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One Solution for Every Spill
Insurance Industry
PROCLEANSORB
An insurance policy for the environment
No one can stop accidents happening. This is particularly true of construction sites, where the risk of spills of oils, chemicals, fuels, anti-freeze and paint is high. But the fines against companies that pollute the environment are becoming more punitive.
Six-fold increase in average fines imposed by the Environment Agency
Research from law firm Clyde & Co shows the average fine per prosecution brought by the Environment Agency (EA) has increased six-fold in the past five years. EA’s data shows the average fine has risen from £23,731 in 2013/14 to £147,575 in 2017/18. Penalties can exceed £20 million for the most serious cases.
Rod Hunt of Clyde & Co, commented:
"The sentencing guideline is biting hard. The EA is more readily using enforcement undertakings for less serious offences while typically reserving prosecution for the worst offences and worst offenders.
"The message to businesses is that the EA will continue to prosecute the more serious offences and offenders so ensure you are complying with your environmental obligations or risk potentially eye-watering fines in the criminal courts."
Companies also face serious damage to reputation
Clear up costs are also rising; add these to fines, and an insurance claim for a single environmental incident can soon reach hundreds of thousands of pounds. In addition, the inevitable publicity around such an incident causes companies huge reputational damage.
That's why it makes sense for the construction industry to deploy and use ProCleanSorb because it really does protect the environment and can have a substantial effect on mitigating fines and costs.
OVER £100,000 PENALTY AVOIDED
Pro Earth Drain Covers were put in place over gullies on an Environment Agency site at Erith on the river Thames.
When a lorry's fuel tank ruptured sending up to 200 litres of diesel running towards the river, they absorbed all the fuel preventing what would have been a major environmental incident.
Without the protection offered by our Drain Covers, it's estimated the combined penalties could have been over £100,000. The drain covers cost £800.
SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL INCIDENT PREVENTED
In West Sussex recently, an old fuel drum fractured, sending up to 9,000 litres of diesel towards drains and culverts feeding a nearby lake. Called after the spill happened, we immediately used ProCleanSorb to contain and absorb the spill, then alerted the local council and the EA.
The EA team who cleaned the lake said our prompt action helped to prevent a much more serious environmental incident. As a result, the company responsible for the spill will face less severe penalties.
PROTECTING WATERWAYS
Just 1 litre of contaminant pollutes 1 million litres of water.
With that in mind, we partnered with Team van Oord who work predominantly on waterways and coastal defence projects to develop a truly effective absorbent boom.
Not only does the boom protect the environment, it also insures TVO against heavy penalties should they have an accidental spill.