Spill containment

Responding is Rudy Fusco, technical manager, New Pig, Tipton, PA.

Spills around a loading dock present a challenge for many facilities, which must be prepared to respond both indoors and outdoors. Indoor spills are where most facilities focus their response measures. However, the outdoor dock area offers a new set of challenges because facilities must protect not only life and property but the surrounding environment, too.

The first step to effective spill response is selecting the right spill kit. It’s important to identify what fluids may be spilled, the worst-case scenario in terms of volume released and where the spill is most likely to occur. Although the outdoor and indoor sections of a loading dock are separated only by a single wall, their response measures must be treated differently.

Spill kits selected for outdoor use should be primarily focused on vehicle fluids that may leak from hydraulic lines and fuel tanks. For this purpose, oil-only kits offer a targeted solution.

On the inside of the loading dock, spill kits should focus on the liquid cargo being loaded and unloaded from trucks. The size of these kits should be determined by the volume of the largest container present. This is especially important for outdoor spill response because every second that fluid is on the ground is another second closer to it entering a nearby storm drain or waterway.

Spill kit placement is essential. When a spill occurs, you have a small window of time to respond before that liquid reaches unwanted areas. Loading dock kits must be at or near the dock doors or wherever the nearest drains are located. These kits must be highly visible and, if stored outside, should be protected from ultraviolet rays. This ensures quick response time and reduces the chance of pollution causing costly fines.

Spill kits are a great start but are only effective if they remain fully stocked. Facilities must find ways to prevent employees from pilfering kits for small daily spills. Place a pack of mats on top of the spill kit or in a nearby area; this will give guidance as to what absorbents should be used for small spills and what kits should be reserved for worst-case scenarios. Additionally, a tamper-evident seal can be used to determine if a kit has been opened.

Many facilities should also consider keeping drain covers in loading dock areas. Stormwater drains are prevalent in this area and can be found close to where trucks idle during loading and unloading. This holds the greatest risk because there’s little time from the moment a spill occurs to when it reaches the drain. Covering any nearby drains should be the first step to outdoor spill response, so having a drain cover near a spill kit or the drain itself will save the necessary time to properly cover the drain before the spill reaches it.

Loading docks are one of the most heavily trafficked areas at a facility, which means there’s a high chance of a spill occurring. Having the right solutions in place and knowing how to respond to a spill not only prevents costly fines but also ensures lives, property and the environment are protected.

Editor's note: This article represents the independent views of the author and should not be considered a National Safety Council endorsement.