Emergency Spill Response

If you have had a spill and are in need of our emergency spill response services call us now on 01656 741 799

Spillages on site can cause major damage to people, the environment and property as well as disrupting site operations.

Our Spill Response Experience

GPT are experts in dealing with spills of oils, chemicals, and all other liquids and hazardous materials. We have the expertise to deal with all emergency spills, from small isolated spills to major industrial incidents. All of our spill responders undergo continuous training to ensure they are capable of dealing with a wide variety of situations. Our spill response team are available 24/7, we will mobilise a team within 2 hours of each emergency call made to our office and we don’t charge a retainer for our services.

We have a wide variety of clients covering private and public sectors ranging from SME’s to international organisations including local authorities, manufacturers, distributors, utility companies, building companies, loss adjusters, insurance companies, COMAH sites and oil refineries.

Liquids we have cleaned up include:

  • Fuel Oils (diesel, petrol, kerosene)
  • Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO)
  • Potentially lethal toxic substances e.g. Cyanide
  • Extremely strong acids e.g. Sulphuric Acid
  • Extremely strong alkalis e.g. Sodium Hydroxide
  • Highly oxidising/explosive chemicals
  • Foodstuffs e.g. milk, beer, cream, glucose
Health and Safety concerns

In the event of a spill the most important factor to consider is health and safety. Oils and chemicals can pose major health and safety risks to through skin/eye contact and through inhalation of the fumes they give off, many oils and chemicals will be flammable and as a minimum can cause a slip hazard.

It is essential that spills are cleaned up as quickly as possible by personnel with the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) for the task and with a thorough understanding of the risks the spilled material poses. Before we attend the spill we will consult a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to ensure we fully understand the risks the spilled material poses and can make appropriate provisions to protect our spill responders against them.

For high risk e.g. toxic substances it is essential to ensure that where materials have been spilled a comprehensive clean-up is undertaken to remove any hazardous residues. We can clean up high risk spills using hazmat suits and where necessary self-contained breathing apparatus to allow us to clean up substances safely without endangering our personnel and leaving the site safe for yours.

For spills of less hazardous materials e.g. petrol it is important to undertake a thorough spill clean up to take away any fire hazards and slip hazards. Simply putting granules/absorbents on the spill is unlikely to take away the fire and slip hazard and so the area will need to be thoroughly and safely decontaminated before it can classed as a safe environment.

Environmental Concerns

Spills can cause major problems to the environment, if the spill enters the drainage system the oil/chemical can escape into controlled waters in breach of the Water Resources Act 1991. If the spill enters unmade ground the spill can migrate into the groundwater in breach of The Groundwater Regulations 2009. In both of these cases you open yourself up to potential prosecution and extremely expensive remediation costs under the polluter pays principle.

It is therefore essential in the event of a spill that professional assistance is utilised to ensure the clean-up is as quick, efficient and thorough as possible. If a spill has reached controlled waters or unmade ground we are UK Spill Association accredited to carry out spill clean-up work for surface water contamination, groundwater contamination and contaminated soils.

Our spill response service will follow the source – pathway - receptor model to ensure that we do not only clean up the visible contamination but also investigate if the spill has managed to escape site or contaminated the ground allowing us to carry out a thorough spill response.

We have experience in liaising with regulators such as the EA, NRW, SEPA, local sewerage undertakers and the insurance industry; if you would prefer us to liaise with the regulators on your behalf over the course of a spill we are more than happy to do so.

Operational concerns

Spills on site can majorly disrupt site operations; areas or whole sites may have to be evacuated or cease activities whilst the spill response is conducted. Our spill responders endeavour to ensure the spill clean-up is conducted as quickly and efficiently as possible to get your site back to normal and site activities running as usual. Where spill clean ups need to be conducted to deadlines we can prioritise decontaminating certain areas first or deploy a larger team to ensure the spill is completed within set time frames.


Spill Response Testimonials

“GPT Environmental have provided essential services from Industrial Cleaning, Interceptor Servicing and Emergency spill response.

They always respond in record times and have worked with us to improve environmental compliance whilst reducing costs”

Environmental Engineer in Aerospace Manufacturing - COMAH site

Spill Response Case Studies

Diesel spill clean up
Glucose spill response
chemical spill clean up

hydraulic oil spill south west

Extracts from legislation and guidance

"If you pollute, you could get an unlimited fine, go to prison for up to 5 years, or both. You may also have to pay for the whole cost of the clean-up."

Environment Agency guidance - Pollution prevention for businesses

"You’re responsible for preventing your business or organisation from causing or allowing pollution to happen. Pollution is when any substance that harms or could harm people or the environment gets into the air, water or ground."

Environment Agency guidance - Pollution prevention for businesses

Need advice for services and products? Call us now 01656 741 799

Geo Pollution Technologies (UK) LTD - company number - 04689357

ABOUT US

GPT head office is based in South Wales and covers all areas of South Wales, West Wales and Mid Wales including Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend, Newport, Port Talbot, Powys, Llanelli, Neath, Pembrokeshire and Aberystwyth.

We also cover the South West of England from our premesis in Exeter including Cornwall, Devon, Taunton, Redruth, Truro, St Austell, Falmouth, New quay, Torquay, Paignton, Bristol, Plymouth, Bath, Gloucester and Somerset, .

We also operate across the midlands, London, Birmingham, Leicester, Northampton, Derby, Stoke, Nottingham, Coventry, Liverpool, Worcester, Southampton, Swindon, Manchester, Sheffield, Slough, Heathrow, Leatherhead and Surrey.