Highways Agency

• Traffic Incident Management Bulletin

March 2008

A debrief was recently held in Area 11 which identified an issue regarding the call-out, response and role of the Environment Agency at incidents - notably spillages - on the Highways Agency’s network.

The TIM bulletin has previously featured a memorandum of understanding that has been agreed between both the Highways Agency and the Environment Agency.

This article will supply an overview of the incident, highlighting the issues raised from the debrief and the how to resolve them as best as possible. As a result, the following information will be captured: 

• When do the Highways Agency need to notify the Environment Agency of an incident?
• When do the Environment Agency need to notify the Highways Agency of an incident?
• Role of the Environment Agency at spillages on the network
• Environment Agency’s incident classification, including response timeframes

The Incident

On the 21st December 2007, a large goods vehicle (LGV) collided with a bridge parapet on the M6 northbound between junctions 12 and 13, with the vehicle’s final resting position being divided between the carriageway and the adjacent verge. As a result of the collision, the LGV spilled approximately 200 litres of diesel from the vehicle’s fuel tank on to the carriageway and beyond. A proportion of this spillage was contained within the road’s gullies, however due to the vehicle’s position a significant proportion leaked into the adjacent watercourse.

Following the assessment of the bridge's parapet, the Recovery Agent began to assess the LGV in preparation for its recovery.  The Recovery Agent identified severe damage to the vehicle’s axle bringing about concerns that its recovery may lead to the LGV's second fuel tank splitting too. This would run the risk of an additional 500 litres being spilled into the watercourse. With this concern the Recovery Agent requested that the Environment Agency attend the incident scene to risk assess it prior to the vehicle’s recovery.

The debrief demonstrated that there was a lack of understanding of the Environment Agency's role, resulting in the following questions arising:

• Does the Environment Agency need to be called out to the incident scene?
• Can a site assessment be conducted over the telephone?
• If they are required to survey the site, when will this be conducted and can it be conducted at a later date?

Following the arrival of the Environment Agency an assessment was completed and the incident's clean-up operation commenced. This could have been conducted much sooner had the Environment Agency’s on-call officer received the information that they needed i.e. type of spillage, volume, location etc.

When do the Highways Agency need to notify the Environment Agency of an incident?

• Spillage or fires involving hazardous chemicals.
• Spillage of low hazard products with polluting potential.
• Petrol spillage greater than 100 litres.
• Other oils spillages greater than 25 litres.
• Spillage in or near a watercourse (including where it drains to combined sewer).
• Incidents involving fly tipped hazardous material or the generation of hazardous waste.
• Incidents involving radioactive material.
• Incidents involving flooding from main river watercourses or where incidents could increase the risk of flooding.
• Significant release of silt sand and/or cement slurry.
• Incidents actually or potentially affecting environmentally sensitive locations.
• Where any doubt exists regarding the above.

When do the Environment Agency need to notify the Highways Agency of an incident?

• Where an incident has the potential to impact the motorway or trunk road network.
• Where their assistance is required in an incident to stop or control traffic or to access the motorway network.

Role of the Environment Agency (at spillages/incidents on the network)

The Environment Agency's role at spillages on the network is to perform the following roles:

• Assess the impact of the incident.
• Liaise with the site controller and take necessary actions to prevent and or remediate pollution to land and water.
• If necessary a British Oil Spill Control Association (BOSCA) approved contractor may be contacted for any remedial/preventative actions.
• The Environment Agency will work with the Fire Service to ensure that the pollution prevention equipment held on their appliances and in the Damage Limitation Unit (DLU) is used effectively.
• Communicate with other Agencies that will need to be informed about the incident, this is likely to include:
  • Local water company
  • Health and Safety Executive
  • Health Protection Agency
• Depending on the nature of the incident, evidence may also need to be gathered.

The attendance of the Environment Agency at an incident is largely dependent on the knowledge of the local area and the vulnerability of the watercourses. owever a suitable person is on duty for advice (through their Control Centre) on pollution incidents 24 hours per day, seven days per week. This number is featured on the Command and Control systems within the Regional Control Centres.

How the Environment Agency classify incidents?

Please follow the link for a full breakdown of the Environment Agency's incident classification, response timeframes and a couple of examples.

For further information on the Environment Agency please download the Highways Agency Memorandum of Understanding (2MB PDF).

Good Practice

The Environment Agency's involvement and input during similar incidents is extremely important. Communicating early, accurate and up-to-date information to their duty officer can enable informed decision making and result in a much quicker response. It is important at this stage that incident scene attendees begin to collate information which is likely to be required by the Environment Agency. Through the Environment Agency establishing early direct communications with the incident scene, their potential questions/queries can be answered without their physical attendance. This will shorten the incident timeline significantly, considering the potential travel time the Environment Agency representatives may need in order to attend the scene. 

Summary

Successful incident management requires incident responders to work together to a set of common goals i.e. preserve life, prevent or minimise the impact of the incident on human health, the environment and property, clear the road and ensure it is safe for the public. To achieve this all must be clear of each others roles, responsibilities and their local capabilities. However, the key message is for the relationships to be generated between all so that everyone is clear on the function they are at required to conduct.   

Many thanks to the following for their input to this article:

• Gareth Edwards, Optima/Area 11 Service Provider
• Sarah Smith & Judy Smith, Environment Agency

If you have any views on the above then please get in contact via the email address below. Has this article been worthwhile reading? Why not take a moment to send us your comments, thoughts or questions. Please e-mail: TIMbulletin@highways.gsi.gov.uk.