Hazmat Incidents

DEFIANCE, Ohio - Two tanker cars derailed in northwest Ohio. The cars contained residue from ethyl alcohol a flammable industrial chemical. Headlines like the above tend to capture the imagination of the public. Yet, recent studies published by the USDOT revealed some shocking statistics about the danger of hazmat incidents on the highway. The USDOT data shows that of all the transportation mediums; air, water, train, and highway. Highway based hazmat incidents continue to be the number one source of real and potentially dangerous hazmat accidents today.

What is a serious hazmat incident?

Typically, government and industry agree that a serious hazmat incident is one where;

• the intentional or accidental release of a hazardous material is responsible for a fatality or major injury,
• the release of any hazardous material or exposure to fire that results in the need or the actual evacuation of 25 or more persons,
• the closure or a major transportation hub or artery that comes from the release or exposure to fire or any other hazardous material,
• there is a release of radioactive or biohazard materials,
• when there is a release of over 11.9 gallons or 88.2 pounds of a severe marine pollutant, or hazardous material.

What are hazardous materials?

A hazardous or dangerous material or good is any solid, liquid or gas that can potentially case harm to people, animals, property or the environment. These materials are often subject to chemical, radioactive or biological regulations by the state or federal authorities or both.

Hazmat materials may include chemical, radioactive, flammable, explosive, biological, medical, industrial, or military materials. Controlling or managing the risks associated with these hazardous materials requires the implementation of many safety precautions, procedures and planning. Typically, a plan to deal with these hazardous materials requires the implementation of precautions during transportation, use, storage and finally disposal of the hazmat materials.

Accidental release of hazmat materials can potentially cause harm or death to those exposed. As a result, specialized equipment for the cleanup, disposal and handling of these materials are used.

Hazmat spills

Large hazmat spills often require specialized personal and equipment. However, small everyday hazmat spills are often managed by employees or other personal. To minimize the risk and danger to all personal, the use of a Hazmat spill kit has become the norm in many shops or manufacturing facilities.

What is a hazmat spill kit?

A hazmat spill kit is a kit used for control or containment of hazmat spills. These kits are basically, an emergency package that contains all the supplies and equipment that would be needed by personal to quickly and effectively handle minor hazmat spills that may cause health hazards in the workplace.

What does a typical hazmat spill kit contain?

Kits can vary from small kits containing only a few items to a full blown kit with supplies and equipment to handle any hazmat spill.

A good example of a spill kit is SPT SPKU-95-WD

This spill kit contains the most commonly used supplies needed for dealing with hazmat spills.

Our SPKU-95-WD Spill Kit includes;

1. 95-Gallon Spill Kits/Universal Contents pre-packed in X-rated DOT-approved
2. 95-Gallon OverPack (UN 1H2/X295/S, UN
3. 1H2T/Y295/S; w/Wheels = UN 1H2/X113/S).
4. 150 - 15"x19" Absorbent Pads
5. 6 - 3"x8' Absorbent Socks
6. 12 - 3"x4' Absorbent Socks
7. 7 - 18"x18" Absorbent Pillows
8. 2 - Pair Nitrile Gloves
9. 1 - Spill Kits Label
10. 3 - Tubs Plug & Dike
11. 1 - Pair Goggles
12. 4 - Yellow Disposal Bags & Ties
    PLUS: 1 - Emergency Response GuideBook

Other forms of spill kits

One of the most common hazmat spills are those that occur away from the workplace. Highway or truck spills are often the most common form of hazmat incidents. The usual highway or truck spill involves the release of low level hazmat agents such as garbage, sand, dirt, fuel, milk, food, and lumber. These accidental releases can be caused by minor traffic accidents or reckless driving by the truck operator. They can also be caused by the improper loading, or control of hazmat agents while in transit.

What does a highway or truck spill kit contain?

Your typical highway or truck spill kit contains absorbent pads, absorbent socks, nitrile gloves, goggles, clear disposal bags, bag ties, and zippered bags. To be effective a highway or truck spill kit must be easy to use and small enough to be carried inside the truck cabin. Quick spill response by the truck operator using his/her spill kit can be instrumental in limiting or containing the spills effects on people and the environment.

For further reading about spill kits and hazmat issues please visit:

http://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/ehs/handbook/hazwaste/spillkit.htm
http://www.ehs.indiana.edu/em/spilweb.pdf
http://www.dot.gov/

Need hazmat supplies?

ABSORBENT PADS & ROLLS	ABSORBENT PILLOWS
ABSORBENT SOCKS	ABSORBENTS LOOSE
BOOMS	DRIPPANS-DRUM TOP PADS
DRUM OVERPAKS-HAZMAT SHIPPING KITS	EROSION CONTAINMENT
ESD (STATIC DISSIPATIVE) ABSORBENT PADS-ROLLS	INDUSTRIAL RUGS
PRODUCT ACCESSORIES	SPILL CONTAINMENT
SPILL KITS-SPILL KITS REFILLS	SPILL RESPONSE-POM POMS-NETBAGS-SWEEPS
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT