The first time I heard the term, I thought that Hazmat Spill was an accident named after an oil tanker and that the blog would be about what could be done to avoid another environmental disaster like it. A Hazmat Spill, it turns out, is a spill in which hazardous material is released in large quantities uncontrollably. The cost associated with such leaks is in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
With effective storage of such liquid in place, employees can be protected and accidental leaks can be avoided. We’ll discuss the best hydraulic oil spill cleanup techniques in use nowadays. Let’s forego the simple process of sprinkling absorbent material like sawdust, granulated clay, or cat litter on petroleum drips and focus on the more complicated operations involving massive spills on land.
Best Practice Before an Accident
Preparing for a hazardous material spill in advance is the safest course of action. That necessitates investing in the right equipment and containers in case of an emergency. It also means spending a lot of time training employees on how to handle a spill. It is up to the team to know the dangers of the cargo and appropriately respond to them right away.
Best Practice on What Steps to Use
When dealing with oil spills on land, there are different types of fast hazmat cleanup operations that are widely employed to prevent further destruction of the environment.
• Land Booms – Resembling bulky sausages, they serve as a barrier since they are made of an oil-absorbing substance. As a result, oil cannot leave an area encircled by land booms. Once the spill is contained, cleanup may proceed with the use of the methods below.
• Hydrocarbon Pads – These are oil-absorbing pads with several layers of polypropylene. Each pad can absorb a lot of oil and they are effective for drying up a pool of oil. When the pads are saturated, they can be disposed of in sealed plastic bags.
• Absorbents – Looking like sawdust or powder, these contain dormant bacteria that become active when they come in contact with oil and devour it, removing all traces of the leak. It would be good to remove the top layer of the soil after that and spray the area with water.
Best Practice Immediately After an Accident
First, make sure everyone nearby, including the staff, is safe. Act swiftly and evacuate the affected if there are concerns about flammability or the quality of the air in the area. Call the hazmat cleanup crew that should be on the list of emergency contacts and coordinate with them on the operation. Given the fact that a crisis like the one you face doesn’t always occur, the people you’ll be reaching should be available around the clock.
It must be understood that any oil spill involving 25 gallons or more must be reported immediately. Accidents that contaminate groundwater or surface water must be reported within 24 hours of the spill. The law requires the local authorities to be informed and inspectors to be sent to the area. After all is said and done, restock the booms, absorbents, and PPE that were utilized to clean up the spill.
At the End of the Day
Oil spills on land have the potential to damage plant and animal life as well as contaminate the environment. If left unchecked, these can eventually move through the soil to the closest body of water, like your river or the sewage system. We are responsible for the hydraulic oil spill cleanup of the area in the event of an accident.
Should a crisis arise and your neighborhood needs help responding to HazMat situations, GreenTech Spill Response has the people who can respond, contain, clean, and dispose of hazardous materials. Scroll through our website now. In case of an emergency, our phone number is 630-392-6844.
