Environmental spills aren’t just minor inconveniences - they can create long-term dangers for both people and the environment. Spills come in all shapes and sizes, and often happen with no warning at all. The most common types of environmental spills include oil spills, chemical spills, and gas leaks, among many others.
Action Environmental’s Spill Response Management Services provide comprehensive spill response for a variety of emergency spill situations. We’re called in to handle incidents of all sizes and severities. A common question our employees receive is:
“Is an environmental spill ever safe for me to handle without professional help?”
The short answer is yes.
The longer, more complicated answer starts with sometimes. Spills of less than one liter can sometimes be cleaned up without professional assistance. There are a lot of factors to consider, however. Whether or not the chemical is toxic, for example, and whether there are exposed drains in the area that may have absorbed some of the spill.
When a small spill happens, immediately alert everyone in the area. Contain the material from spreading further by “diking” the area with absorbent materials such as towels, paper towels, or cloths. If the spill is acidic, neutralize it (where possible) with a sodium bicarbonate base. Once cleaned, triple-bag all soiled materials and dispose of them as Hazardous Waste. Wash the affected surfaces with soap and water or using other directed methods. Be cognizant of whether or not the spill may have released any noxious chemicals into the air which need to dissipate before the area is repopulated.
When should you not attempt to clean up an environmental spill yourself?
When a spill happens on absorbent ground, such as into soil, it’s a good idea to call a team of professionals even if it’s relatively small. It’s important to take care of soil spills properly to mitigate the risk of contaminated groundwater.
Spills of a certain size, those measured in gallons or liters, require professional assistance. Not only is professional remediation the best practice for ensuring no long-term environmental effects, it’s actually required by the EPA in some cases.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Emergency Management oversees thousands of hazardous spills every year. The EPA can help provide valuable support in the aftermath of a spill; they also require significant chemical spills to be reported accurately and immediately by law.
You should never attempt to clean a spill if you cannot do so safely, or without the spill contacting your skin.
With a database of over 1,700 national contractors, Shield Engineering’s Action Environmental Group can dispatch a cleanup crew to your facility immediately, day or night. When in doubt about a spill’s severity, reach out to Action Environmental’s emergency response line at 1-800-948-6044; an experienced employee can help you determine whether you need a professional cleanup crew or not.
The first 24 hours of an environmental emergency are the most important. Don’t wait. Call Action Environmental as soon as a spill occurs!
