The Situation: Commercial oil contamination
A delivery truck caused a significant oil spill outside a commercial unit in Northampton, resulting in immediate contamination of the external brickwork and parking area. The client had attempted initial mitigation by placing surface oil and contaminated absorbents into a bin. However, because the spill had been left for a period before professional intervention, the oil had begun to penetrate the masonry, making the resulting staining incredibly difficult to extract.
Health, safety & site obstacles
Restoring the site required immediate action to return the parking facilities to a safe, usable condition for the business. The Ideal Response team identified several critical Health and Safety concerns during the initial RAMS assessment:
- Contamination Control: Preventing the further spread of oil across the commercial estate.
- Public Safety: Managing the risks associated with a spill in a high-traffic area accessible to the public.
- Masonry Protection: Reducing the risk of long-term structural damage to the brickwork caused by acidic oil penetration.
The Ideal Response: Technical solution
To combat the stubborn staining, our technicians utilised an industrial-grade cleaning regime. Fully equipped in specialised PPE and white overalls, the team focused on the worst-affected areas first. The oil spill remediation would have to be carried out fast to limit the potential staining caused by the oil spill.
Specialised equipment utilised:
Bio-Enzyme Solution: Applied to break down the oil at a molecular level within the pores of the brick. The solution is applied to all areas of the spill and brushed in using road sweeping brushes to ensure that the spill is safely neutralised and the solution is able to
Dirt Driver & High-Pressure Jet Wash: Used to lift and extract the emulsified oil from the surface. The Dirt Driver provided our technicians with power and water, ensuring they could use the high-pressure jet washers during the clean which would have otherwise been impossible.
Industrial Chemicals & Absorbents: Deployed to ensure a full sanitation of all affected areas, whilst ensuring the solution is safely contained.
The Results
The Ideal Response team successfully removed the surface oil and significantly reduced the deep-seated staining caused by the delivery truck leak. We managed the safe disposal of all contaminated materials, including the absorbents previously used by the client.
The customer was incredibly happy with the speed and quality of the results, allowing the parking area to be reopened for business immediately following the one-day remediation project.
