When responding to hazardous material spills, there’s a right way and a wrong way. While these kinds of incidents tend to be rare, some companies are inexperienced when it comes to implementing an effective response to hazardous material spills. There’s always a chance that something could wrong in the future, leaving many companies woefully unprepared to clean up the mess. If you want to improve your company’s response protocol for hazardous spills, take a look at some of the most common hazardous material handling errors and their potential consequences.
Using the Wrong Spill Containment Products
Many companies simply use the wrong spill containment products for their industry. The EPA lays clear rules and regulations for oil spill containment, and the Department of Labor has their own regulations for hazardous material spill containment, so companies will need to do their research to make sure they are in full compliance with all federal regulations.
Some companies will try to save money and use subpar containment methods or spill guards, leaving them vulnerable to lawsuits and penalties from the federal government. These containment methods might cost less, but they aren’t properly suited to safeguarding certain hazardous materials. They might be made with the wrong materials or they might not properly dispose of the hazardous substance. Companies might also try to reuse these containment methods until they find out that they’re only suitable for one-time use. Certain chemicals and acids can wear away at the lining of some containment products, rendering them effectively useless.
Not Implementing a Fast-Acting Solution
Potential Consequences
If a company fails to use the right containment methods or doesn’t implement a fast-acting response strategy, the consequences can be dire.
- Lawsuit from Members of the Community
It’s not just the federal government that you need to watch out for. Residents from the local community will also take issue with your handling of hazardous materials and they could file a lawsuit as a result, costing your company potentially hundreds of millions of dollars. - Penalty from the EPA
The EPA has some strict enforcement policies in place to protect the environment and the residents that inhabit it. Your company could face a costly lawsuit or penalty from the federal government unless you implement the right hazardous spill containment policies - Tarnished Company Reputation
Putting these added expenses aside, there’s also the public humiliation that goes along with improperly responding to hazardous spills. Social media and the press are there to hold companies accountable for their mistakes.
Don’t leave your company vulnerable to penalties and lawsuits. Know your environmental responsibilities, follow the golden rules of hazardous material handling, and use proper spill containment methods for your company.