Oil Absorbents In The Workplace - How To Minimize Risk And Disruption by:Leonard Peacham
There are a remarkable number of oil absorbents available today
, capable of achieving not only a great deal more than previous methods which may have been used, but adding a degree of safety and convenience which can rapidly speed up the process of lifting, separating or restricting the passage or spread of oil, whether intentional or accidental.Oil has peculiar properties, and can be extremely difficult to remove from fabrics and materials as well as causing damaging staining. There are many industries and businesses where the presence of oil is entirely necessary, particularly where machinery, engineering or mechanical work takes place. it is in these environments that keeping excess oil to a minimum, reducing the presence of oil, or separating oil out from other chemicals, liquids or parts can be necessary, and without the right oil absorbents, this can be an almost impossible task.
When oil and water meet, they do not mix, but usually result in the oil floating to the top of the water, creating a layer over the water's surface. In cases where spillages occur, this can effectively create a very slick, lubricating film, and this easily causes accidents. In situations where a water spillage may occur, there might be relatively little danger, but when oil is present, and comes into contact with the water, it will very quickly spread across the surface of the water, often no thicker than a molecule in height, creating a film which may be quite invisible to the eye under indoor lighting, but which creates very real hazards.
With the oil forming a protective barrier over the water, the water will not evaporate so quickly, which means that the spillage will be around for much longer. One of the daily experiences where this very real danger occurs is on the road - particularly at roundabouts. As cars navigate a sharp bend or steer around a roundabout, a small quantity of oil is often left. Under normal circumstances this is not too much of a problem, but if it has been raining, the oil rests on top of the wet road surface, creating a slippery lubricating layer. This reduces the grip of the types on the road, and often results in accidents. It is easy to see, then, the very real need to make sure that you have ready access to appropriate oil pads or oil absorbent mats to enable you to deal with any oil spills which may occur within the working environment.
One of the problems of dealing with any spillage is that it often takes time. Unlike a solid item, you can't just pick up a liquid, and often it takes time for oil absorbent materials to deal with the full extent of the spillage. This can often create real problems in the workplace or within industry where the obstruction caused due to an oil spill may interfere with the normal operation or usual passage of those who work there. In this case, the best solution may be oil absorbent pads which have a dual layer, separating the oil from one of the sides of the mat.
By placing an oil pad of this kind over an oil spillage, the absorbing side of the mat will get to work straight away, lifting and holding the oil, but on the other side, there is a protective layer which guards against the oil, and shields the spillage entirely. This allows people to walk across the spillage area, without having to come into direct contact with the oil.
Even more clever is the fact that in many cases these oil mats have an abrasive underside so that they do not slip or slide when stepped on. This would naturally occur should any other solution be used, such as an ordinary mat, paper towels or cloths, but with the appropriate equipment not only can the oil spill be dealt with quickly and effectively, but both disruption and risk are significantly reduced. This kind of solution is ideal in industrial workplaces where small to medium oil spills or oil leakages are relatively common, but where space or passageways may be limiting.
Whether you use oil absorbing booms, oil mats or oil absorbent pads, dealing with an oil spill quickly and safely requires using the right equipment for the task. Oil absorbents are very specialised products, and will enable the safe and effective removal of oil spills, minimizing the risk of injury, accident or disruption.
About the author
Leonard Peacham is a leading expert in health and safety in the workplace and advises on oil absorbents and the use of oil absorbent mats in the workplace. Ten Ways to Create an Employee-centered Workplace by:Pat Lynch What You Need To Know About Wholesaling Properties by:Steve Teta Payday Loan No Faxing: Gives You The Freedom For Accessing Faxless Funds by:Tony Richards Recession: The Best Time to Outsource by:Victoria Phee Conducting Local And International Background Investigations In The Middle East by:Zafar I. Anjum Access to Personal Finance Is As Vital As Business Finance If We Are To Beat The Recession by:Derek Cooper Tax Deferral As An Investment Strategy by:Don Burham Unable To Get Mortgage Debt Relief? Be Ready For A Lawsuit by:Don Burnham Hedging What Is It, And It's Uses In Risk Management by:Dwayne Strocen Market Risk - Not To Be Ignored or Overlooked by:Dwayne Strocen The Seven Best Ways on How to Get Real Estate Investing Deals by:James O'Bannon Support And Resistance Levels by:Julia Lee Shopping For Bargains - Value Investing by:Julia Lee