five minor offences resulted in cumulative penalties of 10,000 Singapore dollars for noise, standing water (potential mosquito breeding sites) and a discharge to public drain

Corrective actions have been completed for each violation.

Global Environmental Fines