This Environmental Awareness course provides foundational knowledge of environmental protection principles, laws, and best practices for workplaces and project sites. It highlights the global and local environmental challenges and equips participants with the skills and awareness needed to reduce environmental impact, comply with legal frameworks, and contribute to sustainable development.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
- Understand what the environment is and identify its major components.
- Recognize key global and local environmental issues and their causes.
- Explain relevant environmental laws and standards (local, regional, and international).
- Describe individual and organizational roles and responsibilities in environmental protection.
- Apply control measures for environmental issues such as dust, noise, air pollution, waste, and water management.
- Implement effective housekeeping, resource conservation, and waste minimization practices.
- Respond appropriately to environmental incidents, spills, and emergencies.
- Understand the basics of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and sustainability principles.
Course Topics
- Introduction to the Environment
- Definition and components: air, water, land, flora, fauna, and natural resources
- Natural vs. built environment
- Human impact on ecological balance
- Reflection activity: Identify one natural and one built environmental feature
- Global Environmental Issues
- Climate Change and the Greenhouse Effect
- Global Warming and Sea Level Rise
- Acid Rain and Ozone Layer Depletion
- Loss of Biodiversity and Deforestation
- Sustainability and LEED Standards
- Case Studies
- Local Environmental Issues
- Environmental challenges in Gulf and desert regions (dust, heat, water scarcity)
- Air, noise, light, and water pollution in urban environments
- Case Study: Jeddah Floods 2009 – Lessons for urban planning
- Environmental Legislation & Standards
- UAE: Dubai Municipality Technical Guidelines and Federal Laws
- Saudi Arabia: MEWA Environmental Standards, Vision 2030, and the Green Saudi Initiative
- International Conventions and Frameworks:
- Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm, and Minamata Conventions
- Paris Agreement, SDGs, and ISO 14001
- Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
- Importance of compliance and sustainability benchmarks
- Roles & Responsibilities
- Client, Contractor, and Employee responsibilities
- Environmental communication and training
- Toolbox talks, posters, and awareness campaigns
- Site Environmental Control Measures
- Dust Control: Causes, preventive measures, and site monitoring
b. Air Quality: Emissions control, maintenance, and clean fuel use
c. Noise Pollution: Work hour management, acoustic barriers, and equipment maintenance
d. Light Pollution: Efficient lighting, reduced night work, and shielding techniques
- Resource Conservation & Housekeeping
- Energy and water conservation measures
- Waste reduction through the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Proper housekeeping practices for storage and safety
- Hazardous materials management (MSDS, segregation, and inventory control)
- Waste and Wastewater Management
- Types and sources of waste
- Waste segregation, storage, transport, and disposal
- Hazardous waste protocols and DM-approved facilities
- Wastewater sources and control (vehicle washing, stormwater, sewage)
- Groundwater and surface water management practices
- Wildlife and Vegetation Protection
- Protection of flora and fauna
- Responsible vegetation clearance
- Managing waste to prevent harm to wildlife
- Reporting of wildlife or environmental incidents
- Concrete & Construction Activities
- Environmental controls for batching plants, concrete waste, and wastewater
- Earthworks, piling, and reclamation site measures
- Safe demolition, hazardous materials handling, and noise/vibration control
- Bulk haulage and traffic management
- Spill Prevention & Response
- Types and causes of spills
- Environmental impacts on soil, water, and air
- Prevention and containment measures (bunding, drip trays, spill kits)
- Emergency spill response procedure and reporting
- Use of spill kits and PPE
- Demobilisation and Site Closure
- Site restoration requirements
- Waste clearance and soil remediation
- Environmental inspection checklist before handover
- Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
- Purpose and benefits of an EMS
- ISO 14001 structure and application
- Continual improvement and compliance monitoring
Assessment
- Format: 10–15 multiple-choice questions
