Suspected oil tank leak?What to do first on site
A practical starting point for commercial site managers dealing with a suspected fuel leak: protect people, follow the response plan and gather the right information.
Put people and site controls first
A suspected leak needs prompt assessment. Keep people away from the affected area and follow the site’s emergency and pollution-response procedures. If there is immediate danger to people or a fire, contact the emergency services.
Only trained, authorised personnel should operate isolation controls or use spill equipment, and only where it is safe to do so. Do not enter a tank or attempt cutting, improvised repairs or fuel transfer.
The photograph above illustrates a fuel-storage installation; it is not a record of a spill incident.
Check where the oil could travel
Drains and nearby ground or water can provide routes for pollution. Do not wash oil into a drain or use water to disperse a spill.
In England, the Environment Agency says to report immediately if pollutants have entered, or could enter, a watercourse or soak into the ground. Use the current environmental-incident reporting service. Contacting a contractor does not replace that reporting step.
The official pollution-prevention guidance also links to the relevant guidance for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Have the essential details ready
Give the site address, a contact who can arrange access, the suspected source of the leak and the fuel type if known. Explain whether there is visible oil, an unexplained level drop, affected drainage or an immediate access hazard.
Provide photographs only if they can be taken safely. Include the tank, surrounding area and access route, and make existing tank records or a drainage plan available to the responders.
When speaking to Britteco, ask the team to confirm the available response and proposed scope. Attendance depends on the location, site conditions and work required.
Assess the cause before returning to use
The next steps depend on what failed and what material was affected. A tank or pipework defect, contamination inside a vessel and pollution outside the tank require different assessments.
Relevant support may include tank inspection, waste fuel removal or tank cleaning. The work should follow the assessed problem rather than an assumed all-in-one remedy.
Keep a record of observations, notifications, contractor reports and completed actions. Review the site response plan afterwards and feed any recommendations into the tank maintenance record.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first if an oil tank is leaking?
Keep people safe, stop the source if it is safe to do so, and contain the oil with spill kits or absorbents, especially near drains and watercourses. Then follow your site spill plan.
Do I have to report an oil spill?
Yes, if oil could reach drains, watercourses or the ground. In England, call the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60, which is open 24 hours.
Who is responsible for an oil spill?
The owner or operator of the oil storage is usually responsible for the clean-up and its costs, which is why fast containment and good records matter.
How quickly can Britteco respond to a leaking tank?
Call 0800 677 1155 and tell us what has happened. We will advise on immediate steps and arrange attendance as quickly as possible to empty the tank and start the clean-up.
What happens after the spill is contained?
The remaining oil is transferred out of the damaged tank, contaminated material is removed, and the tank is repaired or replaced. You receive waste documentation for the work.
Discuss the tank issue with Britteco
Call with the site location, fuel type and a description of the problem. For immediate danger or environmental reporting, use the appropriate emergency or regulator route above.
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