Discussion
Absorption
Absorption is the process of applying a material that will soak up and hold the hazardous material as a sponge holds water. This makes collection and disposal of a hazardous material in liquid form more manageable. This can be simply explained as adding a dry, granular, clay-based material or dry sand to a spill to help contain a spilled product. This should be done by distributing the absorbent material from a distance by shovels. The technique of absorption is difficult for operational personnel because it generally involves being in close proximity to the spill. It also involves the addition of material to a spilled product, which adds volume to the spill. The absorbent material can also react with certain hazardous substances. It is important to determine if an absorbent substance is compatible with the hazardous material before it is used. Tools such as shovels used for absorbent dispersal and pickup need to be non-sparking to prevent ignition of the spilled material. Fire departments need to plan for the proper disposal of contaminated materials collected from these types of incidents.
Diking, Damming, Diversion, and Retention
Controlling liquid spills can be difficult. Several techniques can be effective. Diking is the placement of materials to form a barrier that will keep a hazardous material in liquid form from entering an area, or hold the material in an area.
Damming is used when liquid is flowing in a natural channel or depression and its progress can be stopped by blocking the channel. A diversion technique is used to redirect the flow of a liquid away from an area. Liquid hazardous materials spills can be controlled by using existing barriers such as curbs and channeling liquids away from storm drains that would allow them to leave the site. Diversion could also be used to protect sensitive environmental areas.
Retention is the process of creating an area to hold hazardous materials. For instance, this can be done by digging a depression and allowing material to pool in the depression. It is held there until a clean-up contractor can recover it. A hazardous material that is leaking in a room of an industrial facility might be safely approachable after proper recognition and identification by operational personnel wearing the proper level of PPE, who could close a door and contain the spill within one room. As another example, the public works department or an independent contractor might use a backhoe to create a retention area for runoff at a safe downhill distance from the release.
Questions
How should absorbent be applied to a hazardous materials spill?
A. From a distance with a shovel
B. From above by forest plane drop
C. By a towed lawn chemical broadcaster
D. By a hand pushed lawn chemical broadcaster
The process of creating an area to hold hazardous materials is:
A. retention.
B. diking.
C. damming.
D. diversion.
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