Insurance News Archive

Property owners warned over oil spillage risk

Owners of property in the UK with oil tank heating systems are being urged to check their oil tanks before they get them filled up for winter.

According to the Environment Agency, many oil pollution accidents take place each year, which could cause property owners to be prosecuted.

The agency cites a spillage last year from a home-heating oil storage tank in the Midlands which cost in excess of £70,000 in clean up costs, incidents which could affect commercial property insurance premiums.

Jonathan Hall, environment management team leader at the Environment Agency, urged people to routinely check their oil tanks, explaining that regulations required them to provide secondary containment for their tanks to prevent spillages.

Pollution risks could also be minimised by placing the tank as far away from drains, streams and ponds as possible.

29 Sep 2006