The Situation: Large-scale hydraulic oil spill
A large hydraulic oil spill occurred at a bus station in Hove currently undergoing refurbishment. The spill posed a significant threat to the project’s timeline, as the site had to be evacuated for safety reasons. Until the oil was professionally remediated, staff could not return to work, leading to costly delays.
The client attempted to mitigate the damage by applying sand to one area, but this was only partially effective and failed to contain the full extent of the spill.
The Challenge: Scale, time & contamination
Time was the primary obstacle. Ideal Response received the call with a requirement for same-day emergency oil spill cleaning attendance. Upon arrival, our technicians faced several complications:
- Scale of Contamination: The oil had spread significantly further than the initial containment area.
- Visibility: With the job commencing late in the day, our team had to work with extremely limited daylight.
- Safety Risks: The site presented high risks of oil contamination, potential slips, and further environmental spread if not handled correctly.
The Solution: Complete clean-up & decontamination
Our team arrived on-site and immediately donned full PPE, including white overalls and respiratory protection. Following a rapid site assessment, it became clear that the client’s initial sanding efforts had not trapped the oil effectively.
We deployed high-pressure jet washing equipment and specialist degreasing chemicals to break down the hydraulic fluid. Because the oil had migrated into hard-to-see areas under the cover of darkness, our team worked late into the night to stabilise the site. To ensure a 100% successful result, we returned the following morning in full daylight to treat the remaining traces and verify the site was safe for the refurbishment staff to return.
The Result
The area was fully decontaminated, allowing the bus station refurbishment to resume with minimal delay. The client was delighted with our methodical approach and prompt communication.
“IDEAL by name, and by nature. IDEAL were ironically, IDEAL – really accommodating and helpful on very short notice. Very quick turnover time to assist with a hydraulic fluid spill where time was of the essence to get dealt with. Operatives attending site were methodical in their working and very personable…” – Freddie Anderson
