Royal Victoria Hospital Sustainability Policy Assignment Sample

• Subject Name : Management

Risk and Sustainability Management

Section 1 – Pre-Policy Requirements

Prior to developing the sustainability policies, refer to the information contained in the case study, use the internet to gather information on legislative requirements, codes of practice and standards and answer the following questions:

a. Provide an Outline of The Environmental or Sustainability Legislation Applicable to The Organisation

Ans: The organisation is in Australia so the legislation that is applicable for the company is Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This Act helps in promoting the ecological and sustainable development by conservation and sustainable use of resources that are available naturally (Macintosh, Roberts & Constable, 2017). Environment legislations are joint administered by federal, state and local government in Australia. The organisation has to abide by the laws that are related to water, environment and waste management in the legislation. This legislation basically focusses on the reduction of energy, usage of water in a more efficient manner and also managing the wastes in a better way.

b. Provide an Outline of The Environmental or Sustainability Regulations and Codes of Practice Applicable to The Organisation

Ans: The regulations of environment and sustainability and code of practice that are applicable to the organisation are as follows:

• The organisation should provide protection to the environment that are national environmental matters and are significant in conserving the bio-diversity of Australia.
• The organisation should follow a process that is streamlined for national environmental assessment.
• Regulation of controlling the movement of plants and animals from which the products are made or any material that is derived from wildlife.
• Organisation should promote sustainable ecological development through conservative and ecological use of resources that are natural (Braybon, 2019).
• The organisation should also promote the knowledge of Indigenous people about the bio diversity and work in co-operation for the knowledge.
• The organisations should use water sustainably and regularize its treatment for conservation

Code of practice for the organization

• Creating a culture for aggravating the sustainability of the environment.
• The goals are to be set for measuring, evaluating and reporting success.
• The organisation should try to examine and find new opportunities that are related to the sustainability.
• Support should be give and finances for sustainability practice related to water, waste, energy, supply chain etc.

c. Identify Internal and External Sources of Information and Explain how They Can Be Used to Plan and Develop the Organisation’s Sustainability Policy

Internal sources of information:

• The current system and procedure should be examined in the organisation that are prevailing. This can be checked in the environmental file created for the audits and also the information through forms that are available on legislation and regulation.
• Interview or survey should be done with the staff for all the levels of organisation. These sources will help in understanding what actions are being taken and the prospects through the view point of employees (Cillo et. al., 2019).

External sources of information:

• Government and the industry bodies that help in determining the required legislation and the regulatory compliance.
• Websites and also the annual reports or various other organisations that depict their policies and procedures for ensuring the sustainability.
• Another source of information will be environmental regulation guidelines for best practice.
• External stockholders like customers and the suppliers should be They will be able to give information about the trends and availability of sustainable products in the environment.

Internal and external sources mixed together will provide all the necessary details that is required for forming the policy and according to the ideas sustainability policies can be formed.

d. Explain the Process and Practices for Developing Policies

Ans. The procedure and plan for developing policies include the following steps:

• Identifying the need: The organisation is required to assess the responsibilities and activities and the environment that is there externally so as identify the need for procedures and policies.
• Delegate the responsibilities: Responsibilities should be delegated to the working members as per the expertise that are required.
• Gather the information: All the information that is prevailing should be collected so as to make policies that are up to date (Walton –Fisette & Sutherland, 2020)
• Draft a policy: policy should be drafted in a manner that the words and length of the policy are appropriate and it is understandable to the people who are implementing it.
• Consultation with the stakeholders: Once drafted policies should be consulted with the stakeholders so as to consider the implications and the opportunities that are being missed.
• Finalise the policy: The last step in the process of developing the policy is to get it approved by the committee of management. The committee of management is responsible for all the plans and policies in the organisation.

e. Outline Organisational Systems and Procedures that Relate to Sustainability

Organisation systems or the procedures that are being followed in organisation system are

For energy: green energy initiatives are being used that is formed by the national and local governments.

For waste: Nearly 80% of waste in hospital is considered as unregulated waste. So, the organisation follows waste management programs and saves its handling cost and protects environment.

Water; New technologies are being used so that unnecessary consumption of water is reduced. 

f. Outline Typical Barriers to Implementing Policies and Procedures in An Organisation and Suggest Possible Strategies to Address Each of The Barriers

The most common barriers that are being faced involves

• Less involvement of the employees: This is the most common barrier that is faced by the organisation where employees are reluctant to participate. This can be overcome by listening to their advice, assuring that change will benefit all (Birk, 2017).
• Ineffective strategy for communication: Strategies are not communicated effectively and hence resistance is faced. The best way to get over it is to let all know about the policy and how it will adapted as this will bring some time to adjust.
• Complexity of the organization: When in an organisation implementing a policy is complex than it becomes difficult to understand the policy. To overcome this policy should be implemented in an easy way so that complexity does not hurt the procedure.

Section 2 – Policies

Using the policy template provided in Canvas, develop a policy that reflects the organisation’s commitment to sustainability as an integral part of business planning and as a business opportunity:

2.1 Reducing toxic material OR hazardous chemical use – this requires identification of toxic material and hazardous chemicals used in the organisation. This entails:

a. Define the scope of this policy

b. Gathering information from a range of sources to determine effects of current material/chemical being used on people and the environment

c. Gathering information from a range of sources to determine a suitable replacement with less impact on people and the environment

Ans. Policy: To segregate the waste into toxic and hazardous waste.

1. Scope: the policy will be applied to all the waste that is being generated and a team of 2 people will be assigned to look for the waste and differentiate it between the toxic or hazardous chemical.
2. Effect: Disposal of waste that are related to healthcare poses a risk as it releases pathogens and pollutants that are toxic in the environment. Incineration of materials can bring toxic materials like lead, mercury etc. in the environment.
3. The alternative for these is using autoclaving, microwaving, stem treatment etc.so as to maintain the wastes and reduce the chemicals that are released in the environment. Modern incinerations at 850-1100 C can also comply in reducing the effects.

2.2 Include in the policy provisions address the following criteria:

a. minimise resource use – resources can include products such paper and any other consumable a business uses in great quantities.

Ans. Resources that are used include papers, pens etc. To reduce the usage e-paper or e-reports should be used. This will minimise the usage of resources.

b. resource efficiency – this can include reducing the use of electricity, water or gas

Ans. Unnecessary usage of water and lights should be decreased. Also, the bulbs should be used of less megawatts in order to save electricity. Once the patient leaves, ac, lights are to be turned of immediately through the keys or card so as to reduce the wastage.

c. employing life cycle management approaches – this includes how the product is handled from purchasing through to end of life and disposal.

Ans: Once the product is purchase say a machinery for the ICU. Then it should be made sure that the product is serviced regularly. It should be operated or used after proper knowledge or training from the assigned person.

d. continuous improvement – how, where, when improvements can be made. 

Ans The new policies should be read as and when they arrive. Updates with respect to machinery, or new waste management procedure should be kept. This can be done by following the other organisations and the techniques they are using. Once a new technique arrives. It should be used for improvement.

Section 3 – Procedures

Thinking of the policy created in the previous task, create appropriate procedures that take in to account organisational and legislative requirements.

• Procedure for how you will reduce toxic material and hazardous chemicals in the organisation. Ensure you meet legislative requirements for how these must be handled and stored.
• For the resources mentioned in part 2 above, procedures for how you will:
• minimise their use
• ensure resource is used more efficiently
• Recommend approaches for life cycle management for each of the resources
• Recommend how, where, when improvements can be made

Section 4 - Consult Stakeholders

4.1 Make a list of the relevant stakeholders you need to consult with as part of the policy development process.

• Using the Canvas discussion board, consult with the Chief Operations Officer (your facilitator), sharing the policies and procedures developed in steps 1 and 2 above and:

1. Make recommendations for policy options based on likely effectiveness, timeframes and cost
2. Ask for their feedback
3. Recommend and seek agreement on appropriate practices/methods of implementation, outcomes and performance indicators

References for Royal Victoria Hospital Sustainability Policy

Macintosh, A., Roberts, H., & Constable, A. (2017). An empirical evaluation of environmental citizen suits under the environment protection and biodiversity conservation Act 1999 (Cth). Sydney L. Rev., 39, 85.

Braybon, K. (2019). Renegotiating the bilateral agreement between the state of South Australia and the commonwealth under the environment protection and biodiversity conservation act (Cth) 1999. Australian Resources and Energy Law Journal, 38(1), 1.

Cillo, V., Petruzzelli, A. M., Ardito, L., & Del Giudice, M. (2019). Understanding sustainable innovation: A systematic literature review. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 26(5), 1012-1025.

Walton-Fisette, J. L., & Sutherland, S. (2020). Time to SHAPE Up: developing policies, standards and practices that are socially just. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 25(3), 274-287.

Birk, E. (2017). Top five barriers to implementing green infrastructure on residential sites. Proc. Water Environ. Fed., 2017(6), 4634-4643.

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