Guidance

Cement, lime and minerals: examples for your adapting to climate change risk assessment

Updated 17 May 2023

Applies to England

Possible impacts and mitigation measures to consider when preparing your climate change risk assessment.

Summer daily maximum temperature

This may be around 7°C higher compared to average summer temperatures now, with the potential to reach extreme temperatures as high as over 40°C with increasing frequency based on today’s values.

Impact 1

The production processes already generate significant heat. Higher ambient temperature may put significant pressures on cooling systems, such as bearings or belts. This has potential to increase friction and combustion related maintenance and storage issues.

The mitigation for this would be to:

• do a risk assessment specifically addressing rising temperature and fluctuating day and night temperatures
• consider the potential for condensation build-up in waste fuel store

Impact 2

Fuels storage, both conventional and waste, need special consideration to avoid spontaneous combustion.

Monitoring equipment needs to be able to account for the increased ambient temperature.

The mitigation for this would be installing temperature sensors and developing action trigger points for transfer belts and bearings.

Impact 3

General working conditions need to be reviewed to ensure staff welfare while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

The mitigation for this could include:

• using PPE developed for higher temperature working
• reviewing shift working patterns

Impact 4

Raw material extraction efficiency (winning) may be affected by lower inherent moisture, leading to movement problems and increased diffuse dust.

The mitigation could include diffuse dust abatement systems such as:

• road cleaning
• mist sprays on storage silos needing improvement
• adding binders to floors and stockpiles of material
• enclosing stockpiles or use wind reduction netting
• using lamella curtains in wide doorways of enclosed storage areas containing material which could become airborne

Impact 5

There could be an increased risk of problems due to severe heat or sun exposure. This could affect infrastructure, for example, expansion of metallic infrastructure such as building elements or railway tracks, or rapid degradation of materials such as rubber and plastics, or failure of plastic compressed air hoses.

The mitigation for this could be to:

• make sure that adequate expansion is available for materials prone to expansion with heat, such as metals
• paint train tracks white to reflect sun
• assess any materials which could be in full sun and suffer degradation and replace with materials of higher UV rating or provide shade

Impact 6

There could be an increased risk of wildfires at nearby scrubland with limited assistance available from the Fire and Rescue Service (if they deem it lower priority) if there is no threat to life, leading to the risk of fire spreading and affecting or limiting site operations.

The mitigation for this could be to consider in-house emergency fire fighting measures.

Winter daily maximum temperature

This could be 4°C more than the current average with the potential for more extreme temperatures, both warmer and colder than present.

Impact 1

Most of the sector’s industries are more resistant to colder conditions. However, extreme cold could lead to liquid viscosity dropping and blockages in pipes.

The mitigation for this could include:

• understanding the potential variability in the viscosity of liquid wastes with varying temperatures
• using lagging in a way that accounts for high temperature changes between seasons
• considering freeze protection (for example, trace heating) for vulnerable pipes and equipment

Impact 2

Increased icing and snow loading could damage buildings and other structures, such as tall chimneys, leading to loss of containment and escape of emissions

The mitigation for this could be to:

• review the design of vulnerable structures
• review snow loading calculations, providing reinforcement if necessary
• maintain building integrity

Impact 3

Severe cold could lead to contraction of metals and embrittlement of materials such as plastics, rubber and metals, leading to additional stress on structures and equipment.

The mitigation for this could include:

• using lagging in a way that accounts for high temperature changes between seasons
• considering freeze protection (for example, trace heating) for vulnerable pipes and equipment
• reviewing structures and equipment to ensure materials used will not fail at very low temperatures
• making sure that the engineering design of all new structures and equipment accommodates very low temperatures, as well as rapidly changing temperatures

Impact 4

Frozen pipework could reduce effectiveness of dust suppression systems.

The mitigation for this could be to incorporate automatic and manual drain down valve to protect against frost damage.

Impact 5

Increased risk of material freezing in silos leading to disruption to operations.

The mitigation for this could be to consider emptying silos that contain material likely to freeze when overnight temperatures are extremely low.

Daily extreme rainfall

Daily rainfall intensity could increase by up to 20% on today’s values.

Impact 1

External stockpiles are more likely to reflect the higher moisture level, leading to adjustment in the manufacturing process and transport techniques.

The mitigation for this could include covering of external stockpiles where the impacts of increased ambient moisture are significant.

Impact 2

Bunded areas could get flooded, reducing their capacity.

The mitigation for this could include:

• testing surface water drainage systems on a regular basis
• increasing bund emptying capacity

Impact 3

Surface water run off systems need to be clear and account for increased flows.

The mitigation for this could include:

• redoing capacity calculations to make sure trigger points are clear and action plans can be instigated
• increasing the surface water system capacity, including drainage pumps
• considering the use of retention systems; ponds, tanks, SUDs to reduce flows

Impact 4

Potential for increased site surface water and flooding.

Mitigation for this would be to prepare flood plan with reference to the guidance Preparing for flooding: A guide for sites regulated under EPR and COMAH.

This should include:

• identification and risk assessment of process equipment and services at greatest risk from flooding
• provision of emergency pumps to remove floodwater and identification of lowest risk location for discharge of floodwaters
• protection of control and electrical systems
• identification and protection of flat bottom tanks at risk of floating in floodwater
• signing up to the Environment Agency flood warning system

Impact 5

More intense downpours may increase the washing of suspended solids from all areas, including stockpiles and roadways, causing blocked drainage infrastructure and offsite pollution.

The mitigation for this may include :

• increasing the maintenance on drainage systems
• increasing the capacity of control measures such as settlement sumps and lagoons

Average winter rainfall

Average winter rainfall may increase by over 40% on today’s averages.

Impact 1

Potential for increased site surface water and flooding.

Mitigation for this would be to prepare flood plan with reference to the guidance Preparing for flooding: A guide for sites regulated under EPR and COMAH.

This should include:

• identification and risk assessment of process equipment and services at greatest risk from flooding
• provision of emergency pumps to remove floodwater and identification of lowest risk location for discharge of floodwaters
• protection of control and electrical systems
• identification and protection of flat bottom tanks at risk of floating in floodwater

Impact 2

Whilst most sites have the potential for dealing with more water by using quarry facilities, these facilities are limited and can also affect groundwater supplies. Prolonged filling of these assets will also mean they need to be released into rivers at some point.

The mitigation for this could include:

• emptying of quarries filled by rainfall and surface water systems in a coordinated manner, to make sure that further more extreme flooding does not occur downstream
• considering whether the volumetric discharge limits in your environmental permit are adequate or need increasing
• considering the use of additional retention systems such as ponds, tanks, and SUDs, to make sure discharges stay within volumetric limits in your environmental permit

Impact 3

Significant rainfall can impact on hot surfaces with the potential for:

• process disruption
• increased energy consumption

The mitigation for this would be to make sure process controls consider how extreme rainfall events can influence their efficiency.

Impact 4

There could be an increase in groundwater levels which may affect material extraction from the quarry.

The mitigation for this may include:

• increased pumping out of groundwater to lower the rebound level
• checking if revised water abstraction and discharge limits may be required in order to discharge the increased volume to watercourse
• considering the use of additional retention systems such as ponds, tanks, and SUDs, to ensure discharges stay within volumetric limits in your environmental permit

Sea level rise

Sea level rise which could be as much as 0.6m higher compared to today’s level.

Impact 1

If a site is located near the coast there is potential increased risk of flooding.

The mitigation for this would be to review flood defences around coastal landfill sites and to produce a flood plan with reference to the guidance Preparing for flooding: A guide for sites regulated under EPR and COMAH.

This should include:

• identification and risk assessment of process equipment and services at greatest risk from flooding
• provision of emergency pumps to remove floodwater and identification of lowest risk location for discharge of floodwaters
• protection of control and electrical systems
• identification and protection of flat bottom tanks at risk of floating in floodwater

Impact 2

Groundwater levels are likely to be affected by rising sea levels. There is the potential for quarries to become brackish.

The mitigation for this would be to understand the associated risks to water quality and permit compliance.

Impact 3

Impacts to wider supply chain infrastructure for critical emissions control plant by docks and road access flooding.

Suitable mitigation for this would be to ensure there are suitable alternative transport routes to and from site.

Drier summers

Summers could see potentially up to 40% less rain than now.

Impact 1

Increased diffuse dust emissions are very likely. Most sub-sectors have numerous vehicle movements, often on unmade roads and external stockpiles that may dry out, leading to more diffuse releases.

The mitigation for this would be:

• making sure increased dust suppressions systems are in place
• putting clear trigger points in place with an increase in capacity to support a longer-term suppression approach
• considering storage of water, or an increased storage capacity, for dust suppression
• investigating other sources of dust suppression water, such as quarry water, roof water, groundwater from non-sensitive sources, noting that an EPR permit may be required for some sources of water

Impact 2

Potential risks of fire in fuel and waste storage facilities as the ambient moisture levels would be lower.

Mitigation for this would be changes in storage methods with more internal or covering of stockpile being required.

Impact 3

Water table levels may lower, leading to issues in quarries.

The mitigation for this would be to review surface water containment and storage capacity to ensure sufficient supplies for process and dust abatement.

River flow

The flow in the watercourses could be 50% more than now at its peak, and 80% less than now at its lowest.

Impact 1

The increases in flow may not have been seen in the current watercourses before, leading to damage from flooding.

The mitigation for this could include:

• modelling to understand site-specific impacts on watercourses
• planning for sacrificial areas for flooding so that, in extreme situations, the primary and highest environmental risk equipment is protected

Impact 2

Drought restrictions on abstractions may affect availability of water leading to reduced water for process use and dust control at a time when most required.

The mitigation for this could include:

• reducing reliance on abstracted water for dust suppression
• investigating other sources of process water
• investigating additional water minimisation measures
• considering alternative sources of water such as use of quarry water, roof water, groundwater from non-sensitive sources, noting that an EPR abstraction permit may be required for some sources of water

Storms

Storms could see a change in frequency and intensity. The unique combination of increased wind speeds, increased rainfall, and lightning during these events provides the potential for more extreme storm impacts

Impact 1

Storms and high winds could damage buildings and other structures, such as tall chimneys, with the potential to increase fugitive dust emissions.

The mitigation for this could be include:

• reviewing the design of vulnerable structures and buildings
• reviewing wind loading calculations, providing reinforcement if necessary
• maintaining building integrity
• reviewing adequacy of lightning protection