Preparing Your Facility for Effective Spill Response in 2019
Spills and other pollution incidents can have far reaching and costly consequences for companies without the proper equipment and an emergency response plan in place. At SpillShop, we are dedicated to providing our customers with high quality spill response and liquid containment equipment throughout Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. If your facility produces, stores, transports, or disposes of hazardous chemicals and liquids, then it is essential that you remain in compliance with the relevant regulations and safety procedures to protect your staff, the environment, and surrounding communities.
Learn how to prepare your facility for effective spill response in 2019 with this checklist:
- Create and implement an effective spill response management plan
In accordance with the POEO Act, all licensees of facilities involved with hazardous chemicals or waste materials must have an emergency response plan in place. This plan must be located on the premises in written form, and include details such as a description of the main hazards and the likelihood of these hazards occuring, the pre-emptive actions to be taken to minimise or prevent any risk to human health or the environment as a result of the activities carried out at the premises, an inventory of the pollutants and safety equipment on site, and the contact details of those individuals who are responsible for incident management. To learn more about spill response plans, head to our posts on incident management and the correct spill response procedure.
- Ensure that you have the correct spill response equipment for your facility
Different types of spill response equipment are suited for particular spills, liquids, and chemicals on both land and sea. For example, spill kits and granular absorbents come in three grades: general purpose, oil and fuel, and chemical, and are best suited to deal with spills of these specific liquids. It is therefore important that you have the correct spill response equipment on hand, including spill kits, absorbents, granules, bunding and drain protection guards, for the hazardous materials located at your facility. Not sure which spill response equipment is needed for your business? Visit our FAQ page for more information.
- Educate your staff on pollution incidents and emergency response procedures
Pollution incidents can potentially cost businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean up, so it pays to make sure that your company is prepared for an emergency. Ensure that your staff is trained in relevant emergency response procedures, which could take the form of formal training in incident management or undertaking simulated incident exercises with emergency services personnel. Your spill response plan should also be tested every twelve months, to ensure that the plan is both up to date and able to be carried out in an efficient and effective manner. Learn more about the major pollution incidents in Australia and their lasting effects here.
- Make sure that you replace any spill kit components used during 2018
If your facility dealt with any spills or pollution incidents this year, it is possible that the components of your spill kit have been depleted. Generally, a spill kit contains supplies such as absorbent pads, mini-booms, pillows, goggles, gloves, disposal bags, cable ties, and laminated instructions. Avoid the risk of being caught out without the correct equipment in 2019 – SpillShop stocks a wide range of spill kit components to replenish your kits as needed after an incident, with free shipping and returns available across Australia.
- Be aware of the current regulations which affect your business
Companies which deal with hazardous chemicals or materials need to be in compliance with the regulations set out by their local or national environmental regulator. For companies located in NSW, this regulator is the EPA (Environment Protection Authority), which has the power to undertake site inspections and audits, conduct investigations, and fine non-compliant businesses. The EPA website has a number of resources for companies to stay up to date with current regulations, including the EPA Compliance Policy, and a guide to the preparation of pollution incident response management plans. Would you like to learn more about the EPA? Discover how the EPA monitors compliance in our post on understanding the NSW EPA regulatory system.
At SpillShop, our focus is on providing your facility with reliable and effective spill response and liquid containment equipment. Our full range can be easily purchased online, and we export to locations including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and the Philippines. If you require any further assistance, do not hesitate to Contact Us today to discuss your needs.