Spill Kits - Pull Your Socks Up And Get The Cushions Out

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When it comes to spill control, there are more spill kits available today than at any other time. But whilst this offers industries and businesses a wide range of choices, ensuring specific spill control solutions are available for any foreseeable spillage, it can often cause confusion as far as exactly what is required for any particular situation. For example, if you have investigated spill kits for your business, you may already have come across spill control products such as cushions, socks and booms. More often these are broken down more specifically into general purpose cushions, socks and booms, oil only socks, booms and cushions, and chemical booms, socks and cushions. But really, what is the difference, and does it make any real difference when it comes to dealing with a spillage situation?

The answer is that it certainly will make a difference - and on three distinct levels. In the first instance choosing the wrong spill control product may mean that the spillage cannot adequately or effectively be absorbed, resulting in wasted time, wasted effort, wasted products and wasted money. On top of all that, the spillage will still exist, posing a danger to those nearby, and towards nearby machinery in some cases.

The second issue caused by having the incorrect or an inappropriate spill control solution is that the spillage may not be absorbed quickly enough. Whilst having an inappropriate spill kit may still allow you to deal with the spillage, if you haven’t chosen the best solution, it may take you a great deal longer to deal with. This still represents a waste of time and money, but the real issue is that the longer a spillage exists, the longer both the inconvenience and the possible danger to workers will also exist. It is always imperative to make sure that the spillage is dealt with effectively and quickly, minimizing disruption and removing any possible danger to those people in the area.

The third issue relating to having inappropriate spill kits is that money can easily be wasted. Using a general purpose sock capable of absorbing 90 litres of liquid to deal with a spilled cup of coffee clearly represents a waste of the company’s health and safety budget! But if such a spill control solution is the only one provided, then often those around to deal with the problem have been given little choice. Providing a suitable range of spill control products is therefore just as important as having the most appropriate product for the liquids being dealt with.

Cushions, booms and socks are all part of the same general family of spill kits, being large shaped masses able to absorb large quantities of liquids, primarily used for stopping leakages or spillages from spreading any further. Socks and booms are generally used for containment of a spillage, rather than specifically dealing with the spillage itself, although often they are used to deal with the majority of a spillage without the need for any other materials.

General purpose cushions are square shaped spill control products which can be used to create a vertical pile, ideal for spillages which are seeping through doors, down steps or in other high level places. They can be piled on top of each other, creating a large, strong barrier, a little like a wall. By using the cushions in this way, a very specific shaped barrier can be created, which is often useful if trying to contain a spillage which is of a large nature, and which is in an awkward shaped environment.

Socks and booms are long tubes which can be placed around the circumference of a spillage to act as barriers that can be curved to create a stop point around the perimeter. The basic difference between a sock and a boom is the size. Socks tend to be under about two metres in length, whereas booms are often many metres in length, and usually of a larger diameter too. Booms tend to be used in marine environments where oil only booms are required to quickly contain an oil spillage.

Using oil only spill kits in this case is essential, because clearly any other kind of absorbent would simply soak up water and be of no further use. Oil only spill control solutions such as oil only booms contain a special chemical material which actively repels water, whilst absorbing oil very quickly. These can be used to float on the surface of the water, soaking the oil up and preventing it from spreading any further.

Whether using oil only spill kits, general purpose spill kits of chemical spill kits, it is essential to make sure that your spill control solutions are not only chosen to match the likely need in terms of the nature of any possible spillage, but also its capacity and location, with cushions, socks and booms all offering a wide range of spill control options.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Spill Control | www.intersafety.co.uk | Spill Kits

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