Will second time be a charm for Shell's "Containment Dome"?

Back in September we reported that Shell had suffered a major setback in their plans for exploratory drilling in the Arctic after a key component in their spill response arsenal, the "Containment Dome", was "crushed like a beer can" during routine testing. In emails obtained through a freedom of information request it was revealed that under calm conditions in the Puget Sound an electrical fault caused the dome to torpedo to the surface and then rapidly descend, crumpling the top portion of the steel dome in the process. Since the failed test Shell have been working to notably strengthen the dome, reinforcing it with an additional outer frame. Before the dome can be deployed in the Arctic it must first receive approval from the Bureau of Environmental Enforcement, and Nicholas Pardi, a spokesman for the BSEE confirmed "that approval will not be granted until the test is completed to our satisfaction". Last week the Arctic Challenger left the Port of Bellingham for Puget Sound for a second round of testing. Shell has conceived the dome as their "fourth line of defence" in the event that other primary systems fail to contain a spill. The dome would vacuum up any gushing oil and guide it to Shell's spill response vessel, the Arctic Challenger, for filtering. However, the modifications made to the dome will have done little to allay the fears of environmental groups and politicians alike that are fearful of the catastrophic effects that an oil spill in the Arctic would have. The Arctic Research Commission have already stated that oil spill tests need to be undertaken in the Arctic, which would give officials and Shell a clearer understanding of whether or not the equipment can function in adverse conditions. The Alaskan Arctic will pose many unparalleled difficulties for even multinational oil companies. Average summer temperatures are nearly -7°C and can go as low as -20°C while workers will also have to contend with gale force winds and miles of harsh conditions without any real infrastructure. Christophe de Margerie, the CEO of Total, recently took the unusual step of declaring that his company would not be attempting to drill for oil in the Arctic as the risks of a spill were just too high. If Shell's testing of the modified Containment Dome is successful then they will look to conduct further exploratory drilling in 2013.
More from Yellow Shield's blog... Will second time be a charm for Shell's "Containment Dome"?

Environment Agency prevents "major environmental disaster".

The Environment Agency was called upon last Thursday and Friday to contain a potential spill of 4,000 litres of petrol that had been endangering spawning salmon in the River Tiddy in Cornwall. The petrol tanker was being towed on Thursday night when it overturned giving rise to a situation where the "fuel was pouring out", according to Darren Maynard of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service.

As soon as the Environment Agency arrived on the scene they deployed booms and absorbent pads in an event to contain the spill.

Steve Marks, a spokesman for the Environment Agency confirmed that the operation had been successful and that "no significant pollution" had been detected in the river. He added that; "If the petrol had got into the water it would have been a major environmental disaster." The tank was sprayed with foam by the Fire Service to render it safe before it was allowed to be removed from the scene and the road was re-opened on Friday afternoon. Yet again the Environment Agency has demonstrated the importance of designing well drilled spill response procedures that effectively contain spills and protect fragile waterways.
More from Yellow Shield's blog...

Bins are a "wheel" issue for Councillors

Local authorities in the UK have in recent weeks been digesting the awards of the government's Weekly Collection Support Scheme. Councils from Gravesham in Kent to Birmingham City have received grants to help provide more efficient refuse collection services and increase their recycling rates, while others, such as Leeds, have missed out. In order to achieve a more efficient recycling and refuse collection service local councils will be supplying residents with up to three wheelie bins for the purposes of recycling and refuse. However, not all residents in Birmingham city council are quite as enthused about the idea as the councillors behind the proposal which is pencilled in for implementation next April. Many residents have been quick to point out that certain areas in the city are not suitable for wheelie bins because of steep hills, steps leading out of driveways and a lack of space to house all the bins. Therefore the council is entering into consultation with residents and plans to engage in comprehensive door-to-door surveys in order to resolve any issues residents may have. One Labour councillor, Rob Pocock, who described the scheme as the "Government's bin bribe", has already undertaken surveys in his Sutton Vesey ward which resulted in a 60-40 spilt against the universal introduction of wheelie bins. The results also indicated an age divide that showed the older the resident, the more opposed they were to wheelie bins. One suggestion proposed by Coun Pocock that could resolve part of the issue was to introduce smaller bins for low waste households and in particular, for the elderly and the infirm. 75 Litre wheelie bins are less cumbersome and more compact and would be better suited for recycling purposes than the larger 240 Litre wheelie bins. Whatever the outcome of the planned consultation, local councils across the country need to try and move away from the traditional black refuse bag collections and introduce wheelie bins where it is practical to do so, as they offer a more durable, hygienic and efficient method for collecting waste and recycling.
More from Yellow Shield's blog...

Bins are a "wheel" issue for Councillors

Local authorities in the UK have in recent weeks been digesting the awards of the government's Weekly Collection Support Scheme. Councils from Gravesham in Kent to Birmingham City have received grants to help provide more efficient refuse collection services and increase their recycling rates, while others, such as Leeds, have missed out. In order to achieve a more efficient recycling and refuse collection service local councils will be supplying residents with up to three wheelie bins for the purposes of recycling and refuse. However, not all residents in Birmingham city council are quite as enthused about the idea as the councillors behind the proposal which is pencilled in for implementation next April. Many residents have been quick to point out that certain areas in the city are not suitable for wheelie bins because of steep hills, steps leading out of driveways and a lack of space to house all the bins. Therefore the council is entering into consultation with residents and plans to engage in comprehensive door-to-door surveys in order to resolve any issues residents may have. One Labour councillor, Rob Pocock, who described the scheme as the "Government's bin bribe", has already undertaken surveys in his Sutton Vesey ward which resulted in a 60-40 spilt against the universal introduction of wheelie bins. The results also indicated an age divide that showed the older the resident, the more opposed they were to wheelie bins. One suggestion proposed by Coun Pocock that could resolve part of the issue was to introduce smaller bins for low waste households and in particular, for the elderly and the infirm. 75 Litre wheelie bins are less cumbersome and more compact and would be better suited for recycling purposes than the larger 240 Litre wheelie bins. Whatever the outcome of the planned consultation, local councils across the country need to try and move away from the traditional black refuse bag collections and introduce wheelie bins where it is practical to do so, as they offer a more durable, hygienic and efficient method for collecting waste and recycling.
More from Yellow Shield's blog... Bins are a "wheel" issue for Councillors

How to Protect Your Tank from Fuel Theft

Tayside Police have today issued a warning for people to be on their guard after thieves stole 1,000 litres of fuel from the Ballumbie golf club in Dundee. Police are also investigating the theft of fuel from a lorry parked in Dryburgh Industrial Estate. This follows the recent increase in fuel thefts across the country as the price of petrol soared in the last 12 months. According to statistics compiled from 36 of the UK's 52 local police forces there were around 8,235 cases of reported fuel theft in 2011. Other than keeping your vehicle in a secure garage there isn't too much you can do to prevent a determined criminal drilling into your cars fuel tank. However, if you are a commercial or industrial business, or if you have a home heating oil tank then there are preventative measures you can take to keep your fuel secure and out of the hands of thieves. If you own a bunded tank then it's unlikely that even the most organised criminal gangs would be daft enough to drill into it. However, there are other, even more daring methods that can be used to get away with your precious oil. For instance, it is not unheard of for tanks to be picked up by forklift trucks, lifted on to a large enough getaway vehicle and driven away. Or, they may be even more brazen and attempt to lift the tank using the existing lifting eyes that are in situ. There are ways around this though. At Yellowshield we have "Anti-Theft" upgrades available on our steel bunded fuel tanks that can resist the attempts of fuel thieves. Firstly, we offer "anti-lift feet". Essentially they are RSJ's that run the full length of the tank making it impossible for it to be moved by a forklift truck. Secondly, we supply removable lifting eyes, so once the tank has been placed in position, the eyes can be removed and stored somewhere secure. If you wish to make your tank as impenetrable as Alcatraz, then we also provide tank alarm accessories that will warn you as soon as someone attempts to tamper with your tank. We may not be able to help protect your vehicle but we are as determined as the criminals when it comes to helping protect your bunded fuel tanks.
More from Yellow Shield's blog...

Niger Delta's Black Gold Rush: Counting the Cost of Environmental Neglect

It has emerged this week that an oil spill from an ExxonMobil pipeline in the Akwa Ibom state of Nigeria has spread up to 20 miles from it source, polluting the waters that are integral to the survival of the local fishing industry. This oil spill is the latest in a chequered history of oil production in the region which, according to the United Nations Development Programme, has seen thousands of spills both big and small and a lack of effective spill containment. For more than nine decades multinational oil companies have been conducting operations in the Niger Delta to extract the large amounts of crude oil that lay beneath the Delta Basin. And while they have achieved much success in extracting the oil, the environmental and social implications have been far reaching and are still ongoing today with oil companies seemingly acting with complete impunity. Large areas of mangrove forests have been destroyed by oil spills which seep deep into the soil contaminating the surrounding vegetation and underground watercourses. In addition, the depletion of fish stocks has been caused not only by overfishing but also by the pollution of waters from leaking and poorly maintained oil pipelines. Life expectancy has reduced drastically in the region as people become increasingly sick from consuming contaminated water and food. So what preventative measures is the Nigerian government taking to reduce the number and the impact of these spills? Last year Nigeria's oil regulator, NOSDRA, recommended that the Nigerian parliament fine Shell over £3 billion after a tanker spilled 40,000 barrels of oil into the Atlantic Ocean. However, Shell refuted the recommendation stating that they hadn't contravened any Nigerian laws and that the cause of the spill was sabotage. While it's true that many of the spills in the Niger Delta have been linked to the criminal acts of militant groups, Shell have also been criticised for the laxity of their spill response procedures in cleaning up the oil. A UN report from last year found that "The control and maintenance of oilfield infrastructure....has been and remains inadequate." Shell was accused of taking four years to contain and clean the spill while the thousands of villagers affected by the spills in the Ogoninland region are still awaiting a compensation package from Shell. Last year's report from the United Nations Environment Programme evidenced that oil companies had failed to effectively contain and clean up oil spills from up to 40 years ago, despite numerous attempts. It's executive director said that Nigerians has "paid a high price" for the riches afforded by the black gold, but that any attempt to clean up the affected region would cost initially around £614 million and take upwards of 25-30 years. http://www.yellowshield.co.uk
More from Yellow Shield's blog... http://www.yellowshield.co.uk/blog

Methods used for chemical spill procedures

In the last week there have been two separate chemical spillages in the UK, one at a drugs manufacturing plant in Deeside, Wales, and another at a drycleaners in Ipswich. Fire officials and ambulances were called to both incidents, and each resulted in people being admitted to hospital. The aim of this blog is to analyse the methods that would have been used to; a, Contain the spills and protect the watercourse and b, Clean up the spill and render the area safe.

Be Prepared

Preparedness is the key to dealing with chemical spills. If your business deals with hazardous liquids daily then it is essential that all employees are given adequate training to deal with spills in the correct way. If you have spill kit equipment on site then it is paramount that you have a spill procedure plan that all employees can safely carry out. If the spilled chemical is volatile or flammable then you must immediately turn off all sources of ignition and, if indoors, ventilate the area. Before attempting to tackle the spill you must ensure that you attire yourself in the appropriate PPE equipment. In cases described above the nature of the spill had been quickly identified by the first responders present at the scene. In the case of the drug manufacturing plant they enacted their emergency planning procedures and requested the presence of fire officials and paramedics. If you are unsure what type of chemical has been spilt, you can still begin to contain the spill using standard chemical absorbents, as chemical absorbents are designed to deal with most hazardous spills of an unidentified nature.

Containing the Spill

In the case of an outside spillage, as in Ipswich, the first spill containment measure to undertake would be to place chemical land booms around the perimeter of the spill, cutting off the access to unprotected drains in the surrounding area. Once the spill has been contained it can be absorbed through the deployment of chemical pads, starting at the edge of the spill and circling inwards to reduce the potential for splash and spread of the spilled liquid. In the event of an indoor spillage containment booms may not required as there is no threat to the watercourse from exposed drainage works. Chemical absorbent pads could be used to absorb the spill depending on the size and area that the spill covered. Any pads or land booms used to clean up a chemical spill would have to be disposed off as hazardous waste. The soiled absorbents can be placed into disposable bags and discarded accordingly.

Neutralising the Spill

Once the majority of the chemical has been absorbed you can then consider using a neutralizing agent to return the area to safe working conditions. The acid neutraliser is a powder that can be applied to the remainder of the spill, rendering it safe via a chemical reaction and producing an inert residue that can be disposed of as general waste. The acid neutraliser will contain a colour indicator change to notify you when the reaction has completed and the chemical has been made safe. In some cases fire fighters can dilute certain acids with water or transfer liquids to safe containers for disposal. Once the spill has been cleaned up you can then wash down the area with a mild detergent and water.
More from Yellow Shield's blog... Methods used for chemical spill procedures

Shake out your frost blankets - it's going to be a cold one!

Winter is again upon us and thanks to good old Iceland (harbingers of the original banking collapse and the volcanic ash clouds); forecasters are predicting a severe cold snap from the north that will send temperatures plummeting to well below the seasonal average, with the potential for harsh frosts, bitter winds and snow. So, to try and reap a boom in doom and gloom it seemed appropriate for Yellowshield to put together a "Winter Package" that helps people avoid the worst of the cold snap by enabling them to grit their drive and shovel away the dreaded snow. Consisting of one 20kg bag of Rock Salt, a Salt Scoop and a Snow Shovel for just £33 inc. delivery*, this package can keep you mobile over the winter months allowing you to clear driveways, paths or car parks, meaning you won't have to stockpile non-perishable goods from the supermarket just yet! We also supply a range of de-icing products that can help keep you mobile during the gruelling winter months. If you have a large area that you would like to spread grit over then you might want to consider using a Salt Spreader. We have these in two sizes, 20 and 35 litres respectively and both spread grit effortlessly and evenly. If you are looking to purchase a large volume of Rock Salt, then we can provide the grit bins for you to store them in, again, we have these in two sizes, 170 and 250 litres. We also supply frost blankets for protecting exposed brickwork over the harsh winter months, and seeing as the bookies have slashed the odds on a White Christmas to the shortest ever; it looks as though we're going to need them! (*Surcharges will be applied to certain parts of the UK).
More from Yellow Shield's blog...

BP to plead guilty to criminal charges and receive record US criminal fine

In what will be seen as a landmark case BP is likely to be fined between £1.9bn and £3.2bn for their criminal misconduct relating to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill disaster in April 2010.  The fine will be a new record in the US, dwarfing the £819m that the drug company Pzifer was fined in 2009. It is believed that BP has agreed this amount through a plea deal with the US Department of Justice. The fine will settle the US federal government criminal and Securities and Exchange Commission claims only. BP may still face further fines from the DoJ in relation to civil claims and also claims from the affected Gulf States and other private plaintiffs. In August, the DoJ filed papers to the New Orleans federal court stating that BP's management of the oil rig evidenced "gross negligence and wilful misconduct". If this is proven in the 2013 civil trial in New Orleans, then BP could be looking at a payout in excess of £13bn. BP has already begun shedding assets to cover the costs of all claims and has so far set aside around £24bn. As was reported to the BBC back in June 2010, rig worker Tyrone Benton explained to his supervisor that a leak had been discovered weeks before the eventual explosion. Had BP rectified the problem at the time they would have had to cease drilling, resulting in millions of pounds of lost revenue. However, the decision not to repair that fault has not only resulted in the loss of billions of pounds, but also the company's reputation and has left an indelible scar on the Gulf Coast waters and shoreline. http://www.yellowshield.co.uk/
More from Yellow Shield's blog... BP to plead guilty to criminal charges and receive record US criminal fine

Best Practice for Oil Spill Pays Off

On Wednesday of last week, following a routine oil transfer to a fuel barge in Port Angeles Harbour, Washington, 840 gallons of fuel was believed to have spilled into the water. Estimations later on in the week put the spill at between 50 and 100 gallons. The incident, albeit small, could have drastically damaged the marine environment had it not been for the precautions that Washington State undertake every time a transfer of fuel occurs over water.

As Curt Hart from the Washington Department of Ecology explained; "Fortunately in the State of Washington, whenever we have these large fuel transfers over water, we make sure that the oil spill containment boom is placed before the transfer starts." This sort of best practice is critical to maintaining a healthy and vibrant ecosystem, especially in areas where the potential for oil spills is high. Containment booms can be used retrospectively in an emergency oil spill situation to try and capture as much of the spilled oil before it can affect marine life, but the practice demonstrated by Washington State underlines the need for all port and harbour authorities to have in place a well drilled and pre-emptive approach to oil spills.

No birds, mammals or fish were harmed during the spill, which is currently being cleaned up by the Department of Ecology in conjunction with the US Coast Guard, the Marine Spill Response Corporation and Global Diving and Salvage.
More from Yellow Shield's blog... Best Practice for Oil Spill Pays Off

We Just can't Stand Waste!

Just recently we’ve managed to procure a large quantity of pre-owned 140 litre dark grey wheelie bins that were headed for the scrap yard. There’s nothing wrong with these bins, it’s just that they weren’t suitable for somebody else so we decided to take them off their hands.

They have a few minor blemishes, the odd scratch here and there and “MID SUFFOLK DC” printed on the lid, but nothing will deter these little grey troopers from fulfilling their storage obligations and we just hate to see things wasted; if it can be used, then it can still be sold.

There are many uses for these wheelie bins barring the obvious. They can be turned into a container for growing compost down at the allotment, they can be used on building sites for collecting hardcore rubbish or if you wanted to, you could use them as a handy storage unit for garden spades and forks.

Just remember, if you want a wheelie bin then these wheelie bins need a home and you won’t find any other 140 litre pre-owned wheelie bins on the net at a cheaper price then £25 with free delivery.

To give a pre-owned wheelie bin a home please visit the 140 litre pre-owned page and help Yellowshield recycle the nations unwanted wheelie bins.

We Just can't Stand Waste!

Prestige Oil Spill Trial: Highlights the Need to Follow Strict Spill Response Procedures

Amid accusations of omitted evidence and an absent defendant, the trial of four men charged with environmental damage relating to the sinking of the Prestige Oil Tanker in 2002 has begun this week. Greek Captain Apostolos Mangouras, his Chief Engineer Nikolaos Argyropoulos, the absent First Mate Irineo Maloto and the Head of the Spanish Merchant Navy Jose Luiz-Lopez Sors are all accussed of the environmental negligence that led to one of Europe’s worst oil spills.

Around 50,000 tonnes of crude oil were released into the Atlantic Ocean near the Bay of Biscay in November 2002, when the Prestige tanker, battered by rough seas, began take on water some 50 miles of the coastline. The ship eventually sank after 6 days but only after it had been ordered out to sea by the then Head of the Spanish Merchant Navy, Jose Luiz-Lopez Sors.

The Spanish response to the incident was strongly criticised by the French Government for not bringing the stricken vessel to port and preventing spill response teams from boarding the tanker until it had been towed out to sea. Had the vessel been towed to the port at La Coruna, then the spill containment effort that the environmental teams would have been able to effect would have greatly minimised the impact of the spill, potentially reducing the risk to wildlife, and thousands of miles of coastline across three nations, Spain, France and Portugal.

Just a year after the oil spill Darren Kindleysides of the RSPB said;

“The incident was avoidable. Governments…must take urgent measures to protect…Europe’s coast and seas.”

In the year prior to the spill the International Maritime Organisation approved new laws that prohibited the use of single hull tankers to transport heavy oil anywhere in Europe. It is now hoped that by 2015 the use of single hulled tankers to transport oil will be illegal throughout the globe, eliminating the latent risk posed by vessels that are not structurally sufficient to carry oil.

Local fisherman and other affected industries are claiming damages of around £1.8 billion, with the final bill for damages expected to reach a staggering £3.25 billion. Should the Greek Captain be convicted of environmental negligence, then the 78 year old could face up to 12 years in jail.

The real question though is; have lessons been learnt from an environmental disaster that could have been so easily avoided. By conducting sticter inspection checks on sea faring vessels and implementing the correct emergency spill response procedures, incidents such as the Prestige disaster can be consigned to history.

Have your say on this blog. Do you think the penalties for contaminating Europe’s coastline are sufficient? Is the claim for damages equivalent to the untold devasation that spills of this nature inflict upon the environment?

Prestige Oil Spill Trial: Highlights the Need to Follow Strict Spill Response Procedures

Maintain a safe site with a Bunded Storage faciltity

Earlier this year our team of experienced professionals was assigned the task of carrying out a Spill Site assessment at a large chemical storage plant. What they recommended was that the site was in desperate need of some bunded storage in order to bring it up to code.

Maintaining a clean and hazard free working environment is important not only to reduce the risk of accidents but also to ensure that any site complies with storage and environmental regulations. Liquid storage containers for standard 205 litre oil drums are available in many varieties and sizes but they all serve two main purposes. Firstly, they help to create a tidy and risk free environment by carefully housing all liquid storage containers, and secondly, they are bunded to comply with the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage).

Bunded Storage

The primary application of bunded storage unit is to eliminate the threat of environmental pollution by containing any spills that may occur from leaking barrels or liquid containers. They have a leak proof sump that encompasses the entire base of the unit to catch spilt liquids. They are also ideal for storing IBC’s (Intermediate Bulk Containers) which often contain hazardous liquids that can pose a serious threat to a site and the environment.

Bunded Fuel Tanks

Any newly installed fuel storage tanks that are over 2500 litres have to be bunded to comply with the Oil Storage Regulations 2001. This means that any large leaks can be contained within the bund averting any risk to the environment.

Single Skinned Tanks

Single Skin tanks can be more suitable for domestic properties where fuel is stored for winter heating. In this scenario tanks below 2500 litres are exempt from regulations provided they are not within 10 metres of controlled water, are not located near a land drain or within 50 metres of a borehole or spring.

Specialist spill kits for emergency uses

Alongside our range of General Purpose spill kits, Oil Only spill kits and Chemical spill kits, we also provide a range of Specialist spill kits that are designed to contain and neutralise spills that are more hazardous and consequently require a more cautious approach.

Body Fluid spill kit

 

The Body Fluid spill kit offers a practical solution for cleaning up unsightly and unpleasant spills. It will absorb and deodorise bodily fluids such as vomit, urine and blood to eliminate the risk of contamination with infectious fluids. This spill kit is ideal for use in health care institutions, schools and hotels and will keep locations fully sanitised.

Mercury spill kit

 

Mercury can be a very harmful element especially when it is released into the air as it can be almost completely absorbed into blood and therefore distributed to all major organs. To provide technicians and workers complete protection when dealing with a Mercury spill we offer a Mercury spill kit that uses an immobilising agent that can suppress emissions of mercury vapour by transforming liquid mercury into a solid amalgam. Further to this, the kit also provides PPE and disposal equipment and can deal with a mercury spill of up to 40ml.

Battery Acid spill kit

 

Spills of lead and sulphuric acid from batteries can pose a serious health risk to workers as well as being a potential environmental hazard. In environments such as warehouses and garages spills of battery acid can be easily be neutralised by having on hand a Battery Acid spill kit. With 12kg of acid neutraliser supplied in one kit you can easily cope with a spill of up 24 litres of acid to ensure the complete safety of employees and employers alike.

All of our spill kits are manufactured to BS 7959, Parts 1, 2 and 3 and ISO 9001:2008 standards.

Specialist spill kits for emergency uses

Prevent Flash Flooding of your property with Land Booms and Absorbent Socks

As the dismal summer continues to wreak havoc across Britain Yellow Shield is offering advice on the methods people can use to protect their home or business from the threat of flash floods.

There are two main ways that you can combat against flash floods. Principally:

Land Boom From £25 including Free Next Day Delivery(ex VAT)*

The Land Boom is the first line of defence when it comes to repelling floodwaters. Essentially a large maintenance sock, each individual Land Boom measures 3 metres in length with a diameter of 20cm and is packed with a highly effective absorbent granule that is made from 100% recycled material. It is heavy filled to keep the Boom firmly in place in the event of a flash flood, and as exposure to the flood prolongs, the weight of the boom increases to further augment its stability. Land Booms are designed to be as flexible as possible allowing you to position it wherever it is required should torrential rain occur. It can be shaped around the corners of buildings, or underneath gates and can be overlapped so that you can completely encircle your home or business and provide protection from flooding. Each individual boom can absorb a total of 12.5 litres of water before it will become saturated and need replacing but when compared to the amount it would cost to restore normality after a flood, the Land Boom is a low cost flood protection solution.

General Absorbent Socks From £25.95 including Free Next Day Delivery(ex VAT)*

A secondary method you can employ to resist water from entering your property is by deploying General Absorbent Socks. Strategically placing them around the bottoms of doors and windows they can be used as an absorbent barrier to block any potential leakages that may occur during heavy driving rain. Our standard absorbent socks measure 1.2 metres in length by 8cm in diameter. Each sock is capable of absorbing 5 litres of liquid making them highly effective and economically sound leak prevention absorbents.

As the tempestuous weather continues unabated, solutions for effective flood prevention are being provided at www.yellowshield.co.uk.

* Delivery surcharges may apply in certian areas click here for detail

Prevent Flash Flooding of your property with Land Booms and Absorbent Socks

Lack of spill prevention readiness puts a freeze on Shell's Arctic exploration

The Arctic’s pristine landscape

Shell has announced this week that they have been forced to abandon exploratory drilling in Arctic for 2012. This follows the breakdown of a piece of oil recovery equipment known as the ‘containment cap’. The ‘cap’ is necessary in retrieving spilled oil for transfer to another ship in the eventuality of a spill.

So far Shell has been beset by problems in their attempts to explore the vast oil reserves that are believed to be stored beneath the Arctic seafloor. In June of this year they had to appeal to the American Environmental Protection Agency for an increase in the amount emissions allowed for both nitrogen oxides and ammonia.

Their drillship, the Noble Discoverer, was not capable of keeping emissions below the regulated threshold and so a 12 month revision was granted that allowed Shell to carry on drilling. In addition to these problems Shell’s oil-spill response ship, the Arctic Challenger took longer than anticipated to be ready for the Arctic and severe conditions and heavy ice through the summer have also hampered data collection efforts.

Now this week the MP led Environmental Audit Committee has called for a moratorium on all drilling in the Arctic amid fears that the plans in place to deal with any oil spill are insufficient. The main concerns surround the lack of infrastructure that would be needed in the Arctic to tackle a spill. In the report the committee have put forward ideas for the creation of an Arctic standard spill response as well as an Arctic environmental sanctuary.

It is likely Shell will contest the issues the committee has highlighted. Recently they made MP’s aware that if an oil spill was to occur then their spill containment equipment boasted “a combined capacity that exceeds the worst –case discharge potential of the well we are drilling”.

Shell plan to commence drilling again in the summer of 2013 but the potential for oil spills in a pristine environment will be an unresolved issue for many years to come.

Lack of spill prevention readiness puts a freeze on Shell's Arctic exploration

Offer on Red 360 Litre Wheelie Bins

At Yellow Shield, whenever we make significant savings on a certain product, then we are always more than happy to pass these savings on to customers. That’s why for one week only, we are offering a 12.5% discount on our stock of Red 360 Litre Wheelie Bins, reducing the price to £52.50 excluding VAT and delivery.

Whether for use at home or in a commercial setting, the Red 360 Litre Wheelie Bin is versatile and adaptable for both environments, proving a complete solution for all your waste disposal needs. The 360 Litre Bin operates in precisely the same way as the standard 240 Litre Wheelie Bins that local councils provide around the country for domestic use, only providing more volume for waste storage and the same high level of mobility even when it is fully loaded.

Made from a High Density Polyethylene, these bins are resistant to all types of extreme weather (even a British summer), and are durable with tough rubber wheels and tolerant of high temperatures.

All our wheelie bins are easy to maintain and clean, and we also provide a whole host of maintenance products such as Wheelie Bin Cleaner and Bin Buddy.

To order your specially priced Red 360 Litre Wheelie Bin click here.

Offer on Red 360 Litre Wheelie Bins

The Lasting Effects of the Industrial Revolution of the UK's Rivers.

 

The ochre coloured waters of the Rheidol are now a thing of the past.

Despite its inception being over 300 years ago, the impact of the Industrial Revolution can still be seen on the UK’s environment, and in particular, its waterways.

According to experts the UK still faces many problems with metals from abandoned mines seeping into waterways, causing drinking water to become contaminated and rivers to face the ongoing threat of pollution.

Nowadays, there are stringent regulations on how a business must deal with the waste that they produce, and the Environment Agency Pollution Prevention Guidelines are the reference by which the issue is policed. However, mines that were abandoned prior to 1999, do not fall under that same strict guidelines that are attributable to mines that became disused after that time.

As a consequence up to 2,000 miles of waterways have become badly polluted by the metals that have leaked out of the mines and into rivers. Known as Acid Mine Drainage, this form of pollution is now becoming a real problem within the UK.

As recently as last year the Environment Agency began an operation to clean up the River Rheidol in Wales. Instead of employing traditional methods of cleaning rivers, such as absorbent booms, they used a ground breaking filter comprised of compost, limestone and cockle shells and were able to reduce the levels of pollution in the river dramatically. The Environment Agency hopes to use this method across Wales to clean 125 miles of rivers to achieve, “good ecological status” by 2015.

Paul Edwards from the Environment Agency commented that:

“if the scheme at Rheidol was implemented at full scale, …up to 98 tonnes of harmful metals could be prevented from entering the river each year.”

If the operations continue to prove successful, it is likely that this method will be rolled out across the UK.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Lasting Effects of the Industrial Revolution of the UK's Rivers.

The New 80 Litre Wheelie Bins from Yellow Shield

This month Yellow Shield are proud to offer a new line of intermediary 80 Litre Wheelie Bin Spill Kits for General Purpose, Oil Only and Chemical use, that are designed for maximum mobility and convenience. And for a limited time only you can SAVE 20% on the General Purpose and Oil Only spill kits.

The new 80 Litre Compact Wheeled Bin Spill Kit is a complete spill kit that provides high absorbency within a compact design offering key benefits that larger spill kits sometimes lack. Whether it’s required for use in an indoor working environment or while on the move, the 80 Litre Wheelie Bin Spill Kits can provide for both.

Measuring only 26 inches in height the 80 Litre Spill Kit is compact enough to allow the user to store safely underneath a warehouse workbench or alongside existing janitorial cupboards without proving to be an obstruction.

Weighing only 12.5kg, the lightweight nature of the 80 Litre spill kit also enables the user to comfortably lift the bin on or off a vehicle for a more effective deployment in a range of environments.
To celebrate the launch of this new product Yellow Shield are offering you the chance to purchase the General Purpose and Oil Only 80 Litre Wheelie  Bin Spill Kits at a discounted rate of £57.60 each until the end of May, which is a 20% saving on the standard price.
To take advantage of this fantastic offer simply click on the images displayed above.

Industrial, commercial and healthcare waste bins

All industrial sites have a wide range of different types of rubbish to dispose of. And with the correct disposal of different types of waste more important than ever, there becomes a need to segregate the disposal of this waste into different types of waste carrying containers. Wheelie bins Wheelie bins are perhaps the most common type of waste carrying vessel now available. Wheeled bins are available in a wide range of different sizes and colours so can be used very successfully to segregate waste. The tough high density polyethylene they are manufactured from makes them able to withstand the rigours of industry while also enables easy cleaning and maintenance. And because all the bins have wheels, they can be moved around site without the risk of injury or danger of spillage. Recycling bins Recycling bins are perfect to use throughout industry and also in commercial establishments to hold recyclable gods. The bins might be put in a position where toners or ink cartridges are fre

http://www.yellowshield.co.uk/blog/industrial-commercial-and-healthcare-waste-bins-1302.html