subject: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPILL KIT? [print this page] HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPILL KIT? HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPILL KIT?
Many people in business need to keep a spill response kit in various locations around their plant, factory or warehouse. Whilst not necessarily front of mind, a spill kit in high risk areas is crucial to enable a company to remain environmentally responsible, even compliant.
Not to mention the financial risk of non compliance with EPA and government authority environmental regulations, where fines are being issued to companies for ongoing environmental non conformity. Would it not be prudent to avoid a multi thousand dollar fine by purchasing a multi hundred dollar spill kit? $$$
High risk areas may include places on site that are not thought of in every day operations. Areas where fuel transfers take place are obvious, as are laboratories, workshops and chemical storage areas - all obvious.
But what about locations onsite where you park your forklift overnight or for long periods? What about areas where you recharge the batteries of your fork lifts? Battery acid spills are potentially environmentally damaging, but look around and take note of how many people actually keep a spill kit (the correct spill kit) close by the high risk area. Not many....
For acid spills (battery acid from fork lifts) there is little point using oil only spill response gear, since the hydrophobic nature of the absorbent products will not effectively absorb the acid. It would be more prudent to keep a 'universal' spill kit close by to enable spill response expeditiously. The general purpose (or universal) absorbents will absorb water, acid, hydrocarbons, surfactants, detergents and chemicals at similar rates. Of course, if you have a chemical spill, then you need to identify the chemical risk before simply applying a floor sweep. You may require a hazchem spill kit, or something even more specialised for the risk.
The process of choosing a Spill Kit is an important one and may seem like a confusing task. For example, how do you know the highest potential risk in any area of your operation to enable selection of the most appropriate spill kit? Or should you keep two different kits in that area?
To recognise which spill response kit will be the best for your needs you are well advised to take an objective look around and ask an expert. Start at the nearest point of entry to the storm water system and work backwards. It may be prudent to have a product (such as a SpilMax DrainSafe) installed in a nearby drain pit to increase your response time and protect the drain, as well as a spill kit to arrest the spill.
Understanding where you should locate spill response products isn't as tricky as it may seem.
Look at the following questions. From your answers you should be able to narrow down the areas of highest risk in your operations, and from that be able to identify the best spill kit to keep nearby in case of a spill.
1. What liquids are stored or transferred in the area that may spill and require absorbing?
Spill kits with universal or general purpose absorbents are designed to draw up both water and oil-based liquids at similar rates. If the area is outdoors and rain water (or wash down water) may be a factor, then universal spill kits may be less effective, since the oil and water will be absorbed at similar rates, hence reducing the capacity of your absorbent (for the oily liquid that you need to absorb).
Similarly, a hydrocarbon spill kit will absorb oils - but the hydrophobic nature of the materials will not soak up water or solvents, these kits would be less effective where water based spills are the highest risk, or even a factor.
Choosing an incorrect spill kit type can be a costly mistake. By knowing which liquids & solvents are utilised in your operations, and their risks, you can better determine the correct type of kit to fulfill your needs.
There are three basic sorts of kits available Universal - designed for spills of oils, coolants, and other water-based, non-corrosive fluids. Hydrocarbon (or Oil Only) - designed for spills of oil-based liquids only. Used for clean up of oil on water, or for response to oil-based spills in the rain or snow. Hazchem - for spills of corrosive chemicals and liquids, or for spill teams reacting to a spill of unknown origin.
2. What is the potential volume of your spill and is there a drain pit nearby?
What is the size of the largest tank in the vicinity that may rupture and cause a spill? What is the capacity of a series of small tanks (such as batteries or fuel drums) that may cause the risk? Determine the greatest risk. Objectively look at the liquids that could be spilt and the level of risk for potential entry to the storm water drainage system and think logically.
Remember, that it may be prudent to prevent spills from entering the storm water system by prevention rather than try to remediate a spill after the event. Spill kits should be used in conjunction with containment products such as drain covers. For example the Assise Drain covers can temporarily cover a drain, or the unique SpilMax DrainSafe can isolate a storm water pit and stop spill pollution of our waterways.
3. Where are the high risk areas in my workplace - where should I deploy the spill kits?
Some companies place spill kits in the most obvious places - rightfully - but there is a tendency to forget about the 'other' areas of risk. Fuel tanks, diesel generators, workshops, oil storage places and more are the obvious choices.
Bear in mind that wherever you have a storm water or drainage pit, you have a risk.
In car parks, the risk of a vehicle leak is high. In truck yards, or turning circles, the risk is high. In areas where you recharge batteries, or store chemicals, the risk is high. Always walk around your plant, looking at the camber of the surface (where the liquid will run if spilt), and consider the proximity to drains.
Even in a yard where there is no pit nearby, any spill may contaminate the sub soil, and eventually the ground water - then our waterways.
Where you have a vehicle on the road, or a fleet of vehicles, you can have 'transport spill kits' onboard each one so they are protected in the event of an incident. Transport spill kits have handles that make them easy to take to the place of a spill.
4. Do you need have procedures written around the spill kits?
It's all well and good to have spill kits that suit the specific application, and that you have them where they count. But in the event of a spill, do your staff understand what procedure they should follow to best handle the spill? Spill response needs a procedure. Whilst some procedures will remain constant, (contain, absorb, remediate) not all spills should be treated the same. Would you like to be standing over a fuming chemical spill to sweep in the floor sweep without knowing the side effects of the fumes? Probably not. Better to get the PPE gear on, place the absorbents and monitor from a safe distance. As opposed to using the SpilMax floor sweep to absorb a spill by sweeping it in, then correct disposal. Similar problem, different product and different procedure.
The procedure should vary according to the type of kit and the risk.
Chatoyer Environmental have developed a reputation as leaders in the management and control of waterways pollution through specialist spill containment and clean-up products, marine turbidity containment, dangerous goods stores and environmental training & consultancy.
Commencing operations in 1996, we now proudly supply and service a range of blue chip industrials, healthcare, government organisations and utilities. We are based in Seven Hills, NSW and have a national sales / distribution model that incorporates New Zealand.
Our product range includes the reputable:
SpilMax spill kits & spill response products and
Assise engineered containment solutions for silt and sediment management.
