A specialist in workplace spill prevention and clean-up is helping keep Australian miners safe through supplying its equipment to mining workshops for both preventative and emergency use.
One way of doing this is through a work atmosphere that increases pride and motivates employees. A clean, safe work environment does both of these by reducing accidents and injuries, increasing worker morale and, therefore ultimately, increasing productivity. This not only helps companies to attract talent, but to retain it.
Spills can occur at any stage of the mining process. From drilling and mining to loading and transporting, how prepared a site is to contain and clean up an accidental spill is important to worker safety and morale.
Prevention in the workshop
The easiest place to begin is by adopting preventative measures in the workshop.
Lathes, compressors, hydraulic units, valves and hoses commonly seep oils that contribute to a dirty and unsafe plant or workshop. For decades, clay pellets have been used in an attempt to clean up leaks and spills.
Ben Nichol, product manager with Matthews Safety Products (MSP), said clay continues to be used out of habit — despite the availability of new, contained absorbents, such as the PIGR brand, which are widely used across mining plants.
“Clay pellets contribute to a messy, unsafe plant,” Nichol said. “Clay is not effective as an absorbent, only picking up once its weight. Using clay to clean up leaks and spills really just generates large amounts of waste and high disposal costs.”
Nichol said using PIGR absorbents around and under machinery prevents seeps, oozes and leaks from spreading.
“And even the smallest spill can create a sizeable mess. Liquids spread quickly… spilling even just a few litres can be disastrous if it seeps onto your workshop floor.
“Using PIGR absorbents as a preventative measure, stops the problem from occurring in the first place, so your mine plant and workshop stay clean and safe for workers.”
Contained absorbent materials can be easily laid out where there is a possibility of a spill and in workshops when changing oils, greasing bearings, maintaining hydraulic equipment or any other fluid related task. This easy system of spill maintenance will ensure that clean up is achieved in no time and reduce the risk of workplace incidents.
Being prepared for emergencies
Chemical, hazardous material and oil leaks and small spills occur every day. Earlier this year, close to 1,000 litres of copper concentrate slurry spilled across the road and soil at the Port of Darwin, according to the NT News.
“So it pays to be prepared with the right products on hand. The key to spill response — and indeed this goes for prevention too — is careful planning. First, inspect your facility: identify where leaks and spills are most likely to occur.
“Then, install spill kits in spill-prone areas. These should be specific to the type of spill that may need to be cleaned up. For instance, oils, or hazardous chemicals, and so on. We often advise mine workshops on the best kits for different areas.
“If, or when, a spill occurs, workers can quickly determine its source and nature, then use the appropriate spill kit, which you’ve already installed in a highly visible location close by.
“Train your workers to properly respond to a spill and how to use the kit contents. And be sure to inventory kit contents regularly.
The only thing worse than no spill kit is an empty spill kit!”
Ensure that larger volumes of liquids are stored in adequate well bunded areas or on approved PIG Containment pallet or IBC Containment units. Where larger storage areas are required, bunding can successfully be achieved using a semipermanent drive over bund or a portable containment pool solution from Matthews.
Cleaner, safer, more cost effective
PIGR absorbents offer distinct advantages for cleaner, safer work areas. Choosing spill-prevention products that can also be used to contain and manage spills and leaks at the source you will save money. Here’s why:
- PIGR absorbents soak up to 10 times their weight in liquid. They stay in place longer and require fewer replacements.
- Because they’re contained, cleaning up with PIGR is quick and easy. Lightweight absorbents are simply thrown into a disposal drum; no sweeping or shovelling required.
- PIGR products significantly reduce waste volume because they soak up more and weigh less. And because they can be compacted, you’ll require few disposal drums. In some cases, the contents of five drums can be squeezed into one.
- PIGR absorbents are self-contained, that means no loose particles to contaminate the surroundings.
- PIGR absorbents improve safety. Because they form an absorbent barrier around your machinery, they prevent liquids from reaching your walkways, thus help to eliminate slips and falls.
For more information on New Pig products or to discuss your requirements, call us on 1800 HOT HOG (468 464).
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