Environmental Social Standards Overview

ESS4 focuses on ensuring project activities don't harm people in the project area, especially those who are more vulnerable.

The Borrower must identify and minimize risks to the health and safety of communities affected by the project, considering vulnerable groups.

The Borrower should evaluate the risks and potential impacts of the project on community health and safety throughout the project lifecycle.

ESS4 requires the Borrower to use a hierarchy of mitigation measures to minimize risks to community health and safety.

The Borrower must identify potential risks and impacts on community health and safety during the project life cycle, including those affecting vulnerable groups.

ESS4 aims to avoid or minimize community exposure to project-related risks and impacts, such as traffic and road safety risks, diseases, and hazardous materials.

ESS4 requires effective measures to be in place to address emergencies, ensuring the safety of personnel and property.

ESS4 recognizes that project activities can intensify pre-existing climate change impacts on affected communities.

Dams with a height of 15 meters or greater, or dams between 5 and 15 meters that hold more than 3 million cubic meters of water.

All dams that are not classified as large dams.

Small dams that pose safety risks due to factors like unusual flooding potential, seismic activity, complex foundations, toxic materials, or significant downstream impacts.

Independent experts review the dam's design, construction, and start of operations.

A plan for construction supervision, quality assurance, instrumentation, operation and maintenance, and emergency preparedness.

Checking the dam's safety periodically after it's built.

Experienced professionals specializing in various aspects of dam safety (e.g., structural engineering, geology, hydrology).

Safe dam construction and maintenance procedures tailored to each dam's unique characteristics.

The Borrower will design and build project structures according to national laws, safety & environment (EHSG) guidelines, and project specific guidelines (GIIP). They'll prioritize safety for third parties and surrounding communities.

Projects involving new buildings and structures accessible to the public should consider the risks of operational accidents or natural hazards, including extreme weather.

When structures are in high-risk areas like places prone to severe weather, independent experts should review the project during design, construction, operation, and decommissioning.

Projects providing services to communities should have quality management systems to minimize potential risks to health and safety.

projects should have established and implemented appropriate quality management systems to anticipate and minimize risks and impacts that such services may have on community health and safety.

Projects must identify, evaluate, and monitor potential traffic and road safety risks for workers, communities, and road users throughout the project life cycle.

Projects must identify, evaluate, and monitor potential traffic and road safety risks for workers, communities, and road users throughout the project life cycle.

The concept of universal access aims to make buildings and structures accessible and usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.

The borrower should identify and address potential hazards in the project area and take steps to mitigate their impact on the community.

The borrower must take steps to prevent or reduce the exposure of the community to hazardous materials during project construction, operation, and decommissioning. This involves careful handling, substitution, and disposal of hazardous materials.

The borrower should implement measures to control the safe transportation, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes to prevent accidental releases or contamination.

The borrower must identify and address potential emergency situations, such as fires, explosions, or spills, and implement plans for responding to such events in a timely and coordinated manner.

A risk hazard assessment (RHA) is a comprehensive evaluation of potential risks and hazards related to the project, including environmental, social, and health impacts. It helps identify potential emergency events and develop mitigation strategies.

RHA is conducted as part of the environmental and social assessment (ESA) to evaluate the project's potential impacts.

The borrower is encouraged to identify and address potential health risks due to the influx of workers to the project area.

The borrower must actively prevent the spread of infectious diseases and promote healthy living conditions for the community.

The Borrower will extend the reach of the Panel beyond dam safety, to areas like project planning, technical design, construction procedures, and related works for water storage dams (e.g., power facilities, river diversion).

The Borrower contracts the Panel's services and provides administrative support. They arrange for regular meetings throughout the project's life, from preparation to filling and start-up.

The Borrower will ensure, through environmental and social assessment, that potential dam failures pose no or minimal risk to communities and assets.

The Panel's size, expertise, and experience should match the dam's size, complexity, and risk. For high-risk dams, members must be internationally recognized experts.

If the Bank joins the project later, the Panel is formed as soon as possible and reviews any work already done.

The Bank will usually send an observer to Panel meetings.

Following each meeting, the Panel provides a written report with conclusions and recommendations signed by each member. The Borrower shares the report with the Bank.

After the dam is filled and operational, the Bank reviews the Panel's findings and recommendations. If no significant issues arise, the Borrower can disband the Panel.

A plan outlining the organization, staffing, procedures, equipment, and qualifications for overseeing the construction of a new dam or the repair of an existing one. It accounts for changes in the dam's structure and impounded material over time, particularly for dams with extended construction periods.

A comprehensive plan for installing instruments to monitor and record the dam's behavior and related environmental factors like weather, structure, and ground movements. It is crucial for understanding and predicting dam performance.

A detailed outline of the organizational structure, staffing, expertise, training, equipment, facilities, operations, and maintenance procedures for a dam. It also includes arrangements for funding long-term maintenance and safety inspections.

Reports detailing dam safety aspects that include plans for construction supervision, instrumentation, and operation & maintenance.

Agreements or arrangements made between the borrower and the owner of an existing dam to ensure necessary safety measures are implemented.

A plan for construction supervision, quality assurance, instrumentation, and operation and maintenance, specifically designed for dams other than water storage dams. These plans consider the gradual changes in the dam's structure and materials over time.

Strengthening the institutional, legislative, and regulatory frameworks for dam safety programs in a country.

Measures implemented to ensure the safety of dams, focusing on comprehensive plans for construction supervision, monitoring, and long-term maintenance.