Hazardous Materials Transportation – Spill Containment Options

Not all hazardous materials issues are confined solely to the jobsite itself.  Risk managers are often called upon to consult with and advise logistics personnel with regards to the safe transportation of chemicals and gases that pose a danger to those around them should they be mishandled or should an accident occur.  While training of those who are called upon to interact with these materials while they are being transported is an important part of reducing the risks involved, the use of the proper safety equipment can also help to create a much safer process for all involved.

The transportation of chemicals in large drums or cans can often bring with it the risk of a spill, particularly if the storage container has previously been opened and perhaps resealed incorrectly.  Moving older metallic containers that may have corroded over time also pose a greater risk of leakage than might normally be expected.  When transporting potentially hazardous materials through a facility it is crucial to reduce the chance that unseen leakage could leave a trail through different work areas, where chemicals or other agents could pose harm to workers unaware of their presence.

The use of containment caddies instead of open platform carts or forklifts to move hazardous material containers can offer the type of containment protection necessary to provide peace of mind.  Containment caddies, such as those produced by Justrite offer a variety of different wheeled and un-wheeled transportation options for individual workers to handle loads of up to 600 lbs without placing unnecessary strain on their backs or lower bodies.  These devices offer a cradle to which a drum can be strapped, and then surround the container with a spill sump that can handle up to 66 gallons of materials leakage should the container lose its integrity during transport.

For scenarios where a large number of containers must be moved simultaneously and individual isolation is not practical, then the use of drain covers and seals along with movable dikes along the transportation route through the facility is highly recommended. Not only do these types of measures prevent chemicals from entering into a jobsite’s drainage system, but they can also create a controlled path for any spillage to follow that deflects it from areas where it could harmfully interact with personnel or equipment.

EPA regulations impose even stricter regulations concerning the loading and storage of materials where leakage poses an environmental concern.  In these instances, the transfer of certain materials must be accomplished only in the presence of a containment berm which completely surrounds the operation and isolates it from the area around it.  These berms can be portable or permanent, with the former typically used in loading or receiving areas that occasionally see the transfer of chemicals via pump or individual container.  Berms can also be used as temporary storage pens in unloading areas where containers containing dangerous chemicals are kept until they can be safely transported to their permanent home in a facility.  This prevents any leakage from being tracked throughout a job site by vehicles or personnel frequenting these high traffic areas.