Containing Hazardous Spills In The Work Area

A workplace spill of dangerous or hazardous materials can be a scary situation for all concerned. The natural instinct for nearly all employees when they see a discharge happening is to do their best to intervene and endeavor to fix the situation themselves. Unfortunately, this is nearly always the incorrect course of action – workers should by no means put themselves in a hazardous situation by trying to actually halt or slow up a unsafe spill. This must be noticeably discussed in the course of spill containment training classes with any staff who are exposed to unsafe agents during the course of performing their duties.

Of course there is no substitute for the acceptable equipment. Spill pallets and spill berms should be on hand and in service as a main safeguard against spill hazards.

The primary weapon that a risk director can deploy against the issues presented by spills is in the proper supervision of production and storage space work areas where spills are most likely to occur. Transportation corridors must also receive the same sort of consideration. If a spilled substance can be carefully channeled into secure short-term or disaster holding spaces that are separated from sparks, open flames, electrical circuits or employees then there is no need for workers to do something other than de-activate their system and evacuate the vicinity in the event of a spill.

External storage tanks, whether for oil, gasoline or other types of chemical storage are often targets for overcapacity or deterioration, both of which can cause spills. The utilization of diking around these tanks in order to concentrate spills and prevent the distribution of potentially flammable, caustic or otherwise hazardous liquids is recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and in some circumstances may in reality be mandated by law, depending upon the size of the tank being used. The necessity for these kinds of dikes and barriers can also be connected to the quantity of vehicular traffic in the storage space itself. Make sure that OSHA regulations do not clearly prohibit the putting in of dikes encompassing the container, as they do for those controlling specific chemicals such as liquefied petroleum gas.

In addition to dikes and barriers, OSHA also recommends the use of diatomaceous earth when containing spills. Spreading this chalk-like material is a demonstrated means of sopping up potentially treacherous liquids. If employees can safely introduce diatomaceous earth by means of controlled steps as part of an disaster response strategy that does not put them in any peril, then this could be a satisfactory choice for containing a spill.

There are also materials offered which can be dispersed in the course of a spill through pressurized applicators that allow workers to keep their distance. These specialized agents can not only slow down the progress of a dispersing substance, but also reduce the effects of any gases or even totally solidify the material in question. At their most effective, these materials not only harden a substance, but also chemically alter its flashpoint so that it may be safely removed once the threat is over. Swift-acting agents can even be used to create impromptu blockers as they can affect the primary edge of a spill to quickly lose its fluidity.

Mike Richards is a safety expert specilaizing in risk management. If you thought this article was helpful, additional information on methods of storing unsafe materials and agents can be found at Safety Cabinets.