When Every Second Counts: Oil Spills on Water

Especially in flowing waters, the oil film and the subsequent damage will spread downstream with every second. The fire brigade will take time to arrive on site, meaning valuable time can be lost. To limit the spread of oil, fast emergency measures can be put in place. By doing this, companies will not only minimise environmental damage, but will also reduce the costs they will have to pay for causing the incident.

If you allow hazardous substances to enter water and cause damage, you are not only liable to pay damages, but will also have to bear the costs for the clean-up. Insurers will also keep an eye on things to see if sufficient emergency preparations were made for the corresponding hazards. Companies would therefore be well advised to look at suitable emergency measures as a priority.

It can be useful to cooperate with the local fire brigade when carrying out emergency planning. The relevant fire service may also visit a company themselves if they recognise that there is a potential danger. By working together, both parties can benefit from sharing ideas for preparing an emergency plan and agreeing on suitable emergency equipment. Sometimes the fire service may provide the company special equipment and install this on site. The company can be confident that the right equipment is in the right place if an emergency arises, and the fire brigade will benefit from having the right equipment in place if required.

To prevent the leak from spreading, the leak should be stopped as soon as possible at its source. This can be achieved by deploying oil barriers on the water.

Active barriers in combination with a passive system work especially well: while the passive system forms the actual oil barrier, the active barrier can take up most of the leaked oil and then be retrieved in one piece using the rope.

Binders for receiving the oil from the water should be kept at the level specified in the risk assessment. Sometimes oil binders are used in granular form, but they have certain disadvantages. Once spread on the oil spill, the binder must also be removed from the water after the absorption process again. This is often difficult and a complete elimination is hardly possible. Depending on the flow conditions, the material is flushed more or less quickly into the bank area and gets caught up in the vegetation. Another disadvantage of the granules is the potential poisoning of the aquatic fauna. The granules, which are partially contaminated with oil, can be falsely identified as food by birds and fish, causing bird and fish extinction, depending on their size. All these negative side effects can be avoided by using oil suction mats, without losing functionality. Floating oil suction mats are made of a non-woven material. They are made of 100% polypropylene and are inherently water repellent (hydrophobic) and oil attractant (oleophilic). They can be easily distributed on the oil spill and collect again without great effort, since they are still buoyant in the saturated state. An elaborate breaking off of the water surface as with the use of granules is eliminated. Suction mats are not only available individually but also on a roll, so that long sections can be used for bank protection. This oil contaminants are absorbed and limited in the embankment. Oil mist and, as previously mentioned, active oil barriers are well-suited to removing residual oil films.

The need for further measures and aids depends on the circumstances. How much staff is needed? Does the staff know the assignment plan? How can the equipment be quickly transported to the job site? Are additional resources such as job boats, anchors, lines, tools or lighting needed? All these questions should be asked in advance in order to respond as quickly as possible in an emergency. You notice: An active contingency planning pays off.