Oil Spill Contingency Plan OSCP 2015.pdf · The aim of this Oil Spill Contingency Plan (OSCP) is to describe the procedures that will be used by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS)

Oil Spill Contingency Plan

Signy Research Station

BAS Environment Office

5th Edition, 2015

British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, UK, CB3 0ET.

2

3

OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLAN SIGNY RESEARCH STATION

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 8

1.1. AIM OF THE OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLAN ............................................................... 8 1.2. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IN ANTARCTICA .................................................................... 8 1.3. BAS POLICY ON OIL POLLUTION ................................................................................. 8 1.4. THE SCOPE OF THE OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLAN .................................................... 9 1.5. HOW TO USE THE CONTINGENCY PLAN ..................................................................... 9

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ............................................................................... 12

2.1. SIGNY ISLAND ........................................................................................................... 12 2.2. PHYSICAL LAYOUT OF THE STATION ......................................................................... 12 2.3. THE ROLE OF SIGNY RESEARCH STATION ................................................................. 12 2.4. THE AREA COVERED BY THE OIL SPILL CONTIGENCY PLAN ....................................... 13 2.5. OIL STORAGE FACILITIES ........................................................................................... 13 2.5.1. The main fuel tanks .......................................................................................... 13 2.5.2. Fuel drum depots ............................................................................................. 14

2.6. THE EXPECTED PROBABILITY, SIZE AND TYPE OF OIL SPILLS ..................................... 15 2.7. THE LIKELY MOVEMENT AND FATE OF OIL SPILLS .................................................... 15 2.8. THE CLASSIFICATION BY BAS OF OIL SPILLS .............................................................. 16 2.9. RESOURCES AT RISK ................................................................................................. 16 2.9.1. Reverse osmosis plant ...................................................................................... 16 2.9.2. Marine ecosystems within Factory Cove .......................................................... 17 2.9.3. Nesting birds .................................................................................................... 17 2.9.4. Seals ................................................................................................................. 17

2.10. PRIORITY FOR PROTECTION ..................................................................................... 17 2.11. GENERAL SPILL RESPONSE STRATEGY ...................................................................... 18 2.12. TRAINING ................................................................................................................. 18

3. ACTIONS AND OPERATIONS ................................................................................... 20

3.1. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PERSONNEL ........................................................ 20 3.2. ACTION PLANS .......................................................................................................... 21 3.3. CLEAN‐UP RESPONSE ............................................................................................... 22 3.3.1. Emergency shutdown ....................................................................................... 22 3.3.2. Rapid initial assessment ................................................................................... 22 3.3.3. Station response team ..................................................................................... 22 3.3.4. Initial notification & logbook ........................................................................... 23 3.3.5. Response strategies ......................................................................................... 24 3.3.6. Site management ............................................................................................. 25 3.3.7. Situation reports .............................................................................................. 25 3.3.8. Photographic and video record ........................................................................ 26

3.4. HEALTH AND SAFETY ................................................................................................ 26 3.4.1. Inhalation of fumes .......................................................................................... 26

4

3.4.2. Skin irritation .................................................................................................... 26 3.4.3. Contamination of drinking water ..................................................................... 26 3.4.4. Slips and trips ................................................................................................... 27 3.4.5. Advice on health of effects ............................................................................... 27 3.4.6. Material Safety Data Sheets ............................................................................ 27

3.5. EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS ................................................................................ 27 3.5.1. Informing FCO and COMNAP ........................................................................... 27 3.5.2. Staff information and public relations ............................................................. 27

3.6. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING ............................................................................. 27 3.7. WASTE DISPOSAL ..................................................................................................... 28 3.7.1. Storage of waste .............................................................................................. 28 3.7.2. Transport and disposal ..................................................................................... 28 3.7.3. Food waste during a spill ................................................................................. 28

3.8. TERMINATION OF OIL SPILL RESPONSE .................................................................... 29 3.9. REPORTING .............................................................................................................. 29 3.9.1. AINME .............................................................................................................. 29 3.9.2. Final report ....................................................................................................... 29

4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION .................................................................................. 32

4.1. OIL SPILL REPORT FORM ........................................................................................... 32 4.2. PPE & SPILL RESPONSE EQUIPMENT ........................................................................ 33 4.2.1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) .............................................................. 33 4.2.2. Spill Response Equipment on Base ................................................................... 33 4.2.3. How to use the equipment ............................................................................... 35

4.3. MAPS AND PLANS ..................................................................................................... 39 4.3.1. The Antarctic Peninsula & Signy Island ............................................................ 39 4.3.2. Facilities Site Plan ............................................................................................. 40 4.3.3. Resources at Risk .............................................................................................. 41 4.3.4. MGO System .................................................................................................... 42

4.4. CONTACT LISTS ......................................................................................................... 44 4.4.1. British Antarctic Survey (BAS) .......................................................................... 44 4.4.2. The British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit (BASMU) ........................................ 44 4.4.3. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) ....................................................... 45 4.4.4. External Advisors .............................................................................................. 45 4.4.5. Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP) ............. 45

4.5. BAS SPILL RESPONSE STRUCTURE ............................................................................ 47

5. APPENDICES ............................................................................................................ 49

5.1. APPENDIX A ‐ ACTION PLANS ................................................................................... 49 5.1.1. Action Plan 1 – Station Leader ......................................................................... 51 5.1.2. Action Plan 2 – Operations Manager ............................................................... 53 5.1.3. Action Plan 3 – Head of Environment Office .................................................... 55 5.1.4. Action Plan 4 – Head of Estates ....................................................................... 57

5.2. APPENDIX B – MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET ......................................................... 59 5.2.1. MGO ................................................................................................................. 59

5.3. APPENDIX C – RISK ASSESSMENT ............................................................................. 73

5

AMENDMENT PROCEDURES

Amendments to the Signy Research Station Oil Spill Contingency Plan will be issued as necessary by the BAS Environmental Office. The OSCP will be updated online, and a notification sent to those on the distribution list informing them of the update. Existing copies of the OSCP must be destroyed, and replaced with the updated version. Confirmation must be provided to the Environmental Office that this has been completed.

LIABILITY LIMITATIONS

This document is produced for internal management purposes by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Its publication and/or sale do not constitute endorsement of any of the companies or products mentioned herein. BAS do not accept any responsibility or legal liability for any actions undertaken, on the basis of the advice in this document, by individuals not employed by the BAS, or by organisations or companies not contracted to the BAS in the field of oil spill response. Any liability of BAS to its own employees or to companies contracted to it will be limited to that under UK Health and Safety legislation or contractual agreement.

Copy No. DISTRIBUTION LIST

1. Operations Manager, BAS Cambridge

2. Station Leader’s Office, Signy

3. Station Leader’s Office, Cambridge

4. Head of Environment Office

5. Head of Estates

6. Signy Station Operations Manager

7. Head, Polar Regions Unit, FCO

Also available on BAS intranet site (Manuals) at http://basweb.nerc‐bas.ac.uk/information/manuals/index.html

6

7

Section 1

INTRODUCTION

8

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. AIM OF THE OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLAN

The aim of this Oil Spill Contingency Plan (OSCP) is to describe the procedures that will be used by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to enable a timely, effective and coordinated response effort in the event of an oil spill at Signy Research Station, Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, Antarctica.

1.2. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IN ANTARCTICA

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991) contains stringent and comprehensive regulations to prevent and combat pollution. Article 15 of the Protocol requires Treaty Parties to provide for prompt and effective response action to incidents with potential adverse effects on the Antarctic environment, and to establish contingency plans for emergencies. The UK has enacted domestic legislation to enforce the provisions of the Protocol through the Antarctic Act (1994), The Antarctic Act (2013), and the Antarctic Regulations (1995/490 as amended). The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP) has carried out a comprehensive review of oil spill response in Antarctica. COMNAP has adopted a set of recommended guidelines for oil spill contingency planning to help national operators comply with the requirements of the Environmental Protocol. These guidelines have been used to develop the Signy OSCP.

1.3. BAS POLICY ON OIL POLLUTION

In accordance with Article 3 (1) of Annex IV (Prevention of Marine Pollution) to the Protocol, BAS prohibits any deliberate discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixtures from either its research vessels or stations.

BAS makes every effort to prevent accidental oil spills through careful attention to fuel management and transfer operations, and by maintaining storage facilities and pipelines to a high standard. Nevertheless, BAS recognises that even with the best precautions, accidents can still happen and oil spill contingency procedures are required.

BAS views an oil spill which might occur from its stations and vessels as extremely serious and will seek to minimize the environmental impact as far as possible. Given the severe operational and climatic restraints of operating

9

in Antarctica, any spill response by BAS will seek to complement and make use of natural processes whenever possible.

1.4. THE SCOPE OF THE OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLAN

This plan describes the response procedures to be used at Signy Research Station in the event of an oil spill resulting from:

the grounding of a vessel near to the station;

failure of a main fuel tank;

refuelling operations during ship to shore transfer;

failure of pipes, valves, joints, small fuel tanks and fuel drums

refuelling skidoos, decanting fuel 205l, 25l, 1 litre containers

In the event of an oil spill occurring from a vessel whilst in the immediate vicinity of Signy Research Station, the Signy OSCP will be used in conjunction with the relevant shipboard oil pollution emergency plan (SOPEP).

1.5. HOW TO USE THE CONTINGENCY PLAN

The plan comprises three further parts: Section 2 Background information and outline plans This section contains a description of Signy Island, the research station and its facilities and the area covered by the contingency plan. The probability, size, type, movement and fate of oil spills are predicted. The resources at risk around the station are examined and the priority for protection is established. Finally, the general BAS strategy for oil spill response and the training of spill response personnel is outlined.

Section 3 Action and operations This describes the emergency procedures to be followed when a spill occurs. It is set out in the expected chronological order of events. A description is provided of the roles and responsibilities of personnel and the initial assessment and notification of a spill. Advice is given on response strategies, managing a spill site, situation reports, health and safety requirements, external communications, environmental monitoring, waste disposal and the termination of an oil spill response. Finally, instructions are given for oil spill reporting. Section 4 Additional Information This contains the ‘Oil Spill Report Forms’, a list of PPE and spill equipment on site and an overview of how to use it appropriately. In addition maps, plans and fuel system diagrams are included as well as a contacts list. Action plan

10

flow diagrams for key personnel are included in Appendix A. MSDS can be found in Appendix B and a risk assessment is included in Appendix C.

11

Section 2

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

12

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

2.1. SIGNY ISLAND

Signy Research Station (60°43'S, 45°36'W) is located on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, Antarctica (See Section 4.3). Signy is approximately triangular, 7 km long by 5 km wide, with a total area of about 20 km². It is low‐lying and rises to an elevation of 279 m at Tioga Hill. There is permanent ice cover over the central and southern part of the island and two glaciers reach the sea. The weather at Signy is determined mainly by depressions passing along the Antarctic Peninsula and into the Weddell Sea. Signy lies in the track of prevailing westerly winds. Mean wind speed is 13.7 kts. Gale force gusts occur frequently, with an extreme gust of 104 kts being recorded. Mean austral summer (November ‐ March) air temperatures range from ‐2°C to nearly +3°C. In winter (April ‐ October), the mean monthly temperatures range from ‐2°C to ‐17°C. The extreme minimum temperature at Signy has been recorded as ‐39.3°C. Seawater temperatures at Signy vary little, ranging between ‐1.8°C in winter to 0.3°C in summer. During the winter, Signy is surrounded by Weddell sea pack ice. There are also periods when the sea freezes to form fast ice. Sea ice up to 1 m thick is present for an average of 140 days each year, though there is great year to year variation. Light varies throughout the year with between 2 ‐ 3 hours of twilight at mid‐winter (June), to 14 ‐ 15 hours of sunlight and 2 hours of twilight possible at mid‐summer (December).

2.2. PHYSICAL LAYOUT OF THE STATION

The present station complex covers 5.25 ha. There are three main buildings in use and a number of smaller structures, as well as fuel tanks and the VSAT dome, which is located on the old fuel tank concrete base. Section 4.4 shows the plan of the buildings with all fuel storage tanks and depots marked. The buildings are grouped around a small jetty and slipway. The station is currently designed to accommodate 8 people.

2.3. THE ROLE OF SIGNY RESEARCH STATION

Signy Research Station was established in 1947 by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (which became BAS in 1962), primarily as a

13

meteorological base. In 1996, the station was redeveloped as a summer only facility, and is now used for biological research and Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) monitoring.

2.4. THE AREA COVERED BY THE OIL SPILL CONTIGENCY PLAN

The OSCP covers the immediate area surrounding the jetty and an area along shore in both directions for approximately 10 metres (Section 4.5).

2.5. OIL STORAGE FACILITIES 2.5.1. The main fuel tanks

The two main fuel tanks contain diesel fuel oil (Marine Gas Oil ‐ MGO) and have a maximum capacity of 130,000 litres each. They are situated immediately north of the station at an elevation of approximately 3m above sea level. They are rectangular welded steel tanks built in 1996 in a concrete bund covered with a steel roof. The tank is connected via a surface pipeline to the generator building (see Section 4.6). A visual check of the tank and pipeline is carried out each week by the station mechanic.

The annual resupply of 20‐30,000 litres of diesel fuel is achieved by transfer from a BAS research vessel (the RRS James Clark Ross or the RRS Ernest Shackleton) to the main tanks. The fuel is either transported by landing craft in a flubber from the BAS research vessel to the station, where it is pumped into the bulk fuel tank, or pumped directly from the ship, over sea‐ice to the bulk fuel tank, although this method is not favoured due to the risks involved of working on the ice. If conditions allow, refuelling can be completed directly from ship to shore over open water using two connecting sections of hose. A rigid inflatable boat is positioned under the coupling which connects the two sections of hose on the water. During refuelling, continual inspections are made of the fuel hose, the flubber, the fuel tanks and level gauges, and on board ship. Drip trays are placed under the hose joints as a precaution during refuelling. Contact between personnel is maintained using VHF radio.

14

2.5.2. Fuel drum depots

Table 1. Maximum number of drums and quantities of fuel (litres) held at the drum depots, Signy Research Station.

Type of Fuel Maximum No. of Drums Maximum Quantity

(Litres) Petrol 4 (205 litre drums)

820

Lubricating Oil 20 (25 litre drums)

500

Paraffin 4 (205 litre drums)

820

The main fuel drum depot is located next to the bulk fuel tanks. It consists of a concrete platform on which 205 litre steel petrol drums are stored, and a small store in which 25 litre lubricating oil drums are kept. The maximum number of drums and quantities of fuel are only held immediately after annual resupply of the station.

Refuelling of skidoos and small generators is carried out at the depot using a hand‐pump. One, 205 litre drum of paraffin is held at the emergency store (Berntsen Point). Three, 25 litre drums are held at Foca field hut and two 25 litre drums are held at each of the three field huts (Gourlay, Cummings and Waterpipe).

2.5.3 Day holding tank

Fuel for the generators is gravity fed from the main fuel tanks into a day holding tank. The holding tank, which can contain 1300 litres of MGO, is located in the generator shed. The tank is topped up twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays by the station mechanic. The day tank is double skinned. The water boiler fuel tank is located to the east of the main building and can contain 1250 litres of MGO ‐ it is filled as per the day tank and is also double skinned.

15

2.6. THE EXPECTED PROBABILITY, SIZE AND TYPE OF OIL SPILLS

A range of spill scenarios can be generated for Signy Research Station (Table 2). These range from the very low probability of a large oil spill if a vessel were to go aground, to the high probability of small spills during refuelling operations and the handling of fuel drums. Table 2. Expected probability, maximum spill size and fuel type for a range of

possible scenarios at Signy Research Station.

SPILL

PROBABILITY MAXIMUM SPILL

SIZE (Litres)

FUEL TYPE

Ship collision with iceberg or grounding

Very low 600,000

Diesel fuel (MGO) and other petroleum products

Catastrophic failure of a main fuel tank

Low 130,000

Diesel fuel (MGO)

Flubber break or leak during refuelling ship to shore

Medium 10 000

Diesel fuel (MGO)

Rupture or overflow of daytank in generator shed

Medium

1300

Diesel fuel (MGO)

Rupture or overflow of boiler tank

Medium 1250

Diesel fuel (MGO)

Failure of pipes, valves or joints

Medium 1000

Diesel fuel (MGO)

Damaged drum at fuel depot or field hut

High 205

Petrol Paraffin

2.7. THE LIKELY MOVEMENT AND FATE OF OIL SPILLS

Spills are most likely either at the station itself or during refuelling from ship to shore. A spill of diesel fuel in Factory Cove will spread very quickly unless it

16

occurs on sea‐ice or within an ice lead. At the station a spill not contained within bunds will run down slope towards Factory Cove. Fuel will flow under buildings as they are built on plinths. Any significant vertical migration will probably be stopped by permafrost. In winter, oil may run directly onto the sea‐ice, whereas in summer it would run off into the sea.

Most spills will be of diesel fuel and this is likely to quickly evaporate, even in low winter temperatures and calm conditions. In summer, small spills of refined products, such as petrol and diesel, may evaporate completely within two to three days. Unless large quantities of oil are released, it is likely that the persistent westerly winds will keep oil hemmed onto the shoreline adjacent to the station. Fuel that enters the sea will initially float but will rapidly evaporate and, particularly in rough weather, will be dispersed by wave action.

2.8. THE CLASSIFICATION BY BAS OF OIL SPILLS

Oil spill incidents within the BAS are classified as follows:

Tier 1 Small local spills that can be dealt with immediately by one person or a dedicated station clean‐up team.

Tier 2 Medium spills that require the full resources of the station and which

require assistance from BAS Cambridge.

Tier 3 Large spills which exceed the resources of the station and BAS Cambridge, and which require outside assistance.

Spills may not always fall neatly into the above classes. It is, therefore, important to be prepared to move to the next highest tier from the earliest moments of a spill. It is easier to stand down a response than to escalate it at the last moment.

2.9. RESOURCES AT RISK

The resources most at risk from a major oil spill at Signy are shown in Section 4.5.

2.9.1. Reverse osmosis plant

Freshwater for the research station is provided by a reverse osmosis plant. The inlet pipe is west of the jetty.

17

2.9.2. Marine ecosystems within Factory Cove The intertidal zone is subject to ice scour and as such is virtually devoid of life. However, rocks do support seasonal macroalgal growth, which is exploited by mobile animals such as the Antarctic limpet (Nacella concina). Most of Factory Cove is covered by soft sediment, mostly sandy silt, with occasional rock and boulder. The maximum depth within the bay is 10m. Soft bottomed substrates support a high biomass and are dominated by polychaete worms, infaunal amphipods and infaunal bivalves. Hard rock substrates protected from ice scour, such as rock overhangs, support an enormous biomass and diversity of organisms. Suspension feeders, such as anemones, sponges, hydroids, soft‐corals, bryozoans, and brachiopods are all very common. The littoral and sublittoral zones in Factory Cove do not, however, contain any unique species or communities, and are representative of sheltered shores elsewhere on Signy Island.

2.9.3. Nesting birds

There is a large colony of nesting snow petrels and Cape pigeons on the rock ledges of Factory Bluffs. A smaller colony of snow petrels is located at Pinder Gully. Wilson’s storm petrels and Antarctic prions nest in burrows on Bernsten Point and around the station. Brown skuas also breed on the Back Slope behind the base. All have been observed feeding on the water within Factory Cove.

2.9.4. Seals

During the austral summer up to 60 elephant seals haul out regularly to moult on beaches and slopes adjacent to Factory Cove. Antarctic fur seals are more common, and up to 200 juvenile males may be present on low‐lying ground in January and February. Weddell seals are occasionally seen near the station, and breed nearby on the sea‐ice during winter.

2.10. PRIORITY FOR PROTECTION

The health and safety of station personnel is paramount during an oil spill. The fresh water supply to the base has therefore, the highest priority for protection. If a spill does occur and threatens to contaminate the water supply, the reverse osmosis plant must be shut down immediately to prevent contamination of the station water supply and the plant itself. Water will be taken as necessary from the holding tank, which is located to the rear of the Generator building, whilst the reverse osmosis plant is stopped.

18

2.11. GENERAL SPILL RESPONSE STRATEGY

The general strategy of the BAS is to contain and recover oil spills. In the first few days after a spill as much oil as possible is to be removed. After which any remaining oil will be left to degrade and disperse in the environment. The progress of this natural attenuation will be monitored. Signy has spill response equipment to deal with Tier1 and Tier 2 spills only. Full details are given in Section 4.2. The use of dispersants and in‐situ burning are not practised on BAS stations. However, each spill is different and the general strategy of containment and recovery of fuel may not be appropriate under all circumstances. The BAS will seek expert advice on alternative response strategies should the need arise. A long term intensive cleanup is unlikely to be carried out by BAS because of the rapid evaporation and dispersion of refined fuel products used on station. In addition the severe climatic conditions and logistical constraints of operating safely will limit the ability of the team to undertake such a cleanup.

2.12. TRAINING

BAS consider training in oil spill response to be important and necessary. Selected Station staff will receive training at BAS Cambridge before departure to Antarctica.

Oil spill response exercises will be held on the station once a year, to ensure that all those likely to be involved in a response are familiar with the OSCP, response procedures, and to check that response equipment operates correctly. In addition, basic training is given to all new arrivals at Signy, covering procedures for reporting a spill, health and safety issues, and the use of basic equipment (e.g. absorbents). The contingency plan will be updated as and when required. A major review of the plan will be carried out every five years as progress and experience in oil spill response continues within the BAS, or following a Tier 2 or Tier 3 incident.

19

Section 3

ACTIONS AND OPERATIONS

20

3. ACTIONS AND OPERATIONS

3.1. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PERSONNEL

The oil spill response structure within BAS is shown in Section 4.8. At BAS Cambridge, the response team will consist of the Operations Manager (Team Leader) or Operations on call, the Head of Environment Office and the Head of Estates, or their nominated deputies. Information on contacting staff and external support is provided in Section 4.1. On station the Station Leader will co‐ordinate the spill response.

The roles and responsibilities of the key response personnel are:

Station Leader 1. Initial control of emergency shutdown and response team, until

Operations Manager (or Operations on call) notified; 2. On‐site control of the response team throughout an incident; 3. Ensures that an incident and communications log is kept on base; 4. Initial notification and classification of the spill; 5. Responds to actions requested by BAS Cambridge via Operations

Manager; 6. Prepares situation reports for BAS Cambridge; 7. Ensures waste fuel, absorbents and contaminated PPE is stored and

consigned for disposal appropriately. 8. Stands down the station response team at end of incident; 9. Ensures that equipment is cleaned and that replacement parts are

ordered; 10. Orders materials consumed during the response through the Head of

Environment Office; 11. Prepares a final report on the spill; 12. Organises the station response exercises.

Operations Manager (or Operations on call) 1. Overall control of the response team; 2. Organises environmental, technical, administrative and logistical support

for the response team; 3. Informs and updates the Director’s Office of any incident; 4. Liaises with Signy Station Leader throughout an incident; 5. Ensures that an actions and communications log is kept at BAS

Cambridge; 6. Prepares draft press statements for release by the Director’s Office; 7. Notifies outside agencies (FCO, COMNAP), as appropriate; 8. Decides when to terminate a response action; 9. Files log, reports and photographic/video material of incident in Archives,

BAS Cambridge; 10. Prepares final report on the spill for the Director’s Office.

21

Head of Environment Office 1. Advises on best practicable clean‐up techniques, the ecological resources

most at risk and likely environmental impact; 2. Contacts appropriate outside bodies for information and assistance

regarding clean‐up (e.g. OSR); 3. Authorises expenditure on clean‐up equipment and disposal of oily

wastes; 4. Advises the Operations Manager on the environmental content of press

statements; 5. Devises and coordinates scientific monitoring studies; 6. Organises oil spill response courses for staff in the UK; 7. Reviews and updates the Signy OSCP as and when required.

Head of Estates 1. Advises on emergency fuel management and the integrity of oil storage

facilities and pipelines; 2. Advises on the emergency shutdown of reverse osmosis system; 3. Procures emergency spare parts for fuel tanks and pipelines, as

necessary; 4. Contacts BAS Technical Officers, outside companies and agencies for

information and assistance regarding technical services; 5. Reviews fuel storage and transfer system after an incident, and reviews

fuel management system to prevent a similar spill in the future; 6. Authorises expenditure on technical services.

Health and Safety Advisor 1. Advises on Health and Safety issues as they arise during exercises or

incidents 2. Reviews and provides advice upon appropriate PPE for oil spill response

at Signy

3.2. ACTION PLANS

Action plans have been developed for the key personnel who would be involved in an oil spill at Signy. These can be found in Appendix A. Plans have been produced for the following people:

Station Leader (Action plan 1)

Operations Manager/Operations on Call (Action plan 2)

Head of Environment Office (Action plan 3)

Head of Estates (Action plan 4)

22

3.3. CLEAN‐UP RESPONSE 3.3.1. Emergency shutdown

Once a spill has been discovered, it is to be reported immediately to the Station Leader. Spill response then becomes the Station Leader’s responsibility. He/she must first ensure the health and safety of personnel. If safe to do so, the Station Leader must order any emergency shutdown measures needed to stop or minimize further spillage. When extremely volatile fuels, such as petrol, are spilled in a confined area, there may be a risk of fire or explosion. In such circumstances, explosion and fire prevention are the top priority. In unventilated areas fuel fumes can also affect breathing and cause nausea. No clean‐up is to be attempted until the spill area is safe.

3.3.2. Rapid initial assessment

The Station Leader must carry out a rapid initial assessment of the situation. He/she must check the:

risk of fire or harm to human health;

time of spill;

location of spill;

type of fuel;

probable quantity of fuel spilled;

probable source and cause. 3.3.3. Station response team

If safe to do so, the Station Leader must mobilise the station oil spill response team and decide on the most appropriate response strategy. It is the duty of the team to protect:

Health and safety;

Station facilities;

Threatened resources.

The team will operate under the direct supervision of the Station Leader. It will consist of the Station Leader and Facilities Technician. Other personnel are not permanently allocated ‐ all staff are trained in all operations and tasks will be assigned by the Station Leader as required. Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be issued before any of the response team is involved in the cleanup of a spill. See Section 4.2 for a list of PPE stored on site.

23

Facilities Technician

Shuts off reverse osmosis plant if necessary;

Checks generators to ensure that the spill will not cause disruption of fuel supply to the engines on line (eg. spill from day tank in generator shed);

If spill directly affects engines on line they must be shut off and an emergency supply organised immediately;

If spill does not affect engines on line then Facilities Technician to proceed to spill site and assist with pumping operations.

3.3.4. Initial notification & logbook

The Station Leader must notify the Operations Manager (or Operations on call), BAS Cambridge, of spills of 205 litres or more as soon as possible by completing and emailing the oil spill report form (Section 4.4). Notification must not be delayed if some of the information required in the rapid initial assessment is not available. Once notification by email has been sent, verbal communication by telephone must then be made between the Station Leader and the Operations Manager. If the Operations Manager or Operations on Call are not available the Station Leader should contact the Head of Environment Office. Verbal contact with Cambridge must follow the initial notification for a tier 2 or 3 spill. Any Operations staff who receives an initial notification of a spill on base must ensure that verbal communications with the Station Leader is made as soon as possible. The Station Leader should also notify the Operations Manager (Operations on call) of spills of less than 205 litres if the spill has, or could have:

caused injury or illness to staff or visitors;

affected station facilities (e.g. water or electrical supply);

impacted the local environment (e.g. killed or injured animals or plants);

or the spill has provided lessons that can be learned, which can be shared with other stations or BAS Cambridge. Once the initial notification to Cambridge has been made and the station response team has been mobilised the Station Leader must open a logbook of all actions and communications, and keep it up to date throughout the incident. The Operations Manager (Operations on call) will provide immediate notification of the spill to the Head of Environment Office and Head of Estates. After responding to the initial notification, the Operations Manager will then alert the Director of Operations and the Director of BAS.

24

If the spill is classified as Tier 3, then an emergency response centre will be set up at BAS Cambridge in Room 133a. It will be manned by the Operations Manager, Head of Environment Office and Head of Estates.

3.3.5. Response strategies The general response strategy of BAS is to contain and recover MGO, aviation fuel, kerosene or oil spills. Petrol spills should be allowed to evaporate naturally. Prioritise the health and safety of staff before stopping the source of the spill but do not attempt to recover spilt petrol. Each spill response will be influenced by many factors including the quantity of fuel spilt, location, resources available and weather conditions. The following techniques and equipment can be used separately or in conjunction with each other to minimize the environmental impact and maximize recovery. a. Natural Recovery In certain situations it may be appropriate to leave an oil spill to disperse and be broken down by natural processes. Seek advice from BAS Cambridge to ensure that this strategy is appropriate before disregarding any other type of response. b. Contain & Recover (i) Sorbents Sorbents are any material that recovers oil through either absorption, where the oil penetrates the pores of the material, or adsorption where the oil is attracted to the material surface and adheres to it. Sorbents are supplied as sheets, mats, pillows, socks and booms. These are particularly useful for small spills of light oil (e.g. MGO) but in a large spill they are not used as the primary method of cleanup, rather they are used in the final clean up. Some sorbents are treated with oleophilic or hydrophobic agents to increase their recovery capacity. Oleophilic agents attract oil, whereas hydrophobic agents repel water. Both types will increase the amount of oil a sorbent will pick up rather than water. Without treatment many sorbents can become waterlogged and sink if deployed in water. It is important therefore to use the appropriate sorbent for the spill location i.e. oleophilic and hydrophilic in wet conditions. Synthetic sorbents (which are stocked at all bases) have the highest recovery efficiency but must be removed from the spill site after use because they are non biodegradable. For further details on sorbents in stock and how to use those at Bird Island see Section 4.2.1 – 4.2.3.

25

(ii) Delta head skimmers & fast tanks Skimmers are suitable for the removal of oil from the surface of sheltered waters. The Delta head skimmer is a self‐contained free floating system with a suction plate that can recover up to 24m3/hr. The disadvantage of the skimmer is that it can collect large amounts of water as well as oil which may need further separation. However it is also designed to be used in fast tanks so contaminated water can be re‐skimmed after the initial collection. Fast tanks are quick and simple to erect and are used to store oil contaminated water which has been collected from a spill site. The water can then be re‐skimmed and decanted into empty 205l drums before being transported off site for disposal.

3.3.6. Site management

Managing the spill site appropriately will help to minimise the extent of pollution and keep staff safe during the response. Demarcating a cold, warm and hot zone will help to contain oil in one area and avoid spreading contaminants around the base. Hazardous tape can be used to help mark off different zones. a. Hot Zone This is the contaminated area around the spill where people wearing PPE will be working and deploying equipment. This may be a controlled access area. It may be appropriate to erect barriers to keep wildlife away from the spill area and allow cleanup work to proceed safely. b. Warm Zone This is a transition area, clear of the spill itself and above the tide line. A decontamination area can be created where staff can put on clean PPE and take off contaminated clothing. A boot washer should be located at the exit of the hot zone into the warm zone. Waste drums should be located here ready to receive segregated waste oil, contaminated clothing and used absorbents. The fast tank can also be set up here to store contaminated water. c. Cold zone The cold zone should be a clean area away from the spill. No one in this area should be wearing contaminated PPE. This is the area from which the spill response should be planned and co‐ordinated.

3.3.7. Situation reports

The Station Leader is to give BAS Cambridge initial notification of a tier 2 or 3 spill as soon as possible (see Section 3.3.4).

26

Situation reports should then be filed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 hrs after the initial notification. These reports should be submitted on the same form as the initial notification form (see Section 4.4). After 24 hrs, situation reports are to be sent every 24 hrs until otherwise agreed by BAS Cambridge and the Station Leader. All communications are to be recorded in the incident logbooks maintained on station and at BAS Cambridge.

3.3.8. Photographic and video record

A photographic and video record of the spill and its subsequent clean‐up is to be kept if personnel are available, and should be given to BAS to copy at the first opportunity. The record should be as comprehensive as possible. Photographs, slides, videos or digital film are to be submitted by the Station Leader to the Operations Manager. Digital photos can also be included in the final report if appropriate and logged on AINME.

3.4. HEALTH AND SAFETY

The health and safety of station personnel is paramount during an oil spill. Emergency spill response actions should not be undertaken in periods of extreme weather conditions or darkness unless the situation has been fully assessed by the Station Leader and deemed safe.

3.4.1. Inhalation of fumes

Inhalation of hydrocarbon fumes can cause headaches and nausea. For small spills, ensure adequate ventilation in cleanup work areas and monitor staff health. For large spills, it may take 2‐3 days to allow sufficient ventilation to gain safe entry into some areas. Fumes may also build up inside the station by the response team bringing in fuel‐soaked clothing. An emergency drying room should be established in the storage building, away from the main living area on the station. The Station Leader must establish a cleaning rota to ensure that rooms used by the response team are washed daily.

3.4.2. Skin irritation

Fuel and oil can be a skin irritant. Severe reactions can lead to dermatitis. Clean‐up personnel must wear one‐piece suits, rubber gauntlets and protective eye goggles during response efforts. Showers must be taken at the end of the working day.

3.4.3. Contamination of drinking water

Drinking water would have to be highly contaminated by hydrocarbons for harm to occur. This is highly unlikely since very low concentrations of hydrocarbons alter the taste of water and make it completely unpalatable.

27

3.4.4. Slips and trips Spilled fuel increases the risks of slips and falls. Correct protective footwear, good ‘housekeeping’ and limiting the spread of contamination will help to reduce these risks. Due attention must be paid in order to avoid slips, trips and accidents from manual handling of the equipment.

3.4.5. Advice on health of effects The Station Leader is to contact the nearest doctor (ship or station) on the likely health effects of an oil spill. If symptoms attributable to the spill occur, the doctor is to inform the BAS Medical Unit immediately who will provide instructions and advice. The Station Leader must also pay attention to signs of exhaustion or stress amongst the response crew.

3.4.6. Material Safety Data Sheets

The Material Safety Data Sheets for Marine Gas Oil, petrol, kerosene, MGO and all lubricating oils used at Signy Station are held on station and in Cambridge. The Safety Data Sheet for MGO is provided in Appendix B.

3.5. EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS 3.5.1. Informing FCO and COMNAP

When remedial action is well underway, the Operations Manager may advise, as necessary, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP).

3.5.2. Staff information and public relations Tier 3 spill will concern staff and is likely to attract public and media attention. The Operations Director is responsible for ensuring that all staff are aware of a Tier 3 oil spill. A staff notice is to be prepared as soon as practicable after initial notification has been received at BAS Cambridge.

The official spokesperson for BAS in the event of a major oil spill will be the Head of Communications who will be briefed regularly by the BAS Cambridge response team. No unauthorised BAS personnel are to contact or talk to the media.

The Operations Manager will assist the Head of Communications in preparing a draft press statement. Advice on environmental issues will be provided by the Head of Environment Office.

3.6. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

The environmental monitoring of an oil spill is the responsibility of the Head of Environment Office, in liaison with the Operations Manager and the

28

Station Leader. Where available, specialist scientific expertise on station or at BAS Cambridge will be made use of. The monitoring programme must be agreed by the Head of Environment Office, the Operations Manager, the Station Leader and the Ecosystems Science Programme Coordinator and appropriate Ecosystems Project Leader(s).

3.7. WASTE DISPOSAL 3.7.1. Storage of waste

A minimum of 30 empty fuel drums are designated for oil spill response efforts. This stock of drums should be rotated frequently. Store waste fuel, oil, and contaminated absorbents (booms and/or pillows) or clothing into empty 205 litre drums, which have had their tops removed. Heavy drums are difficult to handle ‐ do not overfill. Allow for expansion and do not overfill drums. Watch out for pinhole leaks. Disposal of waste fuel and oil must follow the instructions given in the BAS Waste Management Handbook.

3.7.2. Transport and disposal

At the first available opportunity drums containing recovered fuel and other wastes from the clean‐up should be sent out on BAS vessels. Follow the instructions given in the BAS Waste Management Handbook. The Station Leader must prepare a Bill of Lading (BOL) before the waste is removed.

3.7.3. Food waste during a spill During a spill no waste food is to be disposed of onto the beach or into the sea. This will help to prevent birds from scavenging and becoming coated in oil. Dead limpets and other dead fauna contaminated with oil must also be removed to prevent ingestion by birds. Contact the Environment Office for disposal advice. As far as possible food waste should be stored frozen until it can be safely disposed of.

29

3.8. TERMINATION OF OIL SPILL RESPONSE

The termination of an oil spill response is to be decided by the Operations Manager in consultation with the Station Leader, the Head of Environment Office and the Head of Estates. It is the responsibility of the Station Leader to stand down the station response team. All personnel involved in the response to a Tier 2 or Tier 3 spill must be given a medical check‐up by a BAS doctor at the first opportunity. The BAS Medical Unit will provide instructions. Equipment must be washed and cleaned by the response team before being put into storage. First remove as much oil as possible using absorbent pads. The Fastank can be used for cleaning equipment in. The Crest Master pump must be emptied of water. The Station Leader is to reorder any materials consumed after checking the equipment against the oil spill response equipment inventory. Arrangements for the repair and replacement of damaged equipment are to be made with the Head of Environment Office at BAS Cambridge at the earliest opportunity.

3.9. REPORTING 3.9.1. AINME

After an incident has occurred spills of greater than 205 litres, or spills of any size from which important lessons can be learnt, should be reported through the Accident, Incident, Near Miss, Environmental (AINME) reporting system. Smaller spills of less than 205 litres should be reported in the small spill log in order to identify trends in spills and help to reduce or minimise future incidents.

3.9.2. Final report For tier 2 & 3 spills the Station Leader is to prepare a final report on the spill at the end of the incident. The report is to describe the:

time (GMT) and date of spill;

estimated quantity of fuel spilled (litres);

type of fuel;

source and cause;

location and extent of spill (map);

resources affected;

environmental impact;

response action taken;

30

- stopping or minimising spill - (technical work carried out to fuel tanks or pipelines); - clean‐up (number of personnel, techniques in use, amount of

oil/water collected (litres)); - environmental monitoring (photographs, video)

value of response action;

health of station personnel, if affected by spill incident;

final classification of spill (Tier 2 or 3);

post spill evaluation of contingency plan, and suggested amendments if necessary;

further action.

The final report and any accompanying digital photographs are to be submitted to the online Accident, Incident, Near Miss and Environmental (AINME) system within one month of the end of the incident. The Operations Manager is to save on file the spill report form, the situational reports and any additional photos or digital footage of the incident. The Head of Environment Office will organize a review meeting on spill response within 6 months of a Tier 2 or 3 spill and revise the OSCP as necessary. The Head of Estates will procure spare parts and back up fuel systems and review the fuel storage and transfer systems as appropriate.

31

Section 4

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

32

4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

4.1. OIL SPILL REPORT FORM

OIL SPILL REPORT‐ SIGNY RESEARCH STATION

URGENT To: Operations Manager, BAS

Email : [email protected] (Mike Dinn) and [email protected] (Operations on Call)

1. Initial Report Situation Report (Hr .....)

2. Date : Time (GMT = local time + 3hrs) :

3. Type of fuel and estimated quantity / revised estimate of quantity of fuel spilled (litres):

4. Source and cause:

5. Location, area covered and movement of spill (attach map if possible):

6. Weather conditions:

7. Resources at risk and environmental impact :

8. Response action (include actions to stop or minimise spill, clean‐up techniques, no. of personnel involved, quantity of fuel recovered, environmental monitoring / samples taken)

9. Classification / revised classification of spill:

10. Useable bulk fuel remaining (litres):

11. Advice requested from BAS Cambridge

12. Additional comments (continue on separate sheet if necessary) :

Signature:

33

4.2. PPE & SPILL RESPONSE EQUIPMENT

4.2.1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

All staff on base should know where PPE and the spill response equipment is stored. At Signy there is a designated spill response equipment hut. Item Quantity

Green one piece PVC suit M 4

Green one piece PVC suit L 3

One piece once only suit XL 19

Dipco black rubber gloves size 10 (18") 6

North chem. Brown rubber gloves size 91/2 (11") 10

Brown PVC work gloves 3

UVEX clear goggles 9

Thigh waders 9

Chest waders 1

Hard hats 5

4.2.2. Spill Response Equipment on Base

Protective Clothing Quantity Alfa Laval Peristaltic Pump – water oil pump Pump type: M20 AB TBHP Drive: Honda GX 160L Petrol Peristaltic Hose: Hypalon

1

Accessories: Suction Probe 1

Disc Strainer 1

Flix hose 12m

Semi rigid hose 24m

Fastank – portable storage tank Low temperature Arctic Volume 7.5m3

1

Polythene sheets 2

Funnels 2

Graple hooks 3

Bog chisel 1

Hose connector cones 3

Buckets 10

Strop 1

Drizit cushions 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.05 26

Drizit booms 4 x 0.18m diameter 18

Pig booms 6m 10

Polyprop oil absorbent roll 38"x160' 1

Absorbent sausage pads 18

Yellow hazardous spill kit drum 1

34

35

4.2.3. How to use the equipment

Spill Equipment What does it do? Where can it be used? How do I use it?

1. Blue Absorbents ‐ socks Designed to soak up and retain oils, coolants, solvents and water. (Contains vermiculite.)

Indoors, around leaking machines, garage floors etc,

Work best when in direct contact with the floor or ground. (Heavier than the grey socks, so hugs the floor better)

Use outside in dry weather

Can be used effectively as a barrier/dike to surround a spill and contain it.

Shake the sock before placing it to evenly distribute filler.

Place around the edge of spill to stop the flow.

Don’t stack socks on top of one another, but use head to toe to create an effective barrier.

Dispose of when saturated.

2. Grey absorbents ‐ socks

Designed to soak up and retain oils, coolants, solvents and water. (Contains vermiculite.)

Indoors, around leaking machines, garage floors etc,

These socks are flexible so they can be used around machines and in tight spaces to stop leaks and prevent spreading.


Versatile, flexible absorbent can be used wherever it fits.

Can be used as a dike to contain spill or to recover spilt fluid

Dispose of when saturated

3. Grey absorbents ‐ mats Designed to soak up and retain oils, coolants, solvents and water.

Highly absorbent, can be used anywhere.

Pre‐cut mats e.g. for drum tops very useful for minimising leaks and spills during everyday use.

Rolls are ideal for covering large areas near or under machinery


Ideal for recovery of fluids rather than containment.

Place directly on spilt fluid

Ideal for small spills

Dispose of when saturated

36


4. White absorbents (socks, pre cut mats, pillows)

Absorb oil‐based liquids, lubricants and fuels but do not absorb water.

Outdoors in wet conditions, rain or snow

In water and anywhere that you don’t want to absorb water

Ideal for soaking up waterborne spills.

Fuel bunds

Ideal for outdoor use, in wet and marine conditions.

Pillows and mats float on water. Ideal for collecting oil/fuel spilt in the water.

Socks should be used for containment (dikes/booms) and pillows and mats for recovery of oils/fuels.

Pillows good for high volume spills.

Can be used during initial clean up but also useful for final sheen removal and longer term maintenance absorption of oil

Dispose of when saturated.

5. Pink Absorbents (socks, pre cut mats, pillows)

Absorb acids, caustics, oil and water based liquids (won’t degrade on contact with chemicals)

Primarily for labs where chemicals are being used

Indoors

Should only be used for chemical spills.

Socks for use as containment dikes, mats for recovery of fluids

Dispose of when saturated – segregate from other absorbents.

6. Pig Putty Patches up leaking drums and pipes as an emergency measure

Damaged drums or fuel pipes Knead components together and apply to hole

Fuel should be decanted to an undamaged drum as soon as possible

37


7. Over –pack drum Used to store leaking drums or waste absorbents

Anywhere – this is a UN approved container so can be used to transport absorbents in ships and planes

When recovering a drum – place lid on floor, position damaged drum on lid, screw overpack drum on top and then turn the whole thing the right way up.

Easily moved with forklift once fuel drum is inside.

Can be used for storing and transporting used absorbents and contaminated clothing.

X‐rated for Packing groups I,II, and III for transportation on ships and aircraft

8. Waste Bags (yellow) Used to store waste absorbents.

Can be used for blue, grey and white absorbents that have been used for oil/fuel recovery.

May not be suitable for pink absorbents which contain chemicals. (check what chemical has been recovered)

Ensure filled bags are cabled tied and clearly labelled

Bags should be placed in UN approved over‐ pack drum prior to transportation by plane.

Bags should be placed in old fuel drums prior to transportation on board the ship.

9. Skimmer Head Self‐contained free floating oil recovery system

Specifically designed for use in shallow waters

The Delta skimmer head can operate in as little as 7cm of water.

Good for beach clean‐up, shoreline operations, around piers and jetties.

Should only be used in calm water.

Can also be used in the fast tank.

38


10. Poly dollies Transports 210l drums

Tilts to create a dispensing station

Acts as a temporary secondary containment for a leaking drum

Anywhere drums are being used.

Drums can be mounted onto the dolly for ease of transportation.

When the trolley is laid flat and the drum secured in place, the trolley provides a contained area to dispense the contents of the drum into another container.

Or it can be used as a temporary containment measure when a drum is leaking.

11. Fast tank Provides a ‘quick to erect’ temporary storage tank for collecting polluted water/snow where oils/fuel can be separated

Anywhere there is flat ground. Instructions for erection are provided with the kit.

Polluted water or snow can be collected in the tank and absorbents or skimmers can be used to collect oil.

The fast tanks are reusable and should be cleaned thoroughly after use.

Specifically for absorbing water

Specifically for absorbing chemicals

Does not absorb water

General equipment

39

4.3. MAPS AND PLANS 4.3.1. The Antarctic Peninsula & Signy Island

40

4.3.2. Facilities Site Plan

41

4.3.3. Resources at Risk

42

4.3.4. MGO System

43

Signy Marine Gas Oil system

No. Location Description

26 Boiler Room Boiler Fuel Line Isolator Valve

27 Boiler Room Boiler Fuel Line Safety Valve ( Fuseable Link)

28a Boiler Room Filter Shut Off Valve Boiler No 1

28b Boiler Room Boiler Fuel Line Shut Off Valve

28c Boiler Room Filter Shut Off Valve Boiler No 2

28d Boiler Room Boiler Fuel Line Shut Off Valve

70 Generator Room Fuel Supply Day Tank To Gen 1 Isolator

70a Generator Room Fuel Supply Day Tank To Gen 1 Isolator

71 Generator Room Fuel Supply Day Tank To Gen 2 Isolator

72 Generator Room Fuel Supply Day Tank To Pump Set Isolator

73 Generator Room Fuel Supply Day Tank To Level Indicator (Day Tank)

74 Generator Room Fuel Supply Pump Set To Boilers Day Tank Isolation Valve

75 Generator Room Fuel Supply Bypass Back To Fuel Farm

76a Generator Room Fuel Supply Inlet To Gen Day Tank From Fuel Farm

76b Generator Room Fuel Supply Inlet To Gen Day Tank From Fuel Farm (Dead Mans Handle)

76c Generator Room Drain Valve ‐ Generator Day Tank

77 Generator Room Fuel Supply Take Off Point Main Fuel Line To Day Tank

96 Boiler Day Tank Inlet Valve From Generator Room

97 Boiler Day Tank Outlet To Boilers

98 Generator Room Level Indicator Isolator Valve

98a Boiler Day Tank Level Indicator Isolator Valve

99 Boiler Day Tank Bund Drain Valve

99b Boiler Day Tank Fuel Supply Inlet To Boiler Day Tank From Genny Shed (Dead Mans Handle)

102 Generator Room Generator Day Tank Drain Valve

DO1 Fuel Farm Draw Off Valve Tank No 1

DO2 Fuel Farm Draw Off Valve Tank No 2

DR1 Fuel Farm Drain Valve Tank No 1

DR2 Fuel Farm Drain Valve Tank No 2

F1 Fuel Farm Feed Valve Tank No 1

F2 Fuel Farm Feed Valve Tank No 2

F3 Fuel Farm Feed Valve

F4 Fuel Farm Feed Line Drain Valve

F5 Fuel Farm Avery Hardoll

FF1 Boiler Room Boiler No1 Fuel Filter

FF2 Boiler Room Boiler No1 Fuel Filter

SV1 Generator Room Fuel Solenoid Valve Generator 1

SV2 Generator Room Fuel Solenoid Valve Generator 2

44

4.4. CONTACT LISTS

The most up to date contact details for the positions indicated below can be found in the Primary & Emergency Contacts Database maintained on the intranet by the Operations Group. The Signy Station Leader and Communications Officer have password‐protected access to this database.

4.4.1. British Antarctic Survey (BAS)

Initial notification of an oil spill must be made to BAS Cambridge by the Station Leader on Signy. First contact is the Operations Manager, at BAS or Operations on call.

Response team

1.

1st contact

Operations Manager

2nd contact

Director of Operations

2.

1st contact

Head of Environment Office

2nd contact

Environmental Manager

3.

1st contact

Head of Estates

2nd contact

Head of Antarctic Building Services

4.

1st contact

Signy Station Leader

2nd contact

Signy Facilities Technician

Advice on health and safety

Contact Health and Safety Adviser

Official BAS contact for the press Contact Head of Communications

4.4.2. The British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit (BASMU)

The BAS Medical Unit will provide medical advice on health care required as a result of an oil spill. The Unit can be contacted by the Operations Manager or Station Leader.

The British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit (BASMU) Contact Medical Adviser ‐ BAS

45

4.4.3. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)

The Operations Manager, BAS, is to inform the Administrator of BAT of an oil spill occurring from BAS research stations or vessels in the Antarctic. Contact must be made via BAS Cambridge.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Contact Administrator BAT, Head of Polar Regions

Dept

4.4.4. External Advisors In the event of a Tier 2 or Tier 3 spill BAS Cambridge will seek expert advice where necessary, for information and advice on the best practicable clean‐up techniques. Contact will normally be made by the Head of Environment Office.

Expert Advice e.g. Oil Spill Response (OSR) Contact

Duty Manager

4.4.5. Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP)

BAS is a founder member of COMNAP. All national operators have been asked by COMNAP to report significant oil spills. The Operations Manager is to notify COMNAP as necessary.

Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP) Contact

Executive Secretary

46

47

4.5. BAS SPILL RESPONSE STRUCTURE Chief Executive, NERC

Director, BAS

Director of Operations

Head, Polar Regions Dept, FCO Operations Manager

Signy Station Leader Head of Environment Office

Head of Communications

External Advisors

Environmental Monitoring

Team

Station Response Team

Head of Estates

BASMU

Technical Officers (BAS and/or Contractors)

COMNAP Executive Secretary

48

49

5. APPENDICES 5.1. APPENDIX A ‐ ACTION PLANS

50

51

5.1.1. Action Plan 1 – Station Leader

H&S – (Section 3.4) Ensure spill response is not putting staff at risk

Identification of spill

Emergency shutdown (if needed) to stop or minimise further spill. (Section 3.3.1)

Actions & Communications Log (Section 3.3.4) Start recording all activities and maintain ongoing log.

Report – (Section 3.3.7) Send situation reports at 3, 6, 12, 24 hrs and then every 24hrs until otherwise agreed.

Waste Management (Section 3.7) – Segregate waste fuel, absorbents and contaminated PPE in 205l drums. Store and consign in accordance with the Waste Management Handbook.

Tier 2 SpillTier 1 Spill

Medical & Equipment Check (Section 3.8) ‐ Ensure medical check‐up for response team and that equipment is cleaned and made ready for storage.

Initial Notification (Section 3.3.4) Inform Operations Manager only if it has caused injury or illness to people, animals or plants or affected station

infrastructure

Final Report (Section 3.9) ‐ Log on AINME. For Tier 2 & 3 prepare detailed spill report at end of incident and submit to Operations Manager.

Mobilise Response Team (Section 3.3.3)

Rapid Initial Assessment (Section 3.3.2) ‐ Risk of fire or harm to human health; ‐ Time & location of spill; ‐ Type of fuel & estimated quantity; ‐ Source and cause.

Contain and Recover Spill Refer to – Response Strategies

(Section 3.3.5)

Contain and Recover Spill Response Strategies (Section 3.3.5) Site Management (Section 3.3.6)

Spill Termination (Section 3.8) ‐ to be decided by the Operations Manager, Head of Environment Office and Station Leader if Tier 2 or 3.

Tier 3 Spill

Initial Notification to Cambridge & verbal contact with Operations

Manager (Section 3.3.4)

52

53

5.1.2. Action Plan 2 – Operations Manager

Notification of spill from Station Leader (Section 3.3.4)

Verbal contact with Station Leader Assume overall control of spill response operation. (Section 3.3.4)

Tier 2 ‐ immediately assess incident with: ‐ Head of Environment Office ‐ Head of Estates (Section 3.3.4)

Inform Director’s Office. (Section 3.3.4)

Respond to initial notification by telephone and confirm by fax. Check: ‐ Time (GMT) & date of spill ‐ Estimated quantity of fuel spilled (litres) ‐ Type of fuel ‐ Source and cause ‐ Location of spill ‐ Resources under threat/impact ‐ Response action ‐ Useable bulk fuel remaining Advise on: ‐ Technical remediation action ‐ Clean Up Techniques ‐ Operations (itineries/pax movements) ‐ Weather maps (Section 3.3.4)

Tier 1 – if spill is reported acknowledge notification by email or phone call. (Section 3.3.4)

Send actions to Station Leader and respond to requests as necessary. Liaise with: ‐ Head of Environment Office ‐ Head of Communications (Section 3.5 & 3.6)

Inform Head of Environment Office, Head of Estates & Director’s Office . (Section 3.3.4)

Tier 3 ‐ immediately set up Emergency Response Centre at BAS – Room 133a (Section 3.3.4)

Open and maintain actions and communications log in Cambridge. (Section 3.1)

Advise Station Leader to complete AINME report or small spill log. (Section 3.9)

Mobilise BAS Cambridge Response Team: ‐ Head of Environment Office ‐ Head of Estates (Section 3.3.4)

If necessary, contact the FCO and any other outside agencies. (Section 3.5)

Prepare Draft Press Statement. Liaise with: ‐ Director’s Office ‐ Head of Environment Office ‐ Head of Communications (Section 3.5)

Terminate Response Action when appropriate. Liaise with: ‐ Station Leader ‐ Head of Environment Office ‐ Outside agencies (Section 3.8)

File & log Station Leader’s report, photographs and video footage of incident (Section 3.9)

54

55

5.1.3. Action Plan 3 – Head of Environment Office

Notification of spill from Operations Manager (Section 3.3.4)

Tier 2 ‐ immediately assess incident with: ‐ Operations Manager ‐ Head of Estates (Section 3.3.4)

‐Provide advice to Station Leader via Operations Manager on most appropriate response strategy (Section 3.3.5) ‐Respond to requests for information as necessary. ‐ Seek External advice if necessary ‐Liaise with Operations Manager & Head of Estates

Tier 1 ‐ provide advice as requested. (Section 3.3.4)

Co‐ordinate environmental monitoring: ‐ Sampling of water, sediment, flora & fauna ‐ Chemical analysis of seawater ‐ Liaise with BAS scientific staff & contractors as appropriate. (Section 3.6)

Tier 3 ‐ immediately go to Emergency Response Centre at BAS – Room 133a. (Section 3.3.4)

Advise Operations Manager on draft press statement. (Section 3.5)

Advise Operations Manager on termination of response action. (Section 3.8)

Advise on waste management of oily wastes, absorbents and PPE. Liaise with: ‐ Station Leader ‐ Waste disposal contractor. (Section 3.7)

Organise review meeting on oil spill response within 6 months and revise OSCP as necessary. (Section 3.9)

56

57

5.1.4. Action Plan 4 – Head of Estates

Notification of spill from Operations Manager (Section 3.3.4)

Tier 2 ‐ immediately assess incident with: ‐ Operations Manager ‐ Head of Environment Office. (Section 3.3.4)

Co‐ordinate procurement of emergency spare parts and back‐up fuel systems as required. (Section 3.9)

Send actions to Station Leader via Operations Manager and respond to requests for information as necessary, on fuel management and storage. Liaise with: ‐ Technical Officers ‐ Outside companies and agencies on technical issues. (Section 3.3.4)

Tier 1 ‐ provide advice as requested. (Section 3.3.4)

At end of incident, review fuel storage and transfer systems. Revise fuel management systems to prevent a similar spill in the future. (Section 3.9)

Tier 3 ‐ move immediately to Emergency Response Centre at BAS – Room 133a. (Section 3.3.4)

58

59

5.2. APPENDIX B – MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET

5.2.1. MGO

The exact formulation of MGO delivered to Signy will vary from year to year depending on the supplier used. This Material Safety Data Sheet is therefore an example only and the most current MSDS should be consulted if possible.

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

5.3. APPENDIX C – RISK ASSESSMENT

RISK ASSESSMENT RECORD

Description of activity or

process area: (e.g. work activity,

project name, process area etc.)

Oil Spill Response

Date:

22/01/2015

Assessor/s:

Clare Fothergill

Who will be at risk?

All staff on station

Review date:

(every 3 years or when the operation changes)

22/01/2018

Reviewer:

(if different from the Assessor)

Rachel Clarke

BAS Department?

Environment

Safety Portal ID:

<No Data>

Valid to which BAS locations?

All BAS stations

In completing this risk assessment have you been able to consult with those involved?

Yes Not necessary

1. List hazards or hazardous activities?

(List individually below)

2. What harm is likely to occur or

what could go wrong? (with no controls}

3. What are your control measures?

(Please use brief bullet points as description)

4. Overall risk with controls

in place (See risk

evaluation guidance)

5. Further actions needed and by when?

6. Responsible

person?

74









in place (See risk



6. Responsible

person?

1. Exposure to AVTUR, AVCAT, MGO & lube oils

□ Health issues associated withexposure to fuel oils (carcinogens) either through inhalation, ingestion or direct dermal contact. Over exposure may lead to cancer and birth defects.

Eyes: Contact may cause mild eye irritation resulting in redness stinging and eye watering.

Skin: Direct contact may result in itching, burning or skin damage which may be exacerbated in cold conditions. Longer term and/or repeated exposure may result in, aggravation of existing skin conditions, dermatitis or severe skin damage.

Inhalation: Over exposure can cause irritation to respiratory inhalation and central nervous system and asphyxiation.

Ingestion: Lesser degree of toxicity if ingested but swallowing and vomiting may result in entry to lungs causing inflammation and more significant damage.

□ Station specific ‘Oil Spill Contingency Plans’ produced

for each base

□ Comprehensive oil spill kit provided on all stations and stored in easily accessible location.

□ Oil spill response training provided to all wintering and relevant technical staff prior to season.

□ Additional training provided on station (biannually) for wintering staff.

□ Oil spill specific PPE provided on all stations which includes goggles, gloves, overalls etc

□ Doctor and or medically trained staff on all stations. Comprehensive first aid kits available.

□ During a spill, clean areas will be set up for eating, drinking and smoking to reduce mouth to mouth contact and ingestion.

□ Various RAs and SOP have been prepared for activities involving the use of fuels with the aim of minimising the risk of spills through good practice. These include:

o Use of Petrol, Oils and lubricants o Fuel Tank Cleaning o Vehicle Use on base o Vehicle refuelling

o Station Refuelling procedures

Low

Biannual training on station ensures that all staff who may be involved in a spill are prepared, know how to deploy the equipment and understand their role in the event of a spill.

Station Leader or Winter Station Leader

75









in place (See risk



6. Responsible

person?

2. Exposure to

Petrol

□ Health issues associated withexposure to petrol (carcinogens) either through inhalation, ingestion or direct dermal contact. Over exposure may lead to cancer, birth defects and death

Eyes: Contact may cause eye irritation resulting in redness stinging and eye watering. Skin: Direct contact may result in itching, burning or skin damage which may be exacerbated in cold conditions. Longer term and/or repeated exposure may result in, aggravation of existing skin conditions, dermatitis or severe skin damage. Inhalation: Over exposure can cause irritation to respiratory inhalation, and central nervous system. Continued exposure may lead to unconsciousness and death. Ingestion: Lesser degree of toxicity if ingested but swallowing and vomiting may result in entry to lungs causing inflammation and more significant damage.

□ Petrol spills are not to be recovered and should be

left to evaporate.

□ Eating and drinking prohibited near to spill site.

□ Wash thoroughly after exposure.

□ Any contaminated clothing to be air dried in well ventilated area before washing.

□ Only small quantities of petrol stored on station

□ Petrol only to be handled in well ventilated areas or outdoors.

□ Refer to specific RAs for activities where petrol handling occurs e.g. refuelling skidoos

Low

76









in place (See risk



6. Responsible

person?

3. Working with flammable & explosive materials

□ Petrol is extremely flammable and

explosions or fire could cause severe burns or fatalities.

□ Electrostatic charges may be generated during handling. Electrostatic discharge may cause fire.

□ Majority of fuels used have very low flash points. □ Petrol spills are not to be recovered and should be

left to evaporate. □ No petrol to be stored inside accommodation or

admin buildings or in confined spaces. Petrol only stored in garage, workshop or external store areas.

□ Smoking near any fuel spill is prohibited or whilst handling petrol is prohibited.

□ Remove ignition sources form spill site and consideration of remote ignition from vapours travelling along the ground to be made.

□ Refer to RAs and SOPs for refuelling bulk fuel tanks, day tanks, boats, tools and vehicles to minimise potential for spills

□ MSDS sheets available for all fuels and oils □ used on station. □ General principles are not to commence a spill

response until an area has been made safe and is well ventilated.

□ Safety of staff during a spill is paramount and is reiterated in the OSCP.

Low

77









in place (See risk



6. Responsible

person?

4. Work in confined

spaces

□ Health issues associated with

exposure to fuel oils (carcinogens) either through inhalation, ingestion or direct dermal contact.

□ Depleted oxygen, insufficient air.

□ Explosion or flash fire risk if spill is petrol.

□ Electrostatic conditions within buildings could cause ignition point for spilt petrol.

□ General principles are not to commence a spill response until an area has been made safe and is well ventilated. However spill response should not occur in confined spaces unless specifically advised by BAS, Cambridge.


□ Refer to RAs for Bulk Fuel Tank Cleaning and Confined Space Working in Aviation Fuel and MGO tanks for general work in confined spaces.

□ Gas detector to be used at Halley station for the under croft.

□ No petrol to be stored in a confined space that cannot be well ventilated.

Low

5. Slips, trips and

falls

□ Staff may suffer injuries if they slip

on spilt fuel, or trip on uneven ground whilst trying to recover oil. Increased risk of slips, trips and falls due to tension involved with dealing with an emergency situation

□ Spill response to be coordinated by Station Leader (or Winter Station Leader) who will remind staff to be extra vigilant during clean up.


□ Absorbent mats are provided in all spill kits which would help to make oily surfaces less slippery.

□ Demarcation of hot and cold zones will help to highlight areas of higher risk.

Low

78









in place (See risk



6. Responsible

person?

6. Manual Handling

□ Staff may suffer back injuries or pain

elsewhere from handling heavy and/or bulky spill response equipment. E.g. Entrapment of limbs, Ligament/ Tendon injuries, Muscular/Skeletal injuries, Rupture, Hernias, Crush injuries, Cuts, Bruises.

□ Refer to station specific manual handling RAs.

□ Eliminate the need for manual handling to occur where reasonably practicable.

□ Use trolleys and mechanical assistance where possible.

□ Make personnel aware of equipment available for specific tasks i.e. drum up righter tool; drum chains, cranes etc.

□ Improve the task by making the loads lighter where possible at source or by breaking down into more manageable components.

□ Use the balance wheel truck, sack truck and pallet truck.

□ Whenever practicable limit load carrying capacity to 25kg per person and provide sufficient people to lift very heavy cases within this lifting capacity.

□ Increase awareness of manual handling hazards by regular training and supervision.

□ Advise all staff that rushing / peer pressure / work pressures are unsafe factors.

□ Monitor systems regularly.

□ Wear PPE: safety boots, gloves, hard hats, goggles, overalls and clothing as appropriate to the task in hand.

□ Be aware of slippery uneven surfaces i.e. natural ice shelf surfaces, sledge decking etc

Low

79









in place (See risk



6. Responsible

person?

7. Working in

extreme weather conditions

□ Effects of prolonged work in cold

temperatures, wind and snow which could result in hypothermia, poor judgement, chilblains, asthma, frost nip or frost bite.

□ Increased risk of slips, trips and falls due to reduced capability and poor judgement.

□ Refer to general RAs for working in Antarctica. Usual station procedures to be followed when weather conditions are adverse.

□ As stated in OSCP safety of personnel is paramount during a spill and SL will stop response if conditions deteriorate.

□ SL to rotate staff to ensure that symptoms of prolonged work in the cold do not occur.

□ Appropriate cold weather clothing provided to all staff.

□ Where present station doctors to monitor staff symptoms and chefs to provide messing stations and refreshments.

Low

8. Fatigue, hunger ,

de‐hydration, stress

□ Dealing with an emergency situation can lead to staff forgetting to take appropriate breaks in the day to rest, eat, rehydrate and take stock of the situation.

□ SL to rotate staff to ensure that everyone has a break and an opportunity to eat and drink.

□ Where present station doctors to monitor staff symptoms and chefs to provide messing stations and refreshments.

Low

Tip: Tab here for new row

80









in place (See risk



6. Responsible

person?

9. Working on small

boats or near water

□ Hypothermia / Drowning /

Frostbite, Frostnip / Bites, Cuts and Scratches / Slips, Trips and Falls / Capsize, Sinking, Drifting, Immobilisation, Structural damage / Burns and Scalds (Heat and Chemical) / Laceration, Fracture, Unconsciousness/ Disorientation, Direction Loss / Sprains, Strains and Breaks

□ RAs for Small boating to be referred to.

□ Compliance with BAS Field Operations Manual and Boating Manuals by all personnel involved in small boat operations.

□ Appropriate training of coxswain and vehicle operatives.

□ PPE All boat occupants must wear approved thermal protection (e.g. boatsuits or diving drysuits) and life jackets. Shore line worker to wear appropriate cold weather clothing (and waders if necessary.)

□ Where lifting operations are involved, all personnel involved must wear hard hats.

□ The Communications protocol of Boating Manuals to be followed.

□ All boat personnel are to remain aware and vigilant of local marine life.

Low

81









in place (See risk



6. Responsible

person?

10. Working with

and near to vehicles

□ During an emergency response reduced

concentration could result in contact with people, buildings, aircraft, masts, scientific equipment, other vehicles and services. This could result in a possible loss, severe or otherwise, of scientific data / communications

□ Death or injury caused by overturning vehicle due to unstable loads, snow banks, high speed, uneven terrain, reduced visibility, unmarked construction hazards such as holes and trenches etc.

□ Electric shock from crane or digger striking overhead, or underground cables and antennas.

□ Death, severe injury, crush, limb entrapment, puncture wounds etc. whilst assisting with vehicle loading/unloading.

□ Vehicle specific RAs to be referred to.

□ Strictly adhering to the ‘Trained and Designated driver’ policy, whereby only selected and adequately trained operators are allowed to drive machines on base.

□ Garage to maintain all vehicles and mobile plant in a safe and reliable condition.

□ Provision of P.P.E. for working around vehicles. ie. hard hats, suitable gloves, steel toecap boots, high visibility jackets.

□ No vehicle or mobile plant operations to take place until the mechanic has been informed of what is intended, and has allocated the appropriate vehicle for that job.

□ No overloading of machines. Only use lifting /towing /winching gear as specified by the mechanic.

□ No vehicle or mobile plant operations to take place until the mechanic has been informed of what is intended, and has allocated the appropriate vehicle for that job.

□ Driver awareness to be kept high and guarded against complacency during operation of any type of vehicle during spill response.

Low

11. Working in darkness

□ Could lead to increased danger from all

of the above hazards

□ Spill response at night is not generally advocated unless inside in lit areas. Where it has to be completed during darkness (e.g. austral winter) RAs and operating procedures for station operations during winter must be adhered to.

□ Major refuelling of bases only occurs during daylight. See SOP for refuelling.

□ Most operations occur during Austral summer where there are long hours of daylight.

Very Low

82









in place (See risk



6. Responsible

person?

12. Environmental

exposure to fuels

□ Fuels toxic to aquatic organisms, and may cause long‐term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.

□ Station specific ‘Oil Spill Contingency Plans’ produced for each base

□ Comprehensive oil spill kit provided on all stations and stored in easily accessible location.

□ Clean up of oiled animals is not part of BAS oil spill response strategy and should not be undertaken without direction from BAS Cambridge

Low

13. Wildlife

□ Bites from seals or pecks from birds

□ Disturbance to wildlife as a result of spill response activities

□ Stress to wildlife being affected by oil spill

□ Refer to RAs for ‘Living amongst wildlife’,’

Working with Birds and Seals’.

□ Clean up of oiled animals is not part of BAS oil spill response strategy and should not be undertaken without direction from BAS Cambridge.

Low

14. Generation of

hazardous waste

□ Pollution to local environment and wildlife if not contained appropriately.

□ Exposure to spill response team and associated risks as per hazard no.1.

□ During an emergency situation waste management may not be prioritised.

□ Waste Management Handbook (WMH) sets out how to deal with waste generated from a spill.

□ OSCP highlights the importance of managing waste as part of the spill response and references the WMH.

□ Good culture of waste management on station and clear established procedures for removing waste from Antarctica.

□ Head of Environment Office to be contacted in the event of a spill who will remind SL of the importance of waste management during a spill.

Low

83

RISK ASSESSMENT RECORD Risk Evaluation guidance

Likelihood verses severity

1. Remote possibility

(Rarely heard of in industry)

2. Possible

(Is heard of in our industry)

3. Likely

(Occurring at

least once in 10 years at BAS)

4. Highly probable

(Occurring at least once a year at BAS)

5. Virtually

Certain (Occurring a

number of times a year at BAS)

1. Minor - Causing minor injuries (e.g. cuts,

scratches).

1

3

4

5

2. Low – Causing injuries and medical

attention, but no lost time at work

2

4

6

8

10

3. Medium - Causing temporary disability and lost time at work

3

6

9

12

15

4. High - Causing permanent disability

4

8

12

16

20

5. Major - causing death to one or more people

5

10

15

20

25

Risk Action

Very Low 1>2 No further action

Further action: (if appropriate) as resources allow

Medium 5>9 Requires action: Set timetable for improvements

High 10>12 Priority action: Review controls immediately

Very High 15 >25 Unacceptable: Stop activity until risk can be reduced

L

Documents

Oil Spill Contingency Plan OSCP 2015.pdf · The aim of this Oil Spill Contingency Plan (OSCP) is to describe the procedures that will be used by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS)