Page 123 - claims information pack ebook_e

Guidelines for presenting claims for clean up and preventive measures

How clean is clean? 5.23 The end points described in the table
5.22 One of the most difficult issues to resolve is below are typical examples of those
when clean-up operations should be brought which might be set as the goal of
to a close. While this is true for all aspects clean-up operations. However, in some
of the response, it is particularly pertinent circumstances it may not be possible
to shoreline clean up and is encapsulated to achieve the desired end points, for
in the question ‘how clean is clean?’. The example, due to safety concerns and
difficulty is compounded by the fact that risks to the work force.
as the amount of oil remaining diminishes
the effort required to remove this residue When to bring operations to a close – how clean is clean?
becomes ever greater. At some point the
effort required outweighs the benefit of Operation/Shoreline type Examples of typical
any further work. The point at which this closure criteria
happens is different for different shoreline
types, for example, in general it is easier to At sea • General Oil has spread over
18 bring sand beaches to a higher degree of very wide area and is
cleanliness than shingle or cobble shores. fragmented, reduced
A further consideration in closing operations to thin film or has
on shorelines is the selection of reasonable dissipated naturally
end points which are heavily dependent on • Mechanical recovery Oil has weathered such
the ‘use’ or ‘service’ that a section of the that significant
shoreline provides. For example, the end quantities of oil are no
points for an amenity beach and a remote longer recoverable
rocky cove would be quite different. Experts • Dispersant application Due to weathering and
engaged by the 1992 Fund are a good source emulsification of oil –
of advice on the end points that can be dispersants no longer
reasonably achieved. As noted previously, effective
if the 1992 Fund becomes aware that work
is continuing beyond what is likely to be Return of ‘use’ of
considered a reasonable end point, it would Ashore • General shoreline or ‘service’
endeavour to formally notify the concerned
authorities of its point of view in writing. • High amenity areas – End point: No smell
easy public access – no visible oil or sheen
on surface and no
evidence of buried/
trapped oil – no greasy
texture

• Industrial port End point: Light staining

• Remote rocky cove End point: Bulk oil
removal - reliance on
natural cleaning
• Ecologically sensitive End point: dependent
on nature of sensitivity/
seasonality – careful
removal of bulk oil
– specialist advice
required