environmental Strategist, between the lines: If you have ever been to one of the Disney parks you have seen and experienced firsthand what meticulous detail is given to every aspect of their business model including risk management. If something as obvious as an aging air conditioning system can slip past Disney’s meticulous attention to detail, what chance do your typical American businesses stand in addressing their environmental expousres?
Whether Disney is at fault or not they are still going to have expenses for legal fees, hiring environmental engineers, drillers, laboratory analysis, claims management, public relations. Don’t forget the reputational risk factor. My observation is that reputational risk is very critical in the Disney business model and Mickey or Donald or Goofy or Bambi or Dumbo or Snow White…. being polluters is not good PR.
Since every business is impacted by environmental exposures, today’s Best Practices means businesses must have an environmental Management Strategy (eMS) in order to eliminate or reduce their exposure to the Disney syndrome. I call it the Disney syndrome because the majority of businesses believe environmental liabilities only happen in fairy tales. To learn how to deliver Best Practices environmental risk management while becoming a certified environmental Strategist™ go to www.estrategist.com.
Disney May be A Source of Groundwater Pollution
Source: AP
24 Aug 2012
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency consultant says a vintage air conditioning system at the Walt Disney Studios may be a source of Burbank groundwater contamination.
The Los Angeles Times says the studio is among a list of facilities being investigated as possible sources of chromium 6 contamination. The cancer-causing heavy metal is widely used in aerospace manufacturing and other industries.
California health officials tested soil two years ago in a nearby park that had received discharges from Disney’s cooling system. It was reported that chromium 6 levels were not a public health threat.
Lockheed Martin Corp. paid $60 million in 1996 to settle claims by residents who said exposure to chromium 6 and other toxins at its former Burbank aircraft plant left them with cancer and other maladies.