An accidental release of diesel fuel, hazardous chemicals or other regulated material requires fast action to contain the spill and clean it up to minimize damage to the environment - plus limit your costs and potential liability. If your operation is at risk from spills, I recommend that you make a list of cleanup contractors qualified to handle environmental releases in all the areas in which your fleet operates. Keep the list handy for quick access for whenever you need a cleanup contractor.

 

Spill Center clients have access to our Contractor Database, containing listings of more than 3,000 environmental cleanup contractors throughout the USA and Canada. The database contains a complete profile of each contracting company - their capabilities, equipment and personnel qualifications. 

 

After a release, we provide a list of contractors in the vicinity of the spill for our client to select from. In most cases, the client requests that we chose a contractor and coordinate the cleanup, waste disposal and site remediation activities. Our dedicated team of trained compliance associates is well experienced in this area. They are available to assist clients 24/7. Spill Center receives no compensation from contractors.

 

Not all the incidents managed by Spill Center involve spills, as in the case of a manufacturer who asked us to handle an emergency product recall campaign. Plastic pails of contaminated commercial dishwashing detergent started expanding and bursting, releasing the highly alkaline liquid. In the first four days of the recall campaign, our call center dispatched cleanup contractors to 480 locations around the U.S. to contain the potentially hazardous material.

 
Spill Center also provides an invoice auditing service, which many clients utilize to make sure that they are not overcharged by contractors or by public sector responders seeking reimbursement. Our experienced auditors evaluate all charges from contractors, emergency responders and other service providers to determine that they are reasonable and in order.

 

After one incident in Pennsylvania, the invoice sent by the contractor for work performed was received by the carrier, which, in turn, forwarded it to Spill Center to review. At Spill Center, the contractor's invoice was audited by Senior Compliance Associate Tracie Murphy, who contacted the contractor and questioned several charges.

 

That resulted in a reduction of 2% of the total amount of the invoice. Plus the contractor reduced the hourly charge for the roll-off truck which handled the contaminated soil at the site and reduced the charge for Level C personal-protection gear. He also deleted charges for a chemical hose, photography and an administration fee. The total reduction of the invoiced amount came to more than $1,700, and a credit memo was issued by the contractor to the carrier.

 

Our compliance associates are also trained to assess spills and coordinate response and remediation activities in a professional and cost-effective manner. Our program is designed to handle all required spill reporting, dispatch qualified cleanup contractors, contain spill-related costs and limit potential liability regardless of the extent of the spill.

 

For more information on Spill Center services and how we can help your company become better prepared to handle spills requiring emergency cleanup, visit our new website at www.spillcenter.com. You can call me directly at 978-568-1922, x222, or email me at tmoses@spillcenter.com.

Sincerely,

  

Tom Moses
President
Spill Center  

  

22 Kane Industrial Drive
Hudson, Massachusetts 01749