Critical Choice: Oil Spill Containment vs. Cleanup

What would you rather do? Chase down and clean up an oil spill or sheen that’s spread over miles of a stream or contain it before it spreads? The choice is yours.

When you think of oil spills, you’re probably thinking of tanker disasters or pipeline spills. Even though those spills can be catastrophic, they’re not that common. Surprisingly, they’re only responsible for 8% of the oil that enters our oceans every year. How much oil is encroaching on our waterways? Tens of millions of gallons. 92% of oil contamination in the environment is often persistent oil leaks and spills from industrial and commercial facilities.

Cars, trucks, fleet vehicles, and heavy equipment are some of the biggest culprits. They’re the primary source of oil that finds its way into soil and nearby waterways. Non-point-sources like roads, parking lots, storm drains, wastewater treatment plants, and sewage systems are also easy access points for oil to pollute the environment.

Oil from leaky automobiles and faulty equipment often drip onto the pavement. In dry conditions, that oil may sit upon the surface for days or weeks. That is… until it rains. Then, the water sweeps large amounts of oil into storm drains and waterways. And, we all know how fun that is to clean up.

Do you want to spend hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of dollars in oil spill cleanup? Or, would you rather stop oil leaks at the source and contain them for a fraction of the cost?

Every day on your job sites, there is the potential for an oily mess to appear. Even equipment in perfect working order can leak oil. If you work in an outdoor or mobile industry, you see minimal oil leaks and drips all the time. Those pesky little leaks add up to be a big, big problem. The EPA even refers to small oil spill problems as a “death by a thousand cuts.” Your budget doesn’t need to die a slow and agonizing death; there’s a better way.

Environmental damages include long-term effects on the ecosystem, harm to marine life and vegetation, and toxic pollution in our drinking water. And that’s not all. Environmental harm, fines, legal fees, remediation costs, and bad publicity are just a few ways oil spills can impact your company. How much would you like to avoid $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 in fines?

There are steps you can take to mitigate environmental damage. After all, it’s the company’s responsibility to keep oil leaks, drips, and spills under control. And, if you fail to do so, expect to suffer the consequences.

HalenHardy^® has 35 years of experience in the environmental field. We know the challenges that the industrial workforce faces. Oil leaks and spills are an all-too-frequent occurrence, but here’s the good news. There really is an easy fix. 

Most people that work in industrial situations aren’t spill response professionals. Their many talents don’t usually include spill remediation. And, they are typically under-trained and ill-equipped to deal with a spill. To make matters worse, spills never happen at a good time. Think about it. How often have some of your biggest oil messes occurred when you were ready for it? Most of the time, you find yourself facing an oil spill situation when you’re short-handed on staff, low on sorbent materials, or it’s raining outside.

And, here’s the kicker: most traditional spill response products don’t work in the rain. But, thanks to innovation and technology, better options finally exist. Confidently contain spills with solutions specifically designed to work in any weather conditions. Leave the heavy spill cleanup and spill remediation to spill control professionals.

Train workers on the critical steps needed to safely and quickly contain the mess before it becomes an even bigger problem. Don’t forget to educate workers on assessing a spill, how to plug leak sources, how to use spill products, and when to evacuate the area.

Actions you can (and should) take proactively.

Remember: Time is money. Save both by using effective products that can be quickly deployed.

Actions for on site.

Spills happen. Doesn’t it make sense to contain those irritating spills before they become monumental mishaps? Ensure your team is prepared and equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to handle a spill. Their quick thinking can prevent the excessive spreading of oil and environmental damage until spill cleanup professionals arrive on the scene.

If you have any questions on finding the right spill control products to meet your needs, our Customer Success Team is available by chat or by phone at 814-822-2004.

For more oil spill containment training, be sure to check out our new “In the Trenches” Video Training Series. Our first course, Controlling Oil Spills on Land, is now available. Signup today – it’s free to enroll.