If a spill occurs indoors, it is likely that such an incident would not be considered environmentally problematic. It would instead be more of a Health & Safety/Good House Keeping concern. If a room contained drains, ducting conduits or allowed pipe work to pass through its walls, then this could become an environmental problem

Other areas to be aware of when risk assessing are older buildings, with internal walls of exposed brick work. Such brickwork would be deemed porous and therefore must be sealed at the base of the wall, to the floor, to prevent the risk of seepage during potential spill scenarios. The same principle can be applied to false walls or partitions.

Outside, any such incidents could be considered to be an environmental problem, hence the need for written procedures informing personnel and contractors how to react and who to inform if a problem occurs. Such procedures should be based on existing risk analysis. At work areas, they need only consist of a basic instruction, inclusive of an emergency telephone number, displayed at the risk area or in a prominent position.

The overall risk assessment and guidelines should identify spills that could be considered minor, and could be dealt with by an individual or small group, through to a major spill, where a team response or intervention of an outside agency may be required.