Spill Containment in the Workplace
It can be scary to be in a place where an incident of hazardous chemical spill has taken place. People, in reaction to the spill, tend to want to try to do something to contain the spill. Unfortunately, this is not the right way to deal with the problem. Putting yourself in harm’s way is not right and this is what will happen if you try to slow down or stop an unsafe spill yourself. Training workers who are daily exposed to hazardous agent on the proper procedures to contain spills so that the next time a spill happens, they will be prepared to do the right thing.
This problem is better solved with the right equipment that can contain chemical spills. As a primary safeguard against spill hazards, there should be spill pallets and spill containment berms to use. Perhaps the best weapon for this is to make sure that there is proper management of production and storage areas which are the most common places where spills take place. Attention should similarly given to transportation corridors. If there is a way to channel the spill safely into a secure temporary or disaster holding spaces that area away from sparks, open flames, electrical circuits or employees, then the simplest thing that the workers can do is to deactivate whatever device they are using and then leave the area when there is a spill.
External tanks can leak if they are overfilled or when they are deteriorated . Diking can be a solution to this problem. To prevent the distribution of the spilled or leaked liquids, the dikes have to surround the tanks to collect the spills. Depending on the volume of the tank, the method is mandated by law and recommended by OSHA.
Although these dikes are useful, before they are constructed consideration has to be made regarding vehicular traffic in the storage space. You have to be sure also that the OSHA does not prohibit the installation of dikes near the container, like they do for certain chemicals such as liquefied petroleum gas.
Diatomaceous earth is also highly recommended by the OSHA to control spills. Spreading this chalk-like substance over the chemical spills helps to stop the potential hazardous liquid. This method is known to be effective. If worker can use diatomaceous earth as an element of a disaster response plan that does not put them in any harm, then it can be a competent option for containing a spill.
Spraying chemicals to the spill through pressurized applicators is also effective. These chemicals can stop the progress of the spreading substance. This chemical will not only reduce the effects of the fumes, ti can also solidify hazardous substances in question. The spills can harden or can change their chemical composition to change its combustibility. This way it can be safely disposed of once the danger is over. Fast-acting agents can also used to produce quick barriers because they can affect the primary edges of a spill to swiftly lost its fluidity.
Source: http://www.dailyreleased.com/healthcare/the-major-problems-facing-care-for-the-elderly-today/