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Emergency

Spill Response

Had A Spill?
If you have had a spill and are in need of our emergency spill response services call us now.

Emergency Spill Response

Spillages on-site can severely impact people, the environment, and property, while causing significant disruptions to operations. Prompt, professional action is critical to minimise risks, comply with regulations, and restore safe working conditions. 

At Geo Pollution Technologies (GPT), we specialise in emergency spill response for oils, chemicals, hazardous materials, and foodstuffs. Our highly trained teams are equipped to manage incidents of all scales, from minor leaks to major industrial spills.

We operate a 24/7 emergency response service with no retainer charges, and will work to bespoke KPIs based on your requirements. Set us up today as your UK Spill Accredited emergency spill response contractor:

  •  No retainer
  •  Trained professional workforce with over 30 years’ experience
  •  Trained for working at height and confined space entry
  •  Bespoke KPIs based on your requirements
  •  Can liaise with regulators on your behalf
  •  Incident report following clean up, providing a record that correct remediation & waste disposal has been undertaken

As an accredited member of the UK Spill Association, GPT provides comprehensive spill response services for surface water, groundwater, and soil contamination.

Spills pose a serious threat to the environment. If spilled material enters drainage systems, it may lead to pollution of rivers or streams, breaching the Water Resources Act 1991. Similarly, contamination of unmade ground may breach the Groundwater Regulations 2009.

Such incidents can result in:

  •  Regulatory prosecutions
  •  Significant remediation costs under the Polluter Pays Principle

At GPT, we are UK Spill Association accredited and qualified to respond to contamination affecting:

Such incidents can result in:

  •  Surface waters
  •  Groundwater
  •  Soils

Our response process follows the Source - Pathway - Receptor model to ensure that we not only clean visible contamination but also investigate and address any potential migration of pollutants beyond the immediate spill area.

We also have extensive experience liaising with regulatory bodies such as:

  •  The Environment Agency (EA)
  •  Natural Resources Wales (NRW)
  •  Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
  •  Local sewerage undertakers
  •  Insurance companies

Should you prefer, we can manage all regulatory communications on your behalf throughout the spill response process.

Spill incidents can cause major operational disruption, including evacuation and production halts. GPT’s emergency spill response teams are committed to working swiftly and effectively to minimise downtime and restore site operations as quickly as possible.

Where deadlines are critical, we can:

  •  Prioritise clean-up of key areas
  •  Deploy larger response teams
  •  Tailor our clean-up strategy to meet specific timeframes

Our clients span the private and public sectors, including:

  •  Local Authorities
  •  Manufacturers and Distributors
  •  Utility Companies
  •  Construction Firms
  •  Insurance Companies and Loss Adjusters
  •  COMAH Sites
  •  Oil Refineries

The safety of personnel and the wider public is always our top priority during any spill response. Spilled oils and chemicals can present serious risks, including:

  •  Skin and eye irritation
  •  Inhalation of harmful vapours
  •  Fire and explosion hazards
  •  Slip hazards

Before mobilisation, we review the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the spilled substance to fully understand the hazards and ensure our team is equipped with the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE).

For high-risk materials, we are equipped with hazmat suits and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), allowing us to safely decontaminate sites and remove any hazardous residues. Even for spills of less hazardous materials (such as petrol), thorough decontamination is essential to eliminate fire and slip hazards - simply putting granules/absorbents on the spill is not enough and the area will need to be thoroughly and safely decontaminated before it can be classed as a safe environment.

three images of different spill incidents. one with field engineer in the water with booms deployed. a lorry on its side on a motorway with liquid coming from it. two field engineers cleaning a spill with dry absorbent and a degreaser

Oil Spill Response

GPT is a UK Spill-accredited contractor, certified for basic, freshwater, groundwater, and contaminated soil spills. We offer fully accredited oil spill response services across a broad range of environments.

Oil spills pose significant risks to personnel, the environment, and property. In accordance with the pollution control hierarchy, our response prioritises health and safety, followed by environmental protection, and finally, property remediation.

Health & Safety

Most oils present risks requiring standard Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), but some may demand specialist gear. Many oils are also highly flammable, posing significant fire hazards if handled incorrectly. GPT’s trained personnel employ safe working practices, including the use of non-sparking tools such as plastic shovels.

Environmental Protection

  •  Basic Oil Spills - Thorough clean-up and decontamination on substrates such as tarmac, concrete, and factory floors, removing all residues to eliminate ongoing risks.
  •  Freshwater Oil Spills - Using floating containment barriers, we isolate oil spills on lakes, streams, and rivers. Specialist skimming and absorption equipment is then deployed to recover the oil.
  •  Oil-Contaminated Soils - When oil infiltrates unmade ground, rapid remediation is essential to prevent groundwater contamination. In certain cases, spill remediation may be as straightforward as removing the contaminated soil and replacing it with inert material. To ensure complete removal of hydrocarbons, we utilize a Photoionization Detector (PID) to assess the presence of residual vapors. Additionally, we can collect validation samples for laboratory analysis to provide documented evidence that all oil contaminants have been effectively removed. For larger spills, or when source removal is not feasible, we can undertake remediation solutions such as soil vapor extraction, barrier technologies, monitored natural attenuation, and bioremediation.
  •  Groundwater Contamination: For oils reaching groundwater, we implement techniques including vacuum enhanced recovery; pump and treat; air sparging; barrier technologies and bioremediation.

Property Protection

Oils can severely damage surfaces and structures, especially porous materials like tarmac. We undertake thorough decontamination to remove oil residues, mitigating long-term damage where possible.

Chemical Spill Response

Chemical spills can pose serious risks to health and safety, the environment, and property. Effective and timely response is essential to minimise harm. According to the pollution control hierarchy, spill management should prioritise:

Health & Safety

Chemical spills can present immediate and severe health hazards to personnel, clients, and the public. Rapid, safe, and thorough clean-up is critical to eliminate risks to human health.

Before beginning any response, we assess the spill to determine associated risks. All personnel are equipped with appropriate PPE and PRE, selected according to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the substance involved.

We also ensure that all cleaning agents used are chemically compatible with the spilled substance, allowing for effective decontamination. For hazardous chemicals, we offer validation sampling post-cleanup to confirm all residues have been removed and the area is safe for re-entry.

Environmental Protection

Even in small quantities, many chemicals can cause severe environmental damage. For example, ammonia can be fatal to fish at concentrations as low as 2 parts per million.

In the event of a spill, immediate action is taken to prevent chemicals from entering controlled waters by blocking drains and deploying containment systems such as booms. Unlike oil, many chemicals mix with water, making containment more challenging.

If chemicals reach watercourses, the impact can be reduced through re-oxygenation, pH neutralisation, or other mitigation methods. Common environmental risks include:

  •   pH imbalances
  •  Increased Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
  •  Increased Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
  •  Direct toxicity to aquatic life
  •  Algal blooms

Property Protection

Chemicals can cause extensive damage to surfaces and structures. If not cleaned up promptly and effectively, the damage can worsen over time.

We provide thorough decontamination to remove all chemical residues, limiting exposure and minimising long-term damage. Though some materials, such as tarmac, may be more susceptible to staining or degradation, even after cleanup.

Food & Drink Spill Response

Spills involving food and beverage products may not immediately appear hazardous, but they can present serious environmental risks, health and safety concerns, and operational disruption.

For instance, milk is reported to be up to 400 times more polluting than untreated domestic sewage. When released into watercourses, it promotes rapid bacterial growth that depletes oxygen levels, leading to the suffocation of aquatic life.

We provide specialist response services to manage incidents efficiently and responsibly, including spills of:

  •   Milk
  •   Cooking Oils
  •   Palm Oil
  •   Beer
  •   Cream
  •   Glucose
  •   Syrup
  •   Food Additives
  •   Fruit Juices

In the event of a spill, our teams act swiftly to prevent contamination of controlled waters. Where required, we employ mitigation measures such as mechanical aeration or the addition of hydrogen peroxide to restore oxygen levels in affected watercourses.

Many products - particularly oils, syrups, and concentrates - can cause skin and eye irritation or create hazardous surfaces. Prior to commencing any response, we conduct a thorough risk assessment and ensure that responders are equipped with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE), in accordance with the product’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Case Studies:

thumbnail image of a case study showing a transformer oil spill on grass

Emergency Spill Response

March 2025

thumbnail image of a case study showing a repaired drainage channel

Drainage & Interceptor Remediation

Feb 2025

thumbnail image of a case study showing a tanker vehicle clearing drains after an oil spill

Emergency Spill Response

Nov 2020

thumbnail image of a case study showing an interceptor during a maintenance visit with red cone and red barrier

Post-audit Interceptor Alarm Repair

Feb 2025