Wednesday 13 February 2013

The 4 Drum Spill Pallet System Satisfies All Regulations

By Paula Barron


The very fact that there are chemicals in your plant means that there will be a leak, eventually. The hazardous nature of all chemicals could be health related or it could simply be a slip hazard. Barrels, tanks and drums do have a tendency to leak if handled in an obviously careless way and rust will contribute to metal drums bursting. A 1, 2 or 4 drum spill pallet will help prevent the dangerous conditions these events can represent.

The chemicals you have will be delivered to you in drums, whether metal or poly ones. Punctures by mishandling or rust and corrosion from older barrels will allow the leaking that turns into a bad spill. Keeping that substance off of the floor will allow you to bypass the necessary cleanup mandated by the EPA or OSHA. Cleaning up this substance will take the manpower and processes that will impact your productivity and bottom line.

The standard procedure to follow for a spill is straight forward. The personnel will be evacuated from the area as well as all non contaminated material. This area is shut down and barriers are erected to keep people out. This barrier can be a permanent one that is always present or it can be a temporary berm brought in for this purpose.

The hazardous material personnel trained in the clean up will have to be used to make sure all of this spill is contained. They will be gowned to ensure they are not affected and everything will have to be placed in a drum. This drum will be sealed and delivered to a company that is certified as being a chemical disposal firm. This material might be able to be recycled.

Companies have gone into business to handle this contaminated material. It is not cheap and the regulations to follow is filled with paperwork detailing what chemicals are involved and what happened. They work closely with the EPA and OSHA to help ensure the safety of all personnel working with chemicals.

Making sure that these types of pallets are used will almost eliminate the need to deal will all of the special attention and cost when a spill occurs. They are constructed from a very tough polyethylene material that is non toxic and, more important, non reactive to most chemicals. The grates, installed in the top surface of the pallet, will allow the leakage to flow into a reservoir at the bottom where it can stay without affecting anyone.

The very observant personnel will notice the leaking drum and call attention to it. The pallet can be moved into a cleaning area. The production line does not have to stop work. Drums and other containers can be removed from the pallet and the leaking one drained into other packages. The reservoir can be cleaned and the pallet returned to usable equipment. With no chemical on the floor, a spill did not occur.

By using a 4 drum spill pallet, the safety of your personnel can be all but assured. The chemicals you use in your plant should be a source of materials to perform the fabricating in which your are involved. It should not be a source of imminent danger to your employees and the environment.




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