HS&E Operatives practice question: Pollution and spillages (1 of 7)
A. Working environment A free question from our original HS&E Operatives practice exam. Try it, then open the answer to see why each option is right or wrong.
A fuel bowser, a mobile diesel tank, is leaking diesel onto the ground. The diesel is running towards a drain with a blue-marked cover.
What should you do?
Choose one answer.
AA. Cover the spill with soil from the site and carry on working
BB. Leave it, as a drain like that goes to a sewage works
CC. If safe, stop the leak and use a spill kit to protect the drain
DD. Hose it into the drain with plenty of water to dilute it
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C
A. Wrong: Wrong. Covering the spill hides it but does not stop it soaking into the ground or reaching the drain. It must be contained and reported.
B. Wrong: Wrong. Blue marks a surface water drain, which goes straight to a watercourse, not to a sewage works. Red marks a foul drain.
C. Right: Right. Stop the source if you safely can, and use the spill kit to stop the diesel reaching the drain. Then tell your supervisor, so it can be cleaned up and reported to the regulator if needed.
D. Wrong: Wrong. A blue-marked drain is a surface water drain. It goes straight to a river or stream, so washing diesel into it causes pollution.
Explanation
Surface water drains go straight to rivers and streams. If there is a spill, stop it at the source if it is safe, use the spill kit to protect drains, and tell your supervisor straight away.