Nearly every business has some exposure to environmental hazards. Business owners are generally unaware of the many materials, products and business practices that are an environmental hazard.

How can you safeguard your company from environmental hazards? It is nearly impossible to protect your employees and customers from all environmental hazards, but you can take the necessary steps to minimize exposure to hazards in the environment and protect your company from liability lawsuits related to environmental health hazards.

Consider the following tips:

1. Evaluate all possible environmental dangers in your office space or worksite.

2. Learn ways to decrease or eliminate exposure to environmental hazards.

3. Get environmental hazard liability protection.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Design a management plan for environmental hazards

Start with a list demonstrating all inputs and outputs of your company. Think about any chemical products you may produce or any services you provide that may cause employees or customers to come in contact with debris and chemicals harmful to the environment. This will help you determine which environmental laws may apply to your business. Reporting environmental hazards such as those involving polluted groundwater, public drinking water or soil is your responsibility as a business owner.

I recommend: Close Environmental Consultants provides businesses with a full range of environmental hazard assessment, planning and reporting services. Corwin Environmental Consultants help companies comply with environmental laws by identifying environmental health hazards, addressing and reporting any identified environmental dangers and advising on how to maintain compliance with environmental regulations.

Consult with firms experienced in addressing hazards in the environment

Maintaining an effective plan to address environmental hazards can be quite time consuming. Don't be afraid to get some help. There are a broad range of firms that offer services to help you manage your company's exposure to environmental hazards.

I recommend: Sage Environmental Consultants advise business owners on a range of hazards in the environment. Environmental Quality Management provides businesses with environmental hazard auditing and a variety of other services designed to help companies identify and manage current environmental hazards as well as prevent future environmental dangers.

Purchase environmental hazard insurance

While you can't plan for every possible danger to the environment, you can protect your company's assets with liability insurance that covers environmental hazards. Before purchasing environmental insurance, be sure to review your company's risks and determine if the environmental hazard risk is worth the insuring. An agent or environmental attorney can help you better assess your need for insurance.

I recommend: Beacon Hill Associates offers a range of environmental hazard liability policies covering premises pollution, products pollution and storage tanks. Financial Specialty insures commercial real estate businesses against various site environmental hazards.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Work with your state's Small Business Assistance Program for help with understanding applicable environmental laws and regulations and your obligation to prevent environmental hazards.