The most important part of effective spill containment is the ability to contain oil, grease, or other materials that are airborne. In a catastrophic spill, this ability can make or break the cleanup efforts and help identify exactly where to begin cleaning. Of course, most people are aware of the physical effects that oil and chemical spills can have on clothing, carpets, and furniture, but there are several other ways in which it can spread and harm those around you.

The first part of spill containment is the physical removal of the spill. This may include walking on the area with heavy oil or chemical spill, or spraying it off with a clean substance like a household broom. Often, this process takes more than one person and may be a dangerous venture for those who have had exposures previously.

An individual with a disability must also be able to use the equipment necessary to remove oil from their clothing and carpeting. Using appropriate machines or resources, they must be able to apply the appropriate degreasers to remove the chemical or hazardous oil. This is important because the cost of removing the oil, as well as the costs of cleaning up the spill, may come out of the disability check of an employee who needs such support.

Another vital part of spill containment is communication. In some cases, they are a part of the cleanup team and should be instructed on the best routes and methods to take to get information to a spill location. A very good example of a protocol would be “if in doubt, call in.” These protocols are essential to ensure the safety of those inside the facility where the spill has occurred.

The method that employees choose for spill containment is also important. Many companies choose to use standard clean-up materials like bleach-based detergents to clean up spills. While these may be good for a cleanup, they do little to reduce the risk of oil spreading into other areas.

In addition to proper safety gear, companies should be equipped with a suit to wear if they must enter a spill area. Their supervisor may supply the appropriate uniforms, depending on the severity of the spill. Although many companies supply work gloves, it is important to not allow any direct contact with the spilled material.

Part of spill containment is also learning how to communicate with employees in the spill area. In the workplace, safety is everyone’s responsibility, and everybody is accountable for their own actions. The safety of their coworkers should be at the top of their priority list.

Providing workers with accident reports, and working with them to create emergency plans is also a crucial part of spill containment. Workers can’t expect to have clear procedures if they can’t talk to their superiors about what they need to do. Each employee should be encouraged to go to a doctor when something isn’t feeling right and ask for medical assistance if the situation requires it.

Workers need to know how to follow a safety protocol that was outlined by the company. For example, they may need to have a cup of water available for every five gallons of spilled oil. Or, they may need to have a seal of approval on the spill that states that the company has followed all safety procedures and determined that the spill can be cleaned up correctly.

Having the right tools for spill containment also helps employees stay safe. At a minimum, they need to have oil and chemical spill proof protective clothing and chemical spill buckets that are safe to use in a spill. This also includes those companies that supply personal protective equipment (PPE).

The use of PPE is perhaps the main ways in which employees can protect themselves while performing their duties. For example, they need to be trained on how to get out of a puddle, how to clean up a spill, and how to place the chemical into a bucket that is meant for the job. This type of training and experience is beneficial in many types of work environment.

In order to make the most of spill containment, employers need to create and maintain the right environment to keep their workers safe. By creating a healthy work environment, the risk of accidents will be reduced. Along with having a good evacuation plan, having the right equipment, communicating with the employees, and handing out all necessary instructions will prevent a lot of issues.