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LESSON 1
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK MANAGEMENT
Critical Task: 051-250-1002
OVERVIEW
LESSON DESCRIPTION:
This lesson addresses a platoon-level environmental risk assessment and the completion of an environmental risk-management work sheet.
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
| ACTION: | You will learn the requirements for conducting a platoon-level environmental risk assessment and for completing an environmental risk-management work sheet |
| CONDITION: | You will be given the material contained in this lesson. |
| STANDARD: | You will correctly answer all practice-exercise questions at the end of this lesson. |
| REFERENCES: | The material contained in this lesson was derived from FM 20-400 and TSP 051-E-0005. |
INTRODUCTION
Environmental risk management is defined as a process to assist in preserving resources by identifying actions that negatively impact the environment and taking appropriate steps to prevent or mitigate any damage.
1-1. Environmental Risk Assessment. Protecting the environment has many advantages. A degraded environment may affect the ability to fight, such as when the basic necessities of air and water are contaminated. The cost of cleaning up contamination becomes an economic issue. The reckless disregard of the environment becomes a legal issue. The risk-assessment procedures addressed in this lesson help to identify a platoon's weaknesses in environmental compliance. Legal requirements vary from location to location. Figure 1-1 shows a sample risk-management work sheet. Specific requirements can be obtained from the environmental office (installation, facility, or region).
Figure 1-1. Sample risk-management work sheet
1-2. Platoon Leaders' Responsibilities. The term "platoon leader" refers to the designated platoon leader, the platoon sergeant, or any individual designated as the leader in the absence of the first two. Army environmental responsibilities center on building an environmental ethic in soldiers. This is accomplished by training and counseling and by enforcing responsibility in subordinates. Table 1-1 identifies leader responsibilities within a platoon.
Table 1-1. Leader responsibilities within a platoon
1-3. Risk-Management Work Sheet. This lesson addresses the integration of environmental considerations into unit activities (Item 5 from Table 1-1). A preferred method for integrating environmental considerations is by using a risk-management work sheet. The following scenario describes how to complete a risk-management work sheet. Completion of a risk-management work sheet is discussed in detail in FM 20-400.
It is 22 May XX and you are a platoon leader in the 586th Engineer Company (Assault Float Bridge [AFB]). You have an operation order (OPORD) that requires your platoon to convoy from Fort Chilly to Camp Yukon on 1 June XX and return on 6 June XX. Spills during refueling have historically been a major hazard. Use the following procedure to record one hazard on the risk-management work sheet.
Step 1. Complete Blocks A through D ( Figure 1-2).
Figure 1-2. Completing Blocks A through D
Step 2. Complete Block E (Figure 1-3). When a task or mission is identified, an order is issued. The platoon leader, platoon sergeant, and squad leaders accomplish three actions related to the order:
- Receive and analyze the order. Ensure that the commander's intent and mission (including tasks, constraints, and risks) are completely understood. Determine any limitations that might influence the accomplishment of the task.
- Determine environmental-related constraint (actions that limit the platoon's behavior and actions that are prohibited).
- Identify specified tasks (per the order) and implied tasks (to support the specified tasks).
In Block E, write the platoon-level specified and implied tasks taken from the higher headquarters order. Also identify any anticipated constraints.
Figure 1-3. Completing Block E
Step 3. Complete Block F (Figure 1-4). Block F is used to answer the when, what, why, and/or where of hazards.
- When? Identify hazards during mission analysis.
- What? Define hazards as actual or potential. A hazard is an action that will cause (1) injury, illness, or death of personnel; (2) damage or loss of equipment or property; or (3) degradation of mission.
- Why? Promote stewardship by identifying actions that have potential to pollute, create negative effects, or degrade resources.
- Where? Identify the area(s) from Table 1-2 that may be involved.
Figure 1-4. Completing Block F
Table 1-2. Common environmental hazards
Step 4. Complete Block G (Figure 1-5). Completion of this block requires two procedures. First, determine the probability ( Table 1-3) and the severity (Table 1-4) of the hazard. For the purpose of this instruction, the probability of a spill is occasional with marginal severity. Second, assess the hazard based on the probability and the severity using the risk-assessment matrix (Figure 1-6). Record the risk category in Block G.
Figure 1-5. Completing Block G
Table 1-3. Hazard probability
Table 1-4. Hazard severity
Figure 1-6. Risk-assessment matrix
Step 5. Complete Block H (Figure 1-7). In the initial operations briefing, the commander may provide guidance on the acceptable level of risk for a task. If that guidance is provided, platoon leaders must become very creative in identifying controls that will keep the risk within the identified level. Platoon leaders will then develop one or more controls for each hazard. The goal is to eliminate or reduce the risk (probability and/or severity) of a hazardous incident. Specify who, what, where, when, and how for each control. Three criteria for selecting controls are:
- Suitability. The control must remove the hazard or reduce the residual risk to an acceptable level.
- Feasibility. The platoon must have the capability to implement the controls.
- Acceptability. The benefits gained by implementing the controls must justify the cost in resources and time.
Educational-, physical-, or avoidance-type controls can be used (Table 1-5). Educational-type controls are based on knowledge and skill and are implemented through individual and collective training. Physical-type controls use physical items to mitigate a hazard. Avoidance-type controls relate to eliminating the hazard by changing a planned action. The assessment of acceptability is largely subjective.
Figure 1-7. Completing Block H
Table 1-5. Environmental-related controls
Step 6. Complete Block I (Figure 1-8). Based on identified controls (Block H) being implemented, reassign the risk (Block I) by repeating the probability (Table 1-3) and the severity (Table 1-4) of each hazard identified in Block F.
Figure 1-8. Completing Block I
Step 7. Complete Block J (Figure 1-9). Describe how to implement the controls identified in Block H. Identify the who, what, where, when, and how of each control. Implement controls by informing subordinates (down to individual soldier level) of the risk-control measures to be implemented. State how each control will be implemented and assign responsibility. Anticipate the requirements to implement the controls and incorporate the requirements as part of long-range, short-range, and near-term planning. Ensure that controls are coordinated and communicated by integrating the controls into verbal guidance, OPORDs, and SOPs. Schedule and resource training that support the controls and incorporate the use of controls into AARs and lessons learned.
Figure 1-9. Completing Block J
Step 8. Complete Block K (Figure 1-10). Complete Block K based on the entries in Block I. If more than one risk identified in Block I, determine an average of the overall risk and circle that level in Block K.
Figure 1-10. Completing Block K
1-4. Risk-Management Principles. Certain environmental principles guide a commander in day-to-day activities. Commanders use three risk-management principles to assist them in making environmental-risk decisions:
- Integrate risk management into mission planning, preparation, and execution.
- Make risk decisions at the appropriate level in the chain of command.
- Accept no unnecessary risk.
1-5. Risk-Management Implementation. The goal of environmental risk management is to ensure that battle-focused training is accomplished while at the same time preserving the environment. When platoon actions negatively impact the environment, appropriate steps must be taken to eliminate the damage. Platoon leaders are involved in the risk-management process and must set a good example by supporting the environmental program, identifying deficiencies, and taking action to correct any deficiencies. After the risk-management work sheet is completed, the commander uses the results to direct the activities of the unit. Managing environmental risk is a five-step process:
- Identify all environmental hazards.
- Assess the hazards to determine the risk category.
- Develop controls and make risk decisions.
- Implement the controls.
- Supervise and evaluate the risk-control measures.
Accomplish these five steps in the following manner:
Step 1. Identify all environmental hazards by completing Block F of the risk-management work sheet. Based on the identified operation, identify all of the actual or potential hazards in Block F.
Step 2. Assess the hazards to determine the risk category by completing Block G of the risk-management work sheet. Early in the planning process, the commander sometimes communicates the extent of risk he is willing to accept. That guidance indicates the maximum entry that he will accept in this block.
Step 3. Develop controls and make risk decisions on an acceptable level of risk. Regardless of the determined level of risk (Block G), controls should be sought (Block H). The commander will review the calculations on the work sheet and decide if the calculated level of residual risk (Block I) is acceptable. The commander may choose to continue the mission and accept the level of risk that is involved. The commander may determine that the risk is too great to continue the mission and may direct additional controls or modify, change, or reject the mission or course of action (COA). The commander is ultimately responsible for the actions of those in his command and, therefore, must feel comfortable with the outcome.
Step 4. Implement the controls. Inform all subordinates of the risk-control measures (State how each control will be implemented and assign responsibility.). Include educational controls in long-range, short-range, and near-term training plans. Coordinate and communicate the controls by including them in the OPORD, SOPs, and other related activities.
Step 5. Supervise and evaluate the risk-control measures by monitoring the rehearsal and execution of the mission. Ensure that standards are enforced. The more trained the soldier, the less detailed the supervision must be. Evaluate the performance and include the outcome in AARs and lessons learned.
1-6. Summary. Platoon leaders are responsible for providing the commander with an accurate picture of the platoon's actions. This lesson explained the process for completing a risk-management work sheet to assist in accomplishing this requirement.
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