Anyone Can Spill Something!

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Knowledge Can Stump Some Suppliers

By Robert McIntyre
  Spilling a chemical is something anyone can do. However buying the right kits to fit your specific response applications takes a little bit of knowledge.  We have all called a supplier for a quote on something in the past and listened to "oh we have a great deal on those right now."   What if "those" were not what you needed?   Would you know it?  Ask the right questions though and you may find that your supplier doesn't know either.

The Wrong Materials Can Cost you, Not Your Supplier

 Raymac routinely provides spill response training to a number of clients.  I can not tell you how many times we have evaluated the clients response capabilities prior to training only to find that a supplier sold them enormous amounts of response materials that won't even clean up the chemicals that they bought them for.  Should a spill occur your only defence is due diligence.  Due diligence is not "my supplier told me they would work great."  As a manager or buyer it is your responsibility to research the right product for your application AND GET THE BEST VALUE.

EIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR SUPPLIERS

#1 Are you buying the right kit for the right application?

Make sure that the supplier confirms that the materials contained within the kit are indeed for the chemical(s) you intend to clean up and get them to put it on the quotation!

#2  Is the Kit the right size for what I might have to respond to?

Let's face it some suppliers are in it for one thing and one thing only, TO MAKE MONEY.  So chances are they are going to try and up sell you right from the start.  Ask the supplier what volume of spilled material the kit he or she is recommending to you will clean up.  If they have not asked you how much chemical you could spill how can they recommend a kit?

#3 Does the supplier have any experience in spill response?

If you are buying a product from a company you would hope they or their employees would have some experience in using the product.  How else will they make an informed recommendation?  Would you trust someone telling you that your car needs a new engine block if they were not a mechanic?

#4 Can the kit be customized at no additional cost?

Most suppliers deal in off the shelf kits.  That's great if the materials in that kit suit your particular needs but do you really need a drain cover if you don't have a drain?  Look over the contents, ask why they are there and demand that the items you don't need be removed and ask what the price difference is.
#5 Are there instructions on basic response inside?

When your employee rips this kit open they are more than likely going to be panicking so there should be a basic response procedure or your procedure inside the kit right at the top so that it is the first thing a responder sees.  There should be no cost for this it is a required item right?

#6 Can the kits be sealed?

Nothing is more frustrating than responding to a spill and finding the kit you grabbed is empty.  All kits should be able to be sealed so that they can be easily identified as full or that items may be missing because the kit has been opened.  If you wouldn't grab a half empty fire extinguisher to put out a fire why would you not put the same emphasis on another critical piece of equipment...your spill kits.

#7 Is the personal protective equipment inside going to fit my employees?

Not only will some suppliers try to sell you a kit that is too big they will try to sell you personal protective equipment that is generic in size because it keeps their cost down.  Well that does not help you.  How many employees do you have that with all their clothes on would fit inside a medium or large Tyvek suite?  NONE!  Make sure the equipment inside is large enough to fit all your staff.

#8 Is the kit easily visible?

 No matter where the kit is located just like any other piece of safety or response gear you want to be able to identify it right away.  Make sure the kits come in a high visibility yellow package or container so that they are easily identified.

 Those are the eight basic questions to ask your spill kit suppliers  You should also make sure that they can deliver it in a reasonable time frame. 

 Robert McIntyre: President & Senior Partner Raymac Environmental Services Inc.

Robert@raymac.com 1.866.753.6696

 Raymac Environmental is a leading provider of hazardous materials management training and planning services.  Raymac is also a leading supplier of quality emergency response materials.