GovWire

Read this guide to find out:

• when you do or dont need to do a risk assessment(s)
• how to complete a risk assessment
• where you can find information about environmental, flood and land drainage risks
• how the Environment Agency can help you

Generic risk assessment for standard rules permits

You dont need to provide a risk assessment if youre applying for a standard rules permit and can meet all the requirements.

The Environment Agency has done generic risk assessments for all standard rules. These list the potential risks and how to manage them. You need to check the generic risk assessment for the standard rule set you want to apply for so you understand the potential risks and can manage them effectively.

You will also need to show how you are managing risks through your management system.

Risk assessments for bespoke permits

You must provide a risk assessment if you want to apply for or change (vary) a bespoke permit. You must demonstrate that your proposal will not:

• increase flood risk
• impact on drainage
• harm the environment

Your risk assessment must show that you have considered all the risks from your activity and have either:

• changed the way you carry out your activity so that it doesnt cause any adverse effects
• put plans in place to reduce the risks

The Environment Agency may refuse your application if you have not done this, or if they consider the risks to be unacceptable.

If you are applying for a bespoke permit but most of your activities are covered by a standard rules permit, you only need to assess the risks from the activities that arent covered by the relevant generic risk assessment. For example, if your activity meets all the conditions of the standard rules, but you are operating in a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) you only need to consider the risks to the SSSI in your risk assessment. Contact the Environment Agency if this situation applies to you.

If your proposal requires detailed modelling or a complex assessment you may prefer to find a consultant to do it for you. They will charge for their services. The Environment Agency will not complete your risk assessment for you.

If you dont think there are significant risks, you need to state why in your permit application.

Your written risk assessment can be in any format but must include the:

• relevant plans
• surveys
• assessments

You also need to include a plan that is to scale, such as on an Ordnance Survey map. It must show:

• your site(s) and the location of each specific activity on the site(s)
• all receptors that could be affected by the works

Check with the Environment Agency to see if they have any specific requirements on how you should present your information and any supporting data.

You must also include a copy of your risk assessment in your management system.

If your application requires public consultation, your risk assessment will be part of that consultation. Your application will also be on the Environment Agencys public register of permits granted. Anyone can request to see the public register - contact the Environment Agency to find out where your nearest office is.

How the Environment Agency can help you

You can ask the Environment Agency for pre-application advice before you commit to a project. They can help you identify what risks you need to address and what information you need to provide in your application.

How to do a risk assessment

Follow these steps to do a risk assessment.

1. Identify the risks of carrying out your proposed activity (including during construction) at your proposed site.
2. Identify the receptors that could be at risk, such as people, animals and property.
3. Identify the possible pathways from the risks to the receptors.
4. Assess the risks relevant to your proposed activity and check they are acceptable, or can be screened out.
5. For risks you cant screen out, state what measures you will undertake when things do not go according to plan - this may include changing the design or location of your work.
6. Submit your risk assessment as part of your permit application.

Identify the risks from your activity

In your risk assessment you must identify what risks could occur and what the impact could be on flood risk, land drainage or the environment.

When assessing the risks, you need to consider the whole environmental footprint of your works. Here are some examples of risks you may need to consider, but there may be others you also need to take into account.

Creating or increasing flood risk or impeding drainage

Your work could permanently or temporarily increase flood risk. This could be as a result of:

• impeding the flow of the river
• blocking or narrowing a river channel or flood plain
• storing excavated materials in a flood plain
• doing work to a flood defence that will temporarily render it ineffective
• blocking drainage routes or pipes
• making surfaces impermeable
• creating overland surface water runoff that affects another property

Disturbing or undermining the stability of a bank

This could be caused by:

• putting a structure through the bank or on the bank
• cutting into the bank
• placing heavy machinery or equipment on the bank
• driving machinery, riding animals, or allowing them to graze on the bank
• excavating into the bank for planting or installing structures

Damaging structural integrity or performance

There is a risk that your work could damage or undermine flood defence structures, river control works, land drainage works, sea defences or remote defences. This could be caused by:

• an outfall or temporarily redirected flow causing erosion or scour
• drilling through a defence
• the weight of machinery on a defence causing damage

Damaging habitats and species

There is a risk that your work could physically damage habitats and species or you could create changes in the natural environment that would result in the loss of habitats and species. Your works could affect fish movement or mortality or could damage fish spawning grounds. It could also affect the ability of species to migrate.

Damage could be caused by:

• sediment mobilisation causing damage to fish spawning grounds and other habitats, or increasing flood risk downstream
• deliberate or accidental discharge of polluting materials such as oil, silt, dust, litter, and construction debris
• spreading non native invasive species during works or by moving contaminated machinery and personal equipment (boots and hand tools) to a new site
• changes to habitats by reducing the size of or breaking the continuity of the green corridor provided by watercourses
• noise, vibration or light affecting species either during construction works or from the permanent installation of works

Identify receptors

You must identify all the receptors that are at risk from your proposed activity before, during and after your work.

Which receptors are important can vary greatly depending on your location and proposed activity. Some examples of receptors include:

• homes, factories, businesses, schools, hospitals and other public buildings that might be at risk of flooding
• roads, footpaths, railways or other infrastructure like electricity substations
• flood defence structures, pumping stations and gauge weirs
• drain and sewer systems that could become blocked by your work
• protected environmental sites and species
• water resources including groundwater and public water supply
• water bodies including ponds, streams, rivers and lakes

Sources of information about receptors

Use the Magic map to check if any land around your site is protected. For example:

• protected wetlands (Ramsar sites)
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest
• Special Protection Areas
• Special Areas o
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