Contingency Plans & Reporting
Legislation requires that everyone has a responsibility and obligation to protect the environment. All practicable / reasonable steps must therefore be taken to prevent pollution and protect the environment.
Many of the basic steps involved in cleaning up emergency and non-emergency spills and leaks are similar. The primary difference is the degree of hazard, location of the spill, level of training, and types of personal protective equipment necessary to clean up the spill safely. Even non-emergency spills and leaks take knowledge and training to clean up safely. This can be done as part of standard program developed to ensure your company's compliance with environmental legal obligations.
In addition to procedures set in place to prevent pollution, additional measures need to be in place in the event of the prevention programme failing, resulting in spills, releases to atmosphere, etc.
These additional measures will include:
- Emergency Response plans to minimise pollution from accidental occurrences
- Immediate reports of all pollution incidents or near miss occurrences which could have resulted in pollution
- Provision to investigate all reported accidents and near miss occurrences and make recommendations as necessary
- Provision to review, collate and analyse reported incidents and near miss occurrences
- The action to betaken to implement recommendations
- The public relations effort after an incident
Contingency / Emergency Response plans then should be in place, applicable to your particular boat, and practiced on a regular basis.
