If you’ve gotten into an accident involving any spill, whether fluid or oil or damage to the tank, you must contain the spill. After you call Team Pro-Enviro and the authorities and are waiting for help to arrive, there are some things you can do to stay safe and limit contamination.
So, let us share how to contain a fuel spill and remain safe until the spill response team arrives. Here are some tips:
Stay Safe and Avoid Sparks
First, ensure your safety and the safety of the vehicles and people around the accident. You should have an emergency kit in your fleet vehicle with traffic pylons and a safety vest. These items will help notify other vehicles of the incident and set up a perimeter for any cars driving into the leak.
With fuel leaks especially, avoiding anything that can cause a spark is essential. If a spark meets the fluid, it will catch fire and risk exploding and causing even greater damage. That means you should cut the engine and not smoke near the spill.
Turn Off the Vehicle
As mentioned, you can prevent sparks and ignition by immediately turning off the truck. Some trucks have emergency shutdown switches that will turn everything off completely. Without any power going to the truck, there is no risk of electricity causing a spark or anything causing a contamination with the spill.
Notify Authorities ASAP
Call for spill response as soon as you know of a spill accident and have taken steps to ensure you are safe. As spill accidents have risks that involve environmental contamination and personal hazards, there are protocols to follow. One is informing the proper authorities and then calling a company like Pro-Enviro. Failure to do so will result in penalties, fines and even charges.
The authorities might provide instructions on what you can do next.
Prepare for Accidents with Proper Supplies
You can’t always predict an accident, but you don’t want to be unprepared if one happens. Therefore, learning to contain a fuel spill will make your fleet and drivers much safer on every trip. Before leaving on any trip, stock the truck with containment supplies like absorbent materials. That can include fuel spill absorbent, sandbags or cat litter in a pinch – anything to prevent a spill from spreading further.
How to contain a fuel spill? If it is safe to do so, spread the absorbent around the spill or leak to prevent it from spreading. If the spill is widespread already, sit tight and wait for the response team to arrive.
Leave it to the Pros
Once help arrives, it’s time to take a deep breath and step back. All the work to keep the spill contaminated and the site safe will mean that Pro-Enviro can step in seamlessly. We will handle the accident recovery, spill recovery and full cleanup of the accident site. Once complete, you can proceed accordingly.
Learn more about Pro-Enviro’s spill response services!
