By: Duane Pretorius, Environmental Manager – Sedgwick Australia

Incident summary

A heavy commercial vehicle (third party) lost control and crashed through the perimeter fence of a school in Queensland (the Insured), resulting in the accidental release of 150–200 litres of diesel fuel. The spill contaminated the soil around the vehicle, affecting an area approximately 1.5 by 2 meters.

Claim summary

The claim involved the insurer appointing environmental consultants to conduct a sampling program to meet the requirements of the Clean-up Notice. The investigation revealed that the site had limited containment measures, causing spillages to migrate further downgradient and contaminate additional soil. The environmental assessment and subsequent report indicated that hydrocarbons were present in the soil not only where the initial diesel fuel release occurred, but in the surrounding area, resulting in the requirement of additional soil to be removed.

Works conducted

Sedgwick’s assistance was requested with the contamination assessment, remediation actions and environmental legislative requirements. Our scope of work included:

• Appointing an environmental consultant to assess the contamination
• Gathering information, taking samples and reporting findings
• Assisting with environmental compliance requirements
• Removing, transporting and disposing of contaminated soils
• Reinstating and compacting clean soils

Savings and contributions

We played a crucial role in managing the entire process. Our swift appointment of an environmental consultant to conduct a full site assessment to determine the contamination level and provide waste classification results was key to driving a quick resolution. By coordinating the removal of approximately 60 tonnes of contaminated soil, ensuring appropriate disposal, and managing the backfilling and compaction of clean soils, we were able to make sure the site was remediated and cleared of contamination. Furthermore, our expertise ensured the removal and reinstatement was in line with environmental compliance requirements and included liaising with the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI).

Conclusion

Our experts effectively managed the incident through a comprehensive process that included coordinating the contamination assessment and remediation actions and helping ensure environmental compliance. Sedgwick’s contributions were instrumental in restoring the site and mitigating the environmental impact of the diesel spill.