Friday, August 9, 2013

Spill Containment Pallets Creates A Safe Environment For All

Spill Containment Pallets Creates A Safe Environment For All

By Andrea Davidson


Chemicals will leak from the containers they are delivered and stored in. That is a fact of commercial chemical handling life and there is nothing to prevent it. The only thing that can be done is make sure those leaks do not become the spills that require massive, non production action. That is the reason spill containment pallets were thought of and put into use in most chemical handling areas.

When certain chemicals spill onto the floor or other processing surfaces, everything must stop until proscribed procedures are conducted. These are mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency and have to do with making sure the area is made safe and some thought has been extended to prevent this from happening again. These will be intrusive, paper work oriented and costly.

As a spill happens, an alarm will be raised. The production or processing line shuts down and everyone is removed from the area. They are sent to idle or assist on other lines, if possible. The barriers to keep other people out of the space are erected and nothing else can be happening in this space until the regulations are completed.

Hazardous material team members will converge on the area, gowned properly, to deal with the procedures. A report about the spill will probably already been submitted to all appropriate governmental agencies about what happened. This paper work will be followed up by an end of action report as well. The work will proceed between these two reports.

They will provide an appropriate amount of absorbent material that will create a gel or semi solid out of the chemical. This will be placed a specially labeled container for removal to a disposal company. This company will charge a premium for this service. After this chemical has been picked up, a complete cleaning will be conducted. After that a test will be administered to make sure no residue remains. The authorities may also want to test the space themselves which will slow down the recovery.

With the use of these pallets, the leak will be able to flow down into a reservoir contained in the bottom of the pallet. It can hold the contents of the drums or barrels that are placed on it. This will hold onto the chemicals, safe from leakage, in a polyethylene material that does not react to most chemicals.

When that leak occurs, the entire pallet can be moved out of the area. A pallet of new chemical can be brought in and production can continue. The pallet containing the leaking containers will be taken to a special cleaning area. The drum is drained, the pallet is drained and cleaned. The new container with the chemical from the leaking drum is placed back in service and the pallet is placed back into service as well.

The best way to handle any spill is before it happens. These spill containment pallets are strong and non reactive. They will come in caution colors and have a profile that is hard to miss. Safety around chemicals should be job one in any area that has chemicals and this systems helps you and your employees to stay safe.




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