Our Policies

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We are committed to playing a positive role in our community. We believe that our activities should be sustainable, allowing us to meet our current needs without compromising those of future generations. We strive to conduct ourselves in a way that represents a balance between social and environmental requirements and economic prosperity for our community. We do this through three main pillars:

Corporate Governance: We commit to being transparent in all of our operations and activities;
Corporate Sustainability: We commit to implementing strategies to improve our performance whilst enhancing the role we play in the economic and social development of our society, and to solutions for reducing the negative impacts of our activities;Corporate Citizenship: We commit to directly supporting our community through volunteer activities, donations and by mentoring young Bermudians. 

Specific examples of our voluntary commitment to the community include:

• Assisting SailGP in developing and implementing their Sea Turtle Plan (2021)
• Forming a working group to secure permission and plant mangrove seedlings around Bermuda (2020/2021)
• Serving on the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Scientific Advisory Committee (2020/2021)
• Serving on the Bermuda Tourism Authority Superyacht Working Group (2020)
• Serving on the Government's non-statutory Climate Change Working Group (2015-2016)
• Serving on Greenrock's Eco-Schools Accreditation team (2015).
• Serving on the Government's non-statutory Energy Working Group (2013 - 2017).
• Serving on the Centre on Philanthropy's Corporate Social Responsibility Awards committee (2014)
• Serving on a sub-committee to help develop a policy for marinas and boat yards (2014- ongoing).
• Chairing a sub-committee to help develop an artificial reefs policy (2014).
• Sitting on Greenrock's Green Workplace Awards Committee (2012, 2013).
• Assisting the Whale Research Foundation in grant writing (2012).
• Consulting and advising the Environmental Coalition of Organisations (ECO) for the coordination of environmental work to support sustainability (ongoing).
• Giving lectures, e.g. Bermuda Education Network's Big Ideas Science Forum (ongoing)
• Undertaking a skink study of Horn Rock and providing field training to government personnel (2010).
• Providing field assistance to researchers studying Bermuda's seagrasses (2012). 
• Chairing the development of environmental educational and public outreach programmes and fundraising for them at BUEI (2010-2014).
• Serving on the Bermuda National Trust's Environmental Committee (2010-2013)
• Mentoring young Bermudians through summer internships and providing data, information and advice to others studying overseas (ongoing). 

We also provide pro bono or discounted rates for formal services to NGO's.

Bermuda Environmental Consulting, Ltd., is committed to safeguarding people including our staff, clients and members of the public who might be impacted by our activities, as well as their property through a health and safety programme incorporated into all aspects of our work. We are trained in the Loss Prevention System (LPS) behavioural management system and apply protocols and safety standards for all our technical fieldwork. We understand the risks posed by Covid19 and we strive to meet or exceed our obligations under Bermuda’s legislative framework and are committed to:

• Preventing injury and ill health to those who may be affected by our activities by implementing our health and safety policy procedures;
• Ensuring adequate assessment of any health and safety issues that might arise from our activities, and implementing suitable measures to minimise the risk;
• Ensuring that all members of our team are competent to do their work safely by providing the necessary information and training and ensuring that they receive drug and alcohol testing;
• Providing and maintaining safe equipment; 
• Expecting our clients and contractors to apply at minimum the required health and safety standards and involving them in contributing to improvements in protocols through consultation;
• Monitoring the implementation of safe working practices and resolving problems immediately;
• Reviewing and revising the Policy and procedures at regular intervals;
• Committing to communicating our Health and Safety Policy openly with all clients, stakeholders and the public;
• Ensuring we meet the appropriate and specific protocols established by our team, and by our clients with regards to Covid19. 

Bermuda Environmental Consulting Ltd

COVID-19 Site Visit Protocol 

The following sets out the approach for our Site/Field Visits to be undertaken in relation to planning or environmental advice.

When interacting with others, we will strictly observe social distancing guidance and where interactions are indoors, will wear a mask. If interactions include the sharing of materials/documents that may become contaminated, we will use hand sanitisers before and after.

Where site visits are strictly outdoors and where no contact with any agent, client or member of the public is anticipated or required, we will not ordinarily wear a mask or disposable gloves. However, we will be prepared for unplanned interactions by having a mask, disposable gloves, and hand sanitiser available. Prior to conducting a site visit, we will contact the agent/applicant to confirm our scheduled visit and determine whether anyone who is or who has been recently working on the property is showing symptoms of COVID. If so, our site visit will be scheduled for a future date. During this scheduling discussion, we will also confirm that all residents at the property are aware that we will be visiting, to minimise the likelihood of accidental close contact with residents. 

Where site visits require inspection of developed property, we will contact the applicant/agent to establish that they are able to accommodate a site visit with the following conditions:

• Please leave all external gates/access points open to reduce the need for our consultants to touch door handles.
• Whenever we are indoors will be wearing facemasks and if it is necessary for us to touch any handles or work surfaces, we will don gloves. 
• If it is necessary for us to meet with other agents on site, we will only do so if they are also wearing facemasks and prepared to maintain the 2 metre social distancing guidelines. The use of masks outdoors may be relaxed if social distancing is strictly observed.
• Upon completing our site visit, we will text, email or call the applicant/agent to say the site visit has been completed and any external gates/access points can then be locked again as necessary. 
• If we arrive on site and are unable to access the site in a safe manner then we will leave the site and reschedule the visit.
• All facemasks and gloves used by us will be placed in bags and taken off the property when we leave; they will not be disposed of in any garbage containers on the property. 

We will require written agreement from the applicant/agent as to the terms above along with confirmation that no one at the site is either a confirmed case of Covid-19, or isolating due to displaying symptoms of Covid-19 or as a precaution/travel requirement.

We thank you for your continued support and understanding that the safety of our clients and our team are of paramount importance to us.

We will update these protocols in accordance with best guidance and advise you of any changes. If you have any queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us; we will be happy to assist.

Bermuda Environmental Consulting, Ltd., believes that in order to deliver the highest standards of service to our clients, we must demonstrate leadership in applying sound environmental principles to our own business.

• We are committed to looking for opportunities to reduce the environmental effects of our own operations, and support activities that promote environmental health and a sustainable global environment. 
• We strive to minimise waste and pollution arising from our activities. All our activities conform to the applicable environmental legislation and where possible we strive to exceed these standards. 
• We aim to reduce our consumption of raw materials, energy and fuel and use water sustainably.
• We encourage clients, contractors and suppliers to embrace sustainable behaviours.
• We are committed to communicating our Environmental Policy openly with all clients, stakeholders and the public. 
• We are committed to continuing to improve our environmental performance through setting, monitoring and reviewing objectives and targets and this policy will be reviewed annually to assess its effectiveness.