In each state the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), or its equivalent body, oversees the laws concerning environmental care.

One of their main functions is to regulate the activities of large industries and issue notices if companies do the wrong thing.

If the offence is serious enough, they will prosecute the company.

Local councils also play a role in environmental protection, and regulate smaller businesses and industries through planning controls, notices and prosecutions.

Obligations on employees

Generally speaking, the company you work for will have already built the relevant environmental laws and regulations into the policies and procedures you follow every day at work. But it's worth keeping in mind that some laws go beyond the obligations placed on the company, and extend directly to all employees and contractors working at the site.

For example, the law states that if pollution occurs when you're doing something and it threatens or harms the environment, you must tell the EPA or the local council as soon as you can.

This allows the authorities to take steps to minimise the impact of the problem before it gets out of hand.