Prosecutions and environmental incidents
In total there were 10 different environmental incidents during 2008/09, none of which have led to prosecution. Below are the details of these, all of which are mentioned as part of GRI methodology.
Environmental incidents
| For year ended 31 March 2009 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Health & Beauty Division | Pharmaceutical Wholesale Division |
Contract Manufacturing & Corporate | |
| High impact (Class 3) – Spills/pollution incidents which are not contained within the outer boundary of the company premises | 1 | - | 1 |
| Medium impact (Class 2) - Spills/pollution incidents which are not contained within the immediate area but do not go over the outer boundary | 4 | - | - |
| Low impact (Class 1) – Spills/pollution incidents which are confined to the immediate area | 4 | - | - |
| Prosecutions/fines – Spills/pollution incidents which resulted in a prosecutions or fine during the financial year (even if the incident occurred in previous years) | - | - | - |
Contract Manufacturing
High impact (Class 3) - Spills/pollution incidents which are not contained within the outer boundary of the company premises
- A broken asbestos cement sheet was disposed of in a skip normally used for non-hazardous waste. This asbestos material was discovered at the waste disposal site. The waste load was immediately diverted to an alternative disposal site and responsibly dealt with. No enforcement action was taken.
Health & Beauty Division
High impact (Class 3) - Spills/pollution incidents which are not contained within the outer boundary of the company premises
- A noise abatement notice was issued to our Boots UK store in Warwick. This related to the 5am stock delivery. The delivery time was changed to 7am to meet the terms of this notice.
Medium impact (Class 2) - Spills/pollution incidents which are not contained within the immediate area but do not go over the outer boundary
- Effluent leaked from an old decommissioned effluent waste pipe. The spill was contained within the immediate area and contamination removed.
- A wet waste container leaked liquid detergent which led to a small amount entering the surface water drains. The spill was contained within the immediate area. The drains were cleaned and the container seals replaced.
- A further spill from a wet waste container. The spill was contained within the site and container seals replaced.
- Effluent leaked into the surface water drains following the failure of a sump pump. The spill was contained within the immediate area.
Low impact (Class 1) - Spills/pollution incidents which are confined to the immediate area
- During excavation for a new diesel tank interceptor, ground and ground water was found to be contaminated with diesel. The contaminated liquid and earth was removed and disposed of appropriately.
- A component on a hydraulic oil system for a cardboard baler failed resulting in an oil spillage. The spill was contained in the local area.
- The transfer line from A-sump to C-sump was split by tree roots. The tree and roots were removed and the transfer line repaired. There was a minimal leakage from the line and the spill was contained.
- Epoxy resin containers were put in a general waste skip. This was believed to originate from a specialist flooring contractor. The containers were removed and disposed of appropriately.
Legally reportable accidents
During the year, there was one work-related fatality as a result of a road traffic accident. On 31 December 2008 a delivery driver for Alliance Healthcare (Distribution), our principal UK pharmaceutical wholesale business, was killed in a road traffic accident whilst undertaking his normal duties. The fatal road traffic accident occurred as a result of the driver suffering a heart attack whilst driving. No other vehicle was involved in the accident.
