West Coast US states to discuss how to best protect Pacific coastline from oil spills

A task force, known as the Pacific Sates/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force, comprising of Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii, are meeting in Seattle this week to consider emerging issues in energy and the best methods for protecting the Pacific coastline from the effect of oil spills. The states will use the meeting as an opportunity to keep one another abreast of developments in their spill-response programmes and any new initiatives. Other issues for discussion include the changes related to the transportation of energy along the West Coast, properties of new and emerging fuels, Arctic issues, and the risk of oil spills from large volumes of vessel traffic. The task force was legitimised after the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation in 1989 by the Governors of Alaska, Oregon, Washington and California, and the Premier of British Columbia in the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez and Nestucca oil spills. Disasters such as these serve to illustrate the West Coast states and provinces shared concerns at the risk of an oil spill, and the need for tightly integrated cooperation across shared borders. It is shared initiatives such as this task force that will enable states to improve spill prevention, spill containment and clean-up along the 56,600 miles of coastline stretching from Alaska to California and including the Hawaiian archipelago. www.yellowshield.co.uk
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Deepwater Horizon clean-up crew face increased risk of sickness and cancer

A new study released in the American Journal of Medicine has shown that workers involved in the large scale clean-up of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill are at greater risk of succumbing to cancer, leukaemia, and a whole raft of other illnesses. Back in 2010 BP hired more than 170,000 people for the remedial work required to protect coastlines from the 5 million barrels of oil that gushed out of the ocean floor. At the time workers would have been exposed to oil which contains the volatile carcinogen benzene but also hundreds of thousands of gallons of Corexit 9500, the dispersant used by BP to break up the oil and which is yet to have the concentration levels of its components fully disclosed to the public. During the spill containment and clean-up, workers complained of dizziness, fatigue, headaches and nausea. There have also been reports from some workers of increases in asthma and coughing up blood. The study published in the AMJ assessed the adverse affects of oil and dispersant exposure on 117 subjects who had participated in the clean-up and compared them to 130 subjects who were unexposed. It concluded that those exposed workers "experienced significantly altered blood profiles, liver enzymes and somatic symptoms."  The Houston Chronicle reported that these physiological alterations could be "a warning sign of liver dysfunction and damage." Although workers were supplied with personal protective equipment it has been suggested that some workers may have removed the equipment in the burning summer sun or used diluents to scrub of any oily residues. Toxins such as benzene can seep into the body through the skin tissue and into the blood stream which can in turn go through to the bone marrow. The study's lead author, Mar. A. D'Andrea said, "Once it enters your system, it affects several organs." D'Andrea added that various studies have shown that patients with damaged bone marrow have higher incidence of possible leukaemia's, lymphoma and myelomas, and that potential liver damage increases the risk of liver, pancreas and gallbladder cancer. BP have stressed that workers were given the correct PPE and have also raised doubts over the validity of the study. BP spokesman Jason Ryan questioned the study for its small sample (only 0.1% of all the workers involved in the clean-up were tested) and also suggested that there was an inherent bias in the study since all the participants were "referred by their legal counsel, not randomly recruited." The company also stressed that "response worker and or public exposures to dispersants were well below levels that would pose a health or safety concern." The authors of the study intend to conduct further long-term studies to understand the real clinical significance of exposure to oil spills. http://www.yellowshield.co.uk  
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Spill containment exercise in Guernsey invokes memories of Torrey Canyon disaster

Guernsey's Oil Response Team conducted an exercise in spill containment this week in conjunction with States Works employees, Guernsey Harbour staff, civil protection volunteers and fire fighters. The Oil Response Teams undertook a morning of theory based lessons and then tested equipment in the waters of Guernsey. This included setting up a boom to replicate the containment of oil before deploying an oil skimmer for cleaning surface oil. Senior response specialist, Mark Harvey, said; "I've been on spills in parts of the world where very little preparedness has taken place, and you can definitely see the difference between those areas and areas where training, good contingency planning has been put into place. "The effects of that cannot be underestimated. Any region that does take that caution and that prior preparation before any incident the benefits are certainly there to be seen." The risk of an oil spill occurring in Guernsey has been assessed as very high so training such as this is vital in preparation for any significant spill. The last major spill to occur in Guernsey was the Torrey Canyon in 1967. Widely regarded as the world's first major oil marine spill, it leaked an incredible 110,000 tonnes of crude oil into the sea after striking Pollard's Rock between the Scilly Isles and Land's End, running aground and breaking up. The 270 square mile slick devastated coastlines from Cornwall to Normandy and killed as many as 18,000 seabirds. At the time it was the costliest shipping disaster ever. However, the 10 thousand tonnes of first generation "detergents" that were used by well intentioned clean-up operators potentially caused more environmental damage than the oil itself. 45 gallon drums of solvent emulsifiers used for cleaning ships engine rooms were poured over the edges of cliffs into inaccessible coves in attempts to clean the shoreline. The stricken super tanker Torrey Canyon was bombed by the RAF and any remaining oil was burned off. The incident was a watershed moment in terms of implementing international regulations. After the Torrey Canyon spill, the Civil Liability Convention and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships were both drawn up on the basis of making of imposing strict liabilities on the ship owners and minimising the risks of spills in marine environments.   www.yellowshield.co.uk  
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The advantages of different types of degreasing agents

Spill kits are an efficient and exceptionally effective method of cleaning up spills in any scenario. There is a spill kit available for any type of spilled liquid, whether that is oil, chemical or general spills, which can contain and clean up the spill. There are some circumstances though when the area contaminated by the spill will require further remedial work to make it safe and ensure that it isn't a slip hazard for employees. In situations such as these a degreasing product may be needed to bring the area back to safe operating standards. Types of Degreasing Agents: Oil Degreaser   Ideal for light-medium use, the oil degreaser is suitable for removing oil residues from any type of surface, including plant equipment, machinery, walls, floors and drainage systems. The oil degreaser is a water based solution with a bioremediation constituent that allows for oily soils to be broken down once the cleanup is complete. Not only is this an environmental benefit, it also means that the waste can be suitably discharged into an oil/water separator. Oil Degreaser for Tarmac, Asphalt or Concrete The Tarmac and Asphalt Cleaner is specific for cleaning and removing oil from tarmac, asphalt and concrete and is notably useful for application in sensitive areas. It provides efficient and effectual removal of oil or fuel from concrete or asphalt and being an aqueous solution it can be discharged directly into an oil-water separator without any detrimental effects. Heavy Duty Oil Degreaser The Heavy Duty Oil Degreaser is ideal for cleaning surfaces that have been heavily soiled by oil, fuels, chemicals or old carbonised fuel settlings. It can be used for cleaning up plant, equipment, walls and floors and as a solvent based degreaser it is specially formulated for quickly breaking up stubborn stains. It is not however, suitable for use on asphalt and tarmac surfaces. Floor Degreaser for Machine Application Ride-on floor cleaners are another method for cleaning soiled floors. They can be incorporated into a weekly or daily schedule of cleaning and provide an efficient method of keeping large working spaces clean and safe. The floor degreaser for machine application is a non-caustic, alkaline solution with low foam properties that is suitable for use with floor cleaning machines. www.yellowshield.co.uk    
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Gulf of Thailand Oil Spill: Doubts persist over cleanup efforts

50,000 litres leaked into the Gulf of Thailand Last Sunday a pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand ruptured gushing an estimated 50,000 litres of crude oil into the sea, of which 5,000 litres has now washed up onto the popular tourist resort of Koh Samet. The slick has engulfed the pristine white sands of Ao Phrao beach covering a 600 metre stretch, while a 30cm thick sludge remains offshore amid concerns that the cleanup operation lacks sophistication and expertise. The leak was first detected during a routine oil transfer from a moored tanker to the pipeline and subsequently the Royal Thai Navy has been deployed for remedial work along with hundreds of other volunteers. However, the Thai Deputy PM Plodprasop Suraswadi claimed that the country is ill equipped to contain the oil spill and have sought assistance from neighbouring countries.   Idyllic beach to be "cleansed" within three days The pipeline is operated by PTT Global Chemical, the partially state owned petrochemical and refining company. They have flown oil spill containment and management experts to help speed up the removal of the oil. PTT Global Chemical had confidently stated that they believed the bay of Koh Samet would be "cleansed" within three days, claims that were clearly at odds with campaigners from Greenpeace. One Greenpeace representative said it was "very disappointing that this global company has no emergency plan to deal with the crisis." Further proof of this was evident when a local hotelier launched an appeal for donations of human hair to make a "hair sausage" to absorb the oil. The incident compelled Greenpeace to call on the Thai government to place a moratorium on their exploration of oil in the Gulf of Thailand. Extreme impact on tourism The Thai Tourism Minister Somsak Phurisisak expressed his shock at the spill telling reporters that he "didn't think this spill would impact tourism in such as extreme way." While booms lay saturated with oil on the beach, cleanup crews have been pumping the crude into holding tanks and IBC's while simultaneously mopping up the oil with absorbent pads, one academic has questioned the original estimate of the size of the spill. By using satellite imagery and calculating the quantity of dispersant used, Professor Sompmorn Chuai-Aree estimated that the true size of the spill could be 100,000 litres, double the original estimate.     Initial response to spill deemed ineffective Many doubts remain over the remedial work carried out by PTT Global Chemical. The 200 metre long boom initially used to contain the spill appears to have been too small and ineffective in containing the spill and now many have questions over the type of dispersant in use in the Gulf of Thailand. Furthermore, some witnesses have reported seeing cleanup crews working without the correct PPE, an oversight which could have potentially damaging consequences for personal health if they come into contact with some of the dangerous toxins present in some oil dispersants. For a company such as PTT Global Chemical, who increased its profits in 2012 by 13% on the previous year, the lack of contingency shows a naivety and lack of organisational planning that conflict with the company's aims to expand aggressively throughout Southeast Asia in the coming years. www.yellowshield.co.uk

Initial response to spill deemed ineffective

Many doubts remain over the remedial work carried out by PTT Global Chemical. The 200 metre long boom initially used to contain the spill appears to have been too small and ineffective in containing the spill and now many have questions over the type of dispersant in use in the Gulf of Thailand. Furthermore, some witnesses have reported seeing cleanup crews working without the correct PPE, an oversight which could have potentially damaging consequences for personal health if they come into contact with some of the dangerous toxins present in some oil dispersants.
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Choosing the correct spill kit for your site

  In recent years the increase in environmental and health and safety regulations has meant the internet is now awash with a wide range of spill kits designed for a variety of applications with differing absorbent capacities. Therefore if you are choosing a specific spill kit for a certain application obtaining advice from a specialist spill kit provider would be a prudent move before committing to any purchase.   Assessing your spill kit requirements Before choosing a particular spill kit you need to assess what type of spills will be most likely to occur, where they are most likely to happen and the potential volume of liquid that may be spilled. For instance, if you own a haulage company then you could assume there is potential for spills of oil from vehicles which would require an oil spill kit for remediation work should a spill occur. A haulage company would also operate forklift trucks on site so you might consider a specialist spill kit in the event that a forklift truck leaks fluid. Likewise, in a garage where coolants and cutting fluids are used, a general purpose spill kit would suffice but for any unidentified aggressive chemicals a chemical spill kit would be required.   Make your spill kits easily accessible Choosing the right spill kit is only half the battle. Ensuring that operators have easy access to spill kits is paramount in an emergency where time is of the essence. If operators have difficulty locating the spill kit then excessive and avoidable contamination could occur with far reaching consequences. To avoid this it is vital to have a number of readily available spill kits strategically positioned around your site and that all staff are fully aware of their role in an emergency spill scenario. Speak to the experts If you are not sure which spill kit will be suitable for your needs or if you have any doubts about the absorbent capacity you require then it would be worthwhile speaking to an expert in the field who will be able to assist you or even arrange a spill site assessment.  
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A brief guide to Absorbent, Containment and Fence Booms

  This week the River Hamble Harbour Authority carried out an oil spill exercise based on a scenario of 30,000 litres of heating oil spilling in to the river. The exercise will involve the deployment of oil booms upstream and downstream of the M27 bridge crossing. As this is a vital part of any oil spill response plan, this blog will provide a brief explanation of booms and their applications. Booms used for spill containment can be categorised in to two simple categories, containment booms and absorbent booms.   Absorbent Booms Absorbent booms can be used in conjunction with other absorbent products such as absorbent pads and rolls. They are used for selectively absorbing oil from water to maximise the amount of oil recovered and minimise the damage to the marine environment. Large Marine Booms can absorb up to 300 litres per 3 metre boom and are ideal for use on rivers, marinas and harbours. They can be overlapped and connected using clips and rings ensuring that all spilled oil can be captured. Absorbent booms can also be deployed on land for the absorption of oil and chemicals. The land boom can be used for the absorption of general and oil spills whereas the chemical land boom is specifically designed for absorbing acids, alkalis and other unidentified hazardous chemicals. Simple to deploy and retrieve, land booms are ideal for use on construction sites and chemical plants. Containment Booms Containment booms are an ideal emergency or pre-emptive measure for containing spills of oil in open waters. Inflatable booms provide fast and effective containment of oil and cover a large area when compared to the required storage space. They are available in two different sizes of varying depths and can be secured to the river bank with rope or bank end fittings. Fence Booms Fence booms are mainly used as a temporary measure for oil containment on low rivers, brooks and streams. With integral buoyancy chambers the fence boom will stay afloat and like the inflatable boom, it can be easily stored and secured to the bank using either a rope or bank end fittings. Absorbent and containment booms are an essential part of any oil spill response plan and can ensure you have a product that is easily deployable to tackle any spill efficiently and effectively on land or at sea.  
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