From train derailments to massive oil spills; numerous news stories throughout the world of industry continue to point towards the importance of Spill Prevention, Control & Containment (SPCC) planning. In this SpillHQ blog, we explore the benefits of socks and booms and why your organization should include these solutions in any SPCC plan.
In the vast majority of cases, the impact of a poor SPCC plan won’t be realized until it’s too late. However, when organizations invest time and resources in putting together a well-thought out SPCC plan, they can transform the most problematic of spills into a manageable and fully resolvable scenario.
Depending on the size and nature of your business, your organization may require SPCC solutions that work effectively on specific chemicals and materials. Indeed, your SPCC plan should take into full consideration the range of materials and fluids it transports or processes. After all - our personal health and the environment around us depends on it.
When accidents happen (and trust us, they DO happen), you’ll need a solution that can work quickly to contain contaminating fluids. That’s where socks & booms come in…
Socks and Booms: Knowing the Difference
Before we explore the many features and benefits of these SPCC solutions, let's take a quick look at each of these products and what makes them unique:
Socks: Often used in conjunction with containment booms, socks are used as a powerful absorbent in a range of spill scenarios - particularly if that spill takes place within the vicinity of floors and busy workplaces. Available in a range of versions depending on the nature of your spill, socks keep your space clean and spill-free by absorbing spills to prevent them from spreading and potentially harming you, your employees, your stock and your surrounding environment.
Booms: Booms are an absolute essential in any spill response and have been utilized in some of the world’s worst pollution events to reduce the environmental impacts of contaminating fluids. Used as temporary floating barriers, these innovative products act by containing spill fluids which could otherwise spread further into natural ecosystems, as well as local drinking water supplies. While booms can play an instrumental role in reducing shoreline pollution, they also make recovery easier.
How Socks and Booms Can Transform Your Spill Incident
Socks and booms have been used in some of the most significant oil and chemical spills in human history, and rose to prominence following the catastrophic Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969. In use for over four decades, these solutions have been improved upon over the years, and now come in a range of options according to the nature of your spill. Examples of the range at SpillHQ include oil-only solutions, as well as universal and hazmat options.
Firstly, let’s explore booms and how they actually work. Imagine a situation where a floating tanker has a spill, or a train derails and spills oil into a body of water. Booms can be quickly deployed in these circumstances to effectively corral oil on the water, concentrating the problematic fluid in one location. This makes it thicker and therefore easier for vacuums, skimmers and other collection methods to be used properly. When it comes to those big spills, booms are the first solution to be rolled out and are often the final piece of equipment to be removed following any recovery process.
There’s lots of reasons to include these products in your SPCC plan:
Attracts and holds all liquids
An absolute necessity for any hazmat spill or spill contingency plan
Colored to distinguish various boom types and waste stream management
Absorbs up to 25 times their weight in fluid
Ideal for industrial plant, outdoor and marine applications
While a strong containment boom can help transform those major spills, socks can play a key role in complementing your SPCC efforts. Indeed, while socks can further surround and confine an oil or chemical spill before they have the chance to spread and cause damage, they can also be overlapped to create an effective barrier. Super convenient and guaranteed to act, SpillHQ’s range of socks can be placed on the surface of a body of liquid, making contact with the contaminating fluid. When used in conjunction with booms, your organization can ensure its SPCC plan ensures that no liquid escapes.
Your SPCC needs socks - it’s that simple. Here’s just a few reasons why:
Designed to contain and prevent spills
Socks mold easily to hug corners, walls, and surround machines and spills
Activated Peat options are perfect for containing hydrocarbon runoff on land or water and removes the sheen
Lightweight and easy to use
Socks and Booms: Get Yours From the SPCC Source at SpillHQ
Here at SpillHQ, our solutions have been used to resolve spill scenarios of all shapes and sizes. To prepare your organization for all eventualities, browse our full range of socks & booms or contact us to discuss your requirements.