Spill Containment Blog

Spill Containment Blog

Spill Containment and Spill Cleanup Solutions

Are Your Workers Protected from Hazardous Chemical Risks?

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Handling chemicals in a laboratoryDespite scores of regulations from OSHA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and various other governmental entities, hazardous chemical exposure is still a pervasive problem in many workplaces. In fact, OSHA publicly acknowledged the problem last fall, bringing it into the spotlight and inviting industry representatives into a “national dialogue” to discuss solutions and tackle the monumental task of updating permissible exposure limits (PELs).

Even the most safety-conscious employers cannot take hazardous chemical safety for granted. Accidents can happen all too easily — it only takes one careless mistake to result in devastating consequences that can harm employees’ health, the environment, the vitality of the business, and more.

In light of the renewed attention to hazardous workplace chemical dangers, it’s a good time to review your own facility’s chemical safety plan and ensure you’re doing enough to mitigate the risks of hazardous chemical exposure.

The first step
The first step toward better hazardous chemical safety is to confirm that all employees understand precisely what a hazard is. According to OSHA, hazardous chemicals (and common materials that contain hazardous chemicals, such as paint and cleaning compounds) can be categorized as a health hazard, a physical hazard, or another hazard type (such as combustible dust). A health hazard is a chemical that can cause acute or chronic health effects in exposed employees. A physical hazard is a chemical that could cause non-health related physical damage.

The OSHA Hazard Awareness Advisor is a great resource for educating your business. The advisor helps general industry employers and workers identify possible safety and health hazards in their workplace, then directs them to OSHA standards that address those hazards. This tool can be particularly helpful to small employers who don’t have the means to hire safety and health professionals to evaluate their workplace.

The next steps
Once you understand what constitutes a chemical hazard, take these further steps to keep your employees safe:

  • Get employee buy-in. It’s vital that your employees understand the correct procedures for using and disposing of chemicals, and why safety is crucial.
  • Identify all hazardous chemicals in your workplace. Check the information available in the chemical manufacturer’s MSDS or product labeling to determine which chemicals are hazardous. You should also be familiar with PELs for every chemical used in your workplace, and establish practices to reduce workers’ exposure to these harmful substances. And remember: When classifying hazardous materials, it’s always best to err on the side of caution.
  • Do a personal protective equipment (PPE) inventory. Make sure you have the necessary respirators, ear protection, eye and face protection, head protection, safety gloves, and other PPE for working with the chemicals used in your workplace. Make sure workers can easily access this equipment, and understand when and how to use it.
  • Review your chemical spill response supplies. Ensure you have the correct materials on hand to quickly respond to a chemical spill.

Whether you’re a company leader, manager, or team manager, you can’t afford to take hazardous chemical safety for granted in your workplace. Keep your hazardous chemical safety procedures up to date, and make sure that employees at all levels fully understand and employ those procedures when working with chemicals.

Do you have the right safety products on hand for your workplace? To find out, contact Angie Meza at angie@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

Find these hazardous chemical safety and spill response supplies at AbsorbentsOnline.com.

Which Is Better for Incidental Spills: Shop Rags or Absorbent Pads?

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Oily rag and car oil dipstick Ah, yes — the good old-fashioned shop rag. They’re a convenient way to clean up incidental spills and prevent slip-and-fall injuries, reusing them can help your business’s sustainability efforts, and they never go out of style!

But cloth rags can only absorb a limited amount of spilled liquid. In a shop or garage where minor spills and leaks are frequent, you may find yourself going through a lot of rags quickly.

There’s a better way
If you’re looking for a longer lasting and more efficient alternative spill cleanup product, you should consider absorbent pads and rolls.

Absorbent pads and rolls are available as a universal absorbent to absorb any liquid (gray), oil-only to absorb hydrocarbon fluids only (white), and hazmat for aggressive fluids (yellow). The patented layers are designed for all work areas and can absorb water, greases, oils, and other mechanical fluids.

Their durable construction makes the pads and rolls less likely to fall apart or tear. And best of all, they’re easily disposable!

But what about the cost?
At first glance, the shop rags seem more cost-effective, simply because they often cost less than the absorbent pads and rolls. But consider the following:

  • Rags must be laundered or disposed of after each use.
  • Rags tear and fall apart with use.
  • You may have different sizes of rags, and thus need more for a single cleanup.
  • You may need to buy new batches of rags frequently.

Unlike shop rags, our spill cleanup absorbent pads and absorbent rolls protect work areas because they catch the spill as it happens. Additionally, they absorb a lot more liquid than rags. For example, a single heavy weight Universal Absorbent Pad absorbs 37 ounces of liquid; our Spill Cleanup Absorbent Roll with Backing absorbs 18 gallons per roll.

It’s a good idea to have rags on hand for minor cleanup jobs. But with the help of absorbent pads with backing, you’ll find yourself wiping up incidental spills a lot less frequently — and saving money in the long run.

Want to learn more about spill-cleanup products? AbsorbentsOnline can help. Contact Travis Zdrazil at travis@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

Did You Know?
Several of AbsorbentsOnline’s absorbent pad and roll products are on sale for a limited time! Compare our pad and roll to the same products sold elsewhere. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at our low prices!

“Ramp Up” Your Load-Moving Safety

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Yellow loading rampIt’s no wonder why many industries use handcarts. When used properly, handcarts are a safe way to move loads from one place to another, such as when transferring products from a delivery truck to a customer. But when used incorrectly, hand trucks, dollies, and wheeled carts can be sources of safety missteps when combined with curbs, steps, and uneven surfaces. Pulling a fully loaded hand truck or cart up stairs or over a curb could displace and damage loaded items, or worse, injure the worker.

To avoid handcart safety hazards like these, you need the right tools — tools that can protect both your employees and your products. For situations like these, portable loading ramps offer a convenient safety solution. Such ramps are even recommended by OSHA to improve ergonomics for beverage delivery workers.

All about ramps
So what constitutes a portable ramp? They’re typically made from metal or high-density polyethylene. While both materials have their merits, high-density polyethylene ramps are lighter than metal ramps and have non-slip surfaces that are safer for workers in wet conditions.

Three primary types of portable ramps are available:

  • Loading dock ramps bridge the gap between a loading dock and a truck’s loading area. You can use them with hand trucks, two- and four-wheeled dollies, carts, and pallet trucks.
  • Curb ramps can be used with hand trucks and wheeled carts. These ramps allow you to move loads over curbs or steps.
  • Container ramps are used with hand trucks and dollies. These ramps hook to the container’s door-keepers to make unloading the container easier.

Keep safety in mind
Remember: Using a safety ramp isn’t the only thing you need to do to ensure safety when using handcarts.

Make sure that if you’re using a hand truck, cart, or dolly, you always follow good safety and ergonomics practices to reduce the chances of an injury or accident. For example, use safe lifting techniques to load and unload the truck, and place the heaviest objects at the bottom.

Portable ramps are an easy and economical way to make your loading, unloading, and delivery operations much safer, faster, and more comfortable for your employees.

Have questions about which portable ramps are right for your needs? Contact Travis Zdrazil at travis@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

Portable Loading Ramp Products
AbsorbentsOnline.com offers these durable, portable ramp products for your workplace and delivery needs.

Loading dock ramp

  • Can bear up to 750 pounds, but weighs only 32 pounds.
  • Has beveled entry and exit edges with a non-slip raised surface.
  • Has a 4-inch height differential capacity.
  • High-visibility yellow color prevents tripping.

Curb ramp

  • Can bear up to 1,000 pounds, but weighs only 11 pounds.
  • Raised, non-slip surface provides excellent traction in all weather.
  • Raised side rails prevent carts going over the edge of the ramp.
  • Will work on curbs and steps up to 8 inches high.

Container ramps

  • Hook-rail attaches to a container’s door-keepers.
  • Resists cracks, dents, and weather.
  • Weighs only 25 pounds.
  • Three-point contact and support keeps ramp secure.

Make Safety a Way of Life in Your Workplace

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Is safety a key value and essential part of day-to-day life in your workplace — part of your company’s culture? It should be.

Why build a culture of safety? For two reasons: productivity and profitability. A safe organization will run more productively, with fewer employee injuries (and associated absences) and fewer safety infractions that interrupt work. A safety culture can make your organization more profitable for the same reasons; a fully staffed, healthy workforce means the work gets done without costly injuries that impact your bottom line.

Building a strong safety culture starts with these three best practices:

1. Secure a strong buy-in from key influencers.

The 80/20 rule applies to an organization’s culture: 20% of staff set the culture, and the other 80% follow it. The 20% who really influence your company’s culture — typically, highly respected mid-level managers and senior employees at all levels — must be on board with the safety standards and policies. This means involving those staff members early on in the process of planning and forming safety policies.

The other benefit of involving these influencers is they have intimate knowledge of the day-to-day job. Recall from this article that the primary reason employees don’t follow safety procedures is because of discomfort or frustration with their personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety equipment. Influencers are working in the trenches with the rest of the team, so they’re in an ideal position to explain why following the correct procedures and using safety equipment is important.

2. Set clear goals, standards, and consequences.

Management must define easy-to-understand safety standards and communicate them clearly. With clear standards in place, management should also clearly communicate the consequences of not following safety standards, enforce those standards, and provide both corrective measures and incentives or rewards, as appropriate.

You also need metrics that assess your organization’s safety program. In addition to tracking incident rates, consider using proactive metrics such as the number of infractions cited, safety meeting attendance, and safety pop quiz results. Another way to gauge the effectiveness of your safety program is to rate staff members for their role in promoting safety either quarterly or at an annual review.

Additionally, managers and their teams must have the tools they need to be safe. Such tools include PPE as well as other safety products that are relevant to the job and work materials: for example, fall protection, absorbent mats, and absorbent pads and rolls that reduce risk of slip, trip, and fall accidents.

3. Constantly improve your process.

Safety policies and standards should not be a “set-and-forget” idea. Teams should conduct regular safety meetings to discuss how the equipment and policies are working. Company leadership should provide opportunities for employees to suggest ways that the company can be more productive and make better equipment investments. Make safety a way of life for your organization, not just an ideal or something only taken seriously when someone is watching.

Do you have the right safety products on hand for your workplace? To find out, contact Angie Meza at angie@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

Tips To Prevent Slip-and-Falls In The Workplace

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According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “fall protection” (or lack thereof) is the single most frequently cited safety standard. Companies that don’t offer adequate protection to their workers against falls could be subject to fines and penalties. Of course, there’s good reason for this — in 2009, 605 workers died as a result of same-level and elevated falls, whereas another 212,760 workers suffered non-life-threatening injuries from falling on the job.

Construction experienced the highest rate of fatal fall incidents, while health services experienced the highest rate of non-fatal falls. Regardless of your industry/sector, though, you should take some additional precautions to ensure workers are safe and protected against falls.

One all-too-common cause of slip-and-fall incidents is from spilled chemicals and liquids. When workers fail to clean up spilled chemicals in a timely manner, it creates a dangerous scenario for other workers. An unsuspecting worker could step into a puddle of oil, for instance, losing his or her balance. It only takes a couple drops of oil or lubricant to turn an area of the floor into a slippy fall hazard, so make sure all spilled chemicals and liquids are cleaned in a timely manner.

Falls from elevation are typically prevented through use of guard rails and similar safety structures. If a construction site has an elevated catwalk, OSHA standards require it to have guard rails to protect against falls. For more details regarding the use of catwalk guard rails, visit OSHA’s official website here.

The CDC noted that work-related fall incidents are often attributed to “slippery, cluttered or unstable walking surfaces.” This may sound like common sense, but you would be surprised to find out just how many workplaces conduct their day-to-day operations with unsafe floors. Whether it’s debris, heavy machinery, power tools, lumber, etc., floors should have clean and clear paths defined strictly for walking. Allowing these areas to become cluttered creates a serious fall hazard for workers on duty.

“Circumstances associated with fall incidents in the work environment frequently involve slippery, cluttered, or unstable walking/working surfaces; unprotected edges; floor holes and wall openings; unsafely positioned ladders; and misused fall protection. Federal regulations and industry consensus standards provide specific measures and performance-based recommendations for fall prevention and protection. However, persistent unsafe practices and low safety culture across many industries define steady fall injury rates year after year,” wrote the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Make Personal Protective Equipment a Priority

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Workplace injuries and deaths in the U.S. cost a total of $198.2 billion in 2012, according to the National Safety Council. But despite the enormous cost of accidents and other workplace safety incidents, too many workers are risking on-the-job injuries because they are not using personal protective equipment (PPE) consistently.

According to a Kimberly-Clark Professional survey, 82% of safety professionals had observed staff in their organization failing to wear the appropriate PPE. Additionally, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 84% of on-the-job head and face injuries are sustained by employees not wearing the proper PPE.

OSHA defines PPE as “equipment worn to minimize exposure to serious workplace injuries and illnesses” that can come from contact with chemical, physical, or mechanical hazards. Examples of PPE include gloves, hearing protection, eye and face protection, head protection (hard hats), protective clothing, and respirators.

Reasons for noncompliance

Kimberly-Clark’s survey provides a number of reasons why workers are not using PPE at all appropriate times. The single greatest reason, according to safety professionals, is that workers perceive that PPE is unnecessary. Other reasons cited are that the equipment is uncomfortable, it’s too hot, or it impedes productivity (e.g., not easily available, ill fitting).

Fortunately, businesses can overcome many of these causes for noncompliance by educating employees, changing workplace behaviors, and possibly upgrading equipment.

Practical steps to increase PPE usage

Improving PPE compliance in your organization can reduce medical expenses, staffing losses resulting from employee injuries, and costs associated with OSHA noncompliance. Here are some steps you can take to help instill the habit of using PPE in your employees:

  • Educate workers about the dangers of noncompliance. The primary reason workers aren’t using PPE is that they don’t perceive a task or work environment as dangerous. Having honest discussions with employees about the dangers of noncompliance, as well as the more intangible or long-term dangers (such as exposure to heavy metals), is the first step in promoting proper PPE use.
  • Have clear policies and enforce them. Supervisors should communicate PPE policies to employees and post policies at worksites to serve as a regular reminder. Managers should address noncompliance incidents quickly to maintain a high standard of safety.
  • Encourage correct PPE maintenance. Survey data shows that many employees don’t understand the importance of properly maintaining PPE. Supervisors should make sure employees understand how to clean, store, and maintain safety equipment and why doing so is important for overall safety.
  • Lead by example. Managers and supervisors need to reinforce the importance of using PPE correctly and consistently — and that includes always using PPE when their own jobs require it.
  • Solicit feedback. Give employees an opportunity to discuss the specific challenges they have with using PPE.
  • Consider equipment upgrades. Innovative safety equipment, such as a helmet that can serve as a traditional hard hat or convert to a helmet with face protection, could make PPE use easier and more convenient for employees. Or, try investing in more comfortable full-body suits or gloves with a roughened surface for a proper grip.

PPE is a critical part of workplace safety, and it’s also mandated by law. By paying attention to workers’ PPE usage and enforcing your organization’s PPE policies, you’ll help to keep down injury-related costs and most important, keep your employees and workplace safe.

Do you have the right products on hand to keep your workers safe? To find out, contact Angie Meza at angie@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

Tips For a More Environmentally Friendly and Green Workplace

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Green recycle symbolThere are several advantages to creating a green, environmentally friendly workplace: it reduces overhead costs, boosts employee morale, and it opens the doors to an entirely new client audience.

There’s a growing trend with consumers only purchasing products and services from environmentally friendly companies; therefore, going green in your workplace could attract new customers and ultimately more sales.

You don’t have to far to find big name companies who take a green approach to their business. Coca-Cola’s World of Coke received a gold rating by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its water efficiency, energy efficiency, and the use of recycled materials.

Here are some of the key energy-efficient features of the World of Coke:

  • 20% of the building is made from recycle or easily renewable materials, such as bamboo and recycled rubber.
  • 90% of the debris and waste left behind from the World of Coke’s construction was salvaged or recycled.
  • Features a reflective roof to reduce heat.
  • Improved air quality through low VOC pain and carpeting.
  • 30% more energy efficient Georgia state law mandates.
  • All faucets feature low-flow technology to reduce unnecessary water output.

Of course, Coca-Cola is just one of the many companies taking a proactive approach towards their energy usage and the impact they have on the environment. There are hundreds of other companies out there following in their footsteps. And with more and more consumers looking to spend their money on products from green companies, this is a trend that will likely continue in the years to come.

Tips To Create a Green Workplace

If you’re looking to create a greener workplace, you should first perform an energy audit. Find out exactly how much water, electricity and gas you are using. Most company owners simply cut a check to the utility companies without analyzing their energy usage. Unless you know how much energy your workplace uses each and every month, you can expect to make any major improvements. It’s not a bad idea to make a note of your workplace’s energy usage each month, as this will give you an idea of whether you are using more or less the following month.

Follow these tips to create a greener workplace:

  • Upgrade your lighting to energy-efficient bulbs such as LED, HPS or HID.
  • Bring in natural lighting through windows and sun roofs.
  • Cover drains to prevent unwanted chemical runoff in storm water systems.
  • Install low-flow faucets and high-efficiency (HE) toilets.
  • Encourage the use of recycled material.

You can also find more tips in our previous post on creating an eco-friendly workplace.

Dangers of an Oil Spill In The Workplace

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Oil drumsSome people assume that only massive, large-scale oil spills, such as the Deepwater Horizon incident, are hazardous. However, even minor spills in the workplace create a dangerous situation that workers need to be aware of.

If the company isn’t properly prepared for an oil spill, they could find themselves struggling to properly contain it. To learn more about the dangers of an oil spill in the workplace, keep reading.

Risk of Physical Injury To Workers from Oil Spills

It’s no secret that oil is incredibly slick. If a worker happens to walk over a small patch of oil spilled onto a solid concrete floor or foundation, he or she may lose their balance and fall. Slip-and-fall accidents are one of the most types of work-related injuries, which is why it’s important for companies to take a proactive approach towards preventing them.

Even if your company’s oil is properly stored and contained to a designated area, it’s a good idea to let employees know about it. When employees are conscious of oil stores in a specific area, they’ll use more caution when walking and working around it. Companies can also place absorbent mats and pads underneath oil barrels to soak up any spilled oil. It’s the small steps such as this that go a long ways in creating a safe, employee-friendly workplace.

Risk of Fire from an Oil Spill

Of course, oil spills also increases the risk of a fire. If an open flame or heat source reaches the spill, it may ignite into a fireball. The first step in preventing oil-related fires is to choose a suitable location to store the chemical. Common sense should tell you to avoid storing it near sources of extreme heat. Keep as much distance between heat sources and oil as possible. Using industrial-grade barrels designed specifically for oil will also reduce the chance of a fire.

Risk of Harmful Runoff from Oil Spills

Depending on the severity of the oil spill, it may impact the environment by polluting nearby water sources. If your workplace has a stormwater drain, make sure it’s covered immediately once a spill occurs. Allowing oil to seep into the stormwater drain creates a serious hazard to both the environment and anyone drinking local tap water. It only takes a minute to toss a cover over the drain, and doing so could protect your company from violation fines.

You can browse through our stormwater management and drain products at AbsorbentsOnline.com.

How To Clean Up Dry Fire Extinguisher Chemicals

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Fire extinguisherPortable fire extinguishers offer a fast and effective way for individuals to put out small fires. When a fire breaks out — whether it’s at your home or workplace — one of the first things you should do is grab the fire extinguisher.

Depending on the severity of the fire, and whether or not there’s fuel nearby, you might be able to contain and eventually put it out. However, once the fire is completely out, you’ll be left with a pile of fire extinguisher chemicals to clean up.

Is It Dry or Water-Based?

Portable fire extinguishers typically fall under one of two different categories: dry or water-based. Water-based models require no special steps when cleaning up the residual mess left behind, but dry models contain various chemicals that may pose a danger to your health.

If you own one or more fire extinguishers, it’s recommended that you familiarize yourself with their contents. Do you know if it’s water-based or dry? How about the chemicals it contains? These are all things you should know before operating a fire extinguishers; otherwise, you place yourself at risk for chemical-related injury from improper use and/or cleanup.

Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher Clean-Up: Vacuum The Powdery Mess

Assuming your dry fire extinguisher contains standard sodium and/or potassium bicarbonate, you can safely clean up most of the powder mess left behind by vacuuming it. Before you start vacuuming, though, you should first gear up in a dust mask, safety goggles and pair of gloves, as the fire may have created toxic fumes and dust. Next, sweet up any large debris and place it in a trash bag. This will create a smoother surface for your vacuum cleaner to run over.

With the large debris removed from the floor, you can now go back over it with a vacuum cleaner to suck up the residual powder left behind from your fire extinguisher. Continue doing this until you’ve successfully removed all of the visible powder. As a precautionary measure, you should go back and clean the area thoroughly to ensure there’s no chemical residue left behind.

Cleaning Fire Extinguisher Foam

Of course, some fire extinguishers spray a foam-like substance to put out fires, and unfortunately you can’t vacuum this type of mess up like the powdery sodium and potassium bicarbonate. The easiest way to clean up fire extinguisher foam is with good old fashioned soap and water.

Understanding The Impact of Ergonomics In The Workplace

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ergonomic render of a handErgonomics is a topic that’s oftentimes overlooked or misunderstood among employers. Whether your workplace is a typical office setting or an industrial factory, you should carefully analyze ergonomics to ensure workers are given a safe, healthy environment to perform their professional duties.

The term “ergonomics” literally translates from the Greek language into “work” and “laws,” which sums it up pretty well.

For a closer look at the impact of ergonomics in the workplace, and steps you can take to improve it, keep reading.

What is ergonomics?

So, what exactly is ergonomics? In short, it’s the science/relationship between a worker and his or her environment. The concept of ergonomics focuses on creating an ‘ideal’ work environment where physical stress is reduced. Physical stress in the workplace is typically caused by one of two different elements: environmental factors and employee motion. An example of an environmental factor is a poorly designed office chair which lacks lumbar support. An example of physical stress caused by employee motion is a worker bending their back (rather than their feet) to pick up a box or heavy object.

What are the risks of poor ergonomics in the workplace?

Allowing employees to work in an environment with poor ergonomics leaves them vulnerable to injury while reducing their overall efficiency and productivity. The truth is that most employers overlook the importance of ergonomics in the workplace. Yet, OSHA explain poor ergonomics can lead to work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) — which are among the most frequently reported causes of lost or restricted work time.

When employees are constantly stressed on a daily basis, their normal physical body functions gradually begin to decline. The same job they used to complete in an hour might take them an hour and a half now. And rather than showing up for their shift every day, they might call in sick once a month. It’s the subtle nuances such as this that really cut into companies’  revenue and ultimately their profits.

Another example of physical stress caused from poor ergonomics is when workers are forced to stand on hard concrete for long periods of time. This may not seem like an issue, but standing on hard surfaces for eight or more hours a day leaves workers vulnerable to a wide variety of injuries.

See the list below for some of the most common types of foot injuries and conditions:

  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Bunion
  • Bone fracture
  • Stress fracture
  • Sprain
  • Osteoarthritis

Rather than completely renovating your workplace with new flooring, you can lay out comfort mats in high-traffic areas to improve its ergonomics. These mats are designed to create a softer, more comfortable area where employees can safely work. Learn more about anti-fatigue mats in our previous blog post.