Spill Containment Blog

Spill Containment Blog

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DHHR Releases Medical Report From W.Va Chemical Spill

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The January 9th chemical spill in which some  7,500 gallons of the coal-cleaning chemical 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) leaked into the nearby Elk River is believed to be one of West Virginia’s worst ecological disasters of all time. It left nearly 300,000 residents in nine counties of the Charleston, West Virginia metropolitan area without access to clean water. While officials have since declared the water safe to consume, the effects of this disaster are still being felt throughout the state.

Last month, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) released a medical report on the injuries and illnesses stemming from the January 9th chemical spill. The purpose of this report was to determine what type of impact MCHM had on residents’ health. Government officials contacted nearly 800 medical professionals in the the Charleston, West Virginia metropolitan area, asking them to provide data on injuries and illnesses related to the chemical spill.

According to the DHHR’s report, 63 of the 800 medical professionals responded to the request. Granted, this is a low response rate, but it provided some rather interesting information regarding the incident and its impact on public health. The report reveals that the most common symptom of exposure to the MCHM was itching. 32 residents in the Charleston, West Virginia metropolitan area complained to doctors and medical professions about itching. The second most common symptom of exposure was a skin rash, which was reported by 13 people in the area.

It’s important to note that data collected for the report was based strictly on the response from the 63 medical professionals. West Virginia government officials noted that hundreds of residents had initially reported adverse symptoms stemming from exposure to the MCHM. Other reported symptoms include coughing, eye irritation, vomiting, nausea and headaches. While hundreds of residents reported experiencing adverse symptoms related to MCHM exposure, there were no fatalities attributed to the Elk River chemical spill.

Officials say the DHHR’s report is consistent with earlier reports conducted by the CDC and West Virginia Poison Control Center.

“What we are seeing is consistent with the information that has been previously reported by the West Virginia Poison Center, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) initial medical chart review from emergency departments and the population survey conducted by the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department,” said Letitia Tierney, State Health Officer and Commissioner for the Bureau for Public Health.

Freedom Industries Fined $11K For W. Va Chemical Spill

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Map of affected counties in W.VA

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) issued an $11,000 fine to the company responsible for the massive West Virginia chemical spill which left some 300,000 residents without access to clean water.

On January 9, 2014, approximately 7,5000 gallons of the coal-cleaning chemical crude D4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCH) leaked from a one-inch hole at the bottom of a storage tank owned and operated by Freedom Industries. The chemical traveled downhill where it eventually ended up in the Elk River — a primary source of water for nine counties in the Charleston and West Virginia metropolitan area.

It’s been 6 months since the incident occurred, but it looks like OSHA is finally cracking down on those responsible. Earlier this month, OSHA announced that it was citing Freedom Industries for failure to create a liquid-tight seal around its storage tank, imposing a $7,000 fine. In addition, OSHA also cited Freedom Industries for failure to provide standard railings on elevated platforms used to traverse across its storage tanks, imposing a $4,000 fine.

As with all OSHA citations, Freedom Industries has 15 days to either comply, request an appeal, or request a face-to-face meeting with an OSHA representative. There’s been no official statement made by Freedom Industries following news of the citations.

The January 9, 2014 chemical spill was one of the worst chemical spills in West Virginia’s history. Thankfully, there were no deaths attributed to the coal-cleaning chemical, but thousands of residents reported suffering from a wide range of adverse symptoms, including nausea and vomiting. Government officials continue to test the water in West Virginia’s Elk River to ensure it’s safe for public use and consumption.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends families maintain a minimum 3-day water supply per person for disasters such as the West Virginia chemical spill.

“Encouraging households to prepare a 3-day water supply for each person and pet in the Page 25 of 66 household would promote households taking an active role in the recovery process and help them become prepared for future disasters. The website Ready.gov recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation; the website also details water preparedness recommendations for special populations,” wrote the CDC in its document titled, Disaster Response and Recovery Needs of Communities Affected by the Elk River Chemical Spill, West Virginia.

Of course, maintaining a 3-day water supply per person is a smart preventive measure for any family to take. Whether you live in West Virginia or not, there’s always a possibility of disaster striking without notice.

OSHA Raises Awareness of Temporary Worker Injuries and Fatalities

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Temporary workers are 2-3 times more likely to suffer an injury while on the job.

According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 708 temporary workers were killed during 2012. Which translates into 17% of ALL workplace fatalities. The growing number of job-related fatalities and injuries has prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to take action.

Just last month, OSHA cited four staffing agencies for safety violations which contributed to the death of a temporary worker at an Amazon, Inc. fulfillment center. OSHA has also released the Temporary Worker Initiative, the first in a series of documents that focuses on safety and health requirements when temporary workers are hired by either a staffing agency or host employer. This document, which can be accessed by clicking the link in the previous sentence, defines who is responsible for protecting temporary workers.

One of the reasons why fatality and injury rates are so high among temporary workers is because of the breakdown of communication between the host employer and staffing agency. The staffing agency may pass the buck to the host employer, assuming they will provide ample training and resources to protect the temporary worker. On the other hand, the host employer may assume the staffing agency has already performed these tasks. If neither party addresses this issue, temp workers are left in a state of limbo, without the appropriate training and safety equipment needed for the job.

Dr. David Michaels, OSHA’s assistant secretary of labor, noted that temporary workers are more than three times more likely to be killed or injured while on the job. That’s a pretty shocking statistic that should serve as a reminder to the importance of maintaining a safe environment for all workers, including temporary workers.

“We’ve known for 100 years that new workers are three or four times more likely to be injured or killed on the job than workers who have a year of seniority,” Michaels said. “We know that temporary workers are new at a workplace four, five, six times a year – they’re always new workers. We also know that they’re often given the most hazardous jobs. And finally, we know that host employers are less likely to devote resources to train them.”

OSHA stressed the importance of communication between the host and employer and staffing agency. If a party turns a blind eye or neglects to communicate, they could be subject to a fine. So if your business hires temporary workers, keep the lines of communication open with the respective staffing agency.

Common Causes of Workplace Fires and How To Prevent Them

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Fire extinguisher cabinet.

Commercial fires cost businesses in the U.S. billions of dollars per year in the form of property damage, loss of productivity, ruined/damaged equipment, and higher insurance premiums. The heavy financial burden of a fire is often enough to force small businesses to close their doors. Thankfully, this is a problem that can typically be avoided by following some basic practices regarding fire safety.

According to the Municipal Association Risk Management Services (MMARMS), there are approximately 70,000-80,000 commercial fires each year. Workplace fires may start from a number of different sources, which we’re going to discuss further below.

Common Causes of Workplace Fires:

Cigarette smoking among employees is one of the most common causes of workplace fires. Most states and cities in the U.S. have banned indoor smoking (to some extant), many businesses continue to allow their employees to light up inside. Ninety-nine percent of the time this won’t cause any issues, but there’s always a chance of a stray spark landing on gasoline, paper, lint or some other source of tinder to create a fire.

Restaurant and other food service businesses are at high risk for grease fires. When grease is spilled or dripped onto a heat source, it can trigger a large flame. This problem is made worse when a worker attempts to extinguish the flame using water.

Improperly storing flammable chemicals may lead to commercial fires. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has strict standards regarding the storage, transportation, and handling of flammable chemicals to reduce the risk of fires in the workplace. Employers should familiarize themselves with these standards and execute them appropriately.

Of course, electrical failure is another all-too-common cause of commercial fires. Plugging too many devices into an outlet, using worn extension cords, or not properly grounding electrical equipment may all trigger fires in the workplace.

Tips To Prevent Workplace Fires:

  • Clean up spilled oil, gasoline, and other flammable liquids in a timely manner.
  • Keep a Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Fire Prevention and Control Administration (NFPCA)-certified fire extinguisher on the premises (see our previous post for instructions on how to clean up fire extinguisher chemicals).
  • Prohibit cigarette smoking indoors. Instead, place a self-extinguishing waste bin outside for smokers to use.
  • Electrical wiring should only be installed and modified by a licensed electrician.
  • Keep flammable chemicals and liquids stored in a fireproof cabinet.
  • Remove leaves, limbs and debris from roof and gutters.

Cleaning Up Workplace Chemical Spills on a Budget

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Who says cleaning up chemical spills in the workplace has to cost an arm and a leg? With proper planning, and using the right tools, workers can effectively clean water, oil, acids, and other chemicals without spending a fortune. For some helpful tips on how to clean workplace chemical spills on a budget, keep reading.

Chemical Spill Prevention

Before we go into specific techniques regarding the cleanup of workplace chemical spills, I must emphasize the importance of prevention. Most spills, whether it’s motor oil, solvents, acids, etc., can be prevented through proper training and following protocol. Worker negligence is the most common cause of chemical spills in the workplace, so make sure workers whom are responsible for handling chemicals are fully trained.

Here are some tips to prevent workplace chemical spills:

  • Have machines and equipment routinely inspected for signs of damage.
  • Only store aggressive chemicals in approved containers.
  • Require workers whom transport or otherwise handle chemicals to undergo training.
  • Create a safety bulletin board in the workplace to display new, tips, and other information regarding chemical safety.
  • Lay absorbent mats down in areas of high risk for chemical spills.

You can read through some of our previous posts here at the AbsorbentsOnline.com blog for more chemical spill prevention tips.

Absorbent Pads

One of the most effective “budget-friendly” solutions to cleaning up a workplace chemical spill is to use absorbent pads. The Economy Spill Cleanup Pads, for instance, are made of polypropylene and can be used to absorb practically all petroleum-based liquids, including paints, vegetable oils, solvents, gas and more. Their ultra-fast wicking action makes them incredibly effective at containing and cleaning up chemical spills in a short amount of time.

Time is of the essence when it comes to cleaning up a chemical spill. The longer a chemical is left on the floor, the greater the risk of a worker spilling and injuring him or herself. Thankfully, absorbent pads offer a fast and easy solution for cleaning up chemical spills. Just toss the pads directly on the liquid and it will instantly begin to absorb it.

Absorbent Pillows

Another inexpensive method for cleaning up a workplace chemical spill is to use absorbent pillows. These pillows work in a similar manner as cleanup pads, absorbing spilled chemicals and liquids almost instantly. And depending on the particular type, some absorbent pillows can even be used to absorb acids.

Lightning Safety Awareness Week: Storm Safety Tips

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Heavy lighting.

Monday marks the beginning of a week-long lightning safety awareness campaign by the National Weather Service (NWS).

According to an article published by the BBC, approximately 24,000 people are killed by lightning each year. This doesn’t necessarily mean they are directly struck by lightning, as deaths may occur from fallen debris or house fires. However, lightning-related deaths and injuries tend to peak around the months of June and July, spurring the NWS to launch a safety awareness campaign.

Why are lightning-related deaths and injuries more common during the summer?  The reason for the increased rate of injuries and deaths is due to the fact that more people are outside. When a person is outdoors during a thunderstorm, he or she is left open and exposed to lightning strikes. The NWS urges the public to remain indoors during storms while staying away from windows.

“The past several years there has been an increasing trend across the U.S. in lightning injuries and fatalities while people are taking part in outdoor activities, such as fishing, walking or sports events. Simply put – there is no safe place outside in a thunderstorm.  You must take shelter in a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle to stay safe,” said meteorologist Chris Miller.

The Red Cross reports that anyone who can hear thunder is close enough to be struck by lighting. A good rule of thumb to follow is to stay indoors if you hear thunder. If you only see rain and do not hear thunder, you should be safe from lightning.

Lighting Storm Safety Tips:

  • The most important tip of all,  stay indoors during lightning and thunderstorms.
  • Whether it’s taking a bath, brushing your teeth, washing dishes, etc, avoid the use of water until the storm has passed.
  • Do not attempt to seek shelter under a tree, as lighting may strike the tree, sending tiny bits and pieces of wood flying in all directions.
  • Listen to a weather radio for up-to-the-minute news regarding the storm.
  • When a storm approaches, unplug major home appliances and electronics.
  • Keep a flashlight and/or candles nearby in the event of a power outage.
  • Stay far away from pools, lakes, ponds, rivers, and other bodies of water during a thunderstorm.

While Lightning Safety Awareness Week will wrap up Saturday night, it’s important for individuals and families to follow the safety precautions for thunderstorms listed above throughout the year. Granted, more lightning-related injuries and deaths occur during the summer, the truth is that anyone can fall victim to mother nature at any given time of the year.

Cost of Musculoskeletal Disorders On The Rise

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Cost of Disease Rising

Musculoskeletal Disorder costs rising

When compared to other medical conditions, the cost of treating musculoskeletal disorders costs significantly more. And being that musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common types of work-related injuries, this should serve as a real eye-opener to employers everywhere.

The term “musculoskeletal” refers to any medical conditions associated with the bones, joints and muscles. The human body is a complex machine that relies on these elements to function properly. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for workers to develop injuries and/or illness in their bones, joints, and muscles, resulting in a musculoskeletal disorder.

Workers are often susceptible to musculoskeletal disorders when proper ergonomics is not implemented. Sitting in front of a desk with poor posture for eight or more hours per day, for instance, may result in back pain due to the stress placed on the vertebrae.

List of common musculoskeletal disorders:

  • Lower back pain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Sprain
  • Gout
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Tendinitis
  • Epicondylitis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

Currently, approximately 80% of all healthcare costs in Europe are associated with chronic disease and musculoskeletal disorders. Dutch researchers wanted to investigate this phenomenon further, so they took a random survey of roughly 8,900 European residents, asking them various questions ab out their health and what (if any) medical conditions they were experiencing at the time. Respondents reported a wide variety of medical conditions, some of which included musculoskeletal, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension) cancer, skin conditions and mental health problems.

8.5% of the respondents surveyed reported having only a muscuskeletal disorder, whereas as 6.1% had a muscuskeletal disorder as 1 of 2 comorbid condition, and 5.6% had a muscuskeletal condition and at least 2 other conditions.

Researchers discovered that healthcare costs were approximately 50% higher for respondents who reported having muscuskeletal conditions compared to any other non-muscuskeletal condition, disease or illness. And the more health conditions a person suffered from, the higher the healthcare costs.

“Costs for an individual with 2 conditions — neither of which was a musculoskeletal condition — were twice as high as costs for a healthy person. But if 1 of the individual’s 2 diseases was musculoskeletal, healthcare costs were 3 times higher. It is clear that the cost of delivering care to patients with musculoskeletal conditions is considerably higher than for those with other diseases,” said Antje van der Zee-Neuen, MD, from the division of rheumatology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

Details about the cost of treating muscuskeletal disorders was presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress in Paris, France.

Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes When Cleaning a Chemical Spill

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Nearly every company that uses, stores, transports, or otherwise handles chemicals will experience a spill at some point in time. It may consist of nothing more than a couple drops of spilled motor oil, or it can be more severe, such as the massive 7,5000-gallon leak of 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) that left hundreds of thousands of West Virginia residents without clean water for days. Whether it’s minor or severe, though, you’ll want to avoid making the following mistakes when cleaning chemical spills.

Adding Chemicals To The Spill

It’s not uncommon for workers to clean spilled chemicals using other chemicals, such as bleach or similar cleaning agents. However, the mixture of two or more chemicals can change the composition of the spill, potentially making it even more dangerous. Unless the a product is designed specifically for cleaning the respective spilled chemical, it should not be used.

Failure To Notify Nearby Workers

Another all-too-common mistake workers make when attempting to clean a spilled chemical in the workplace is failure to notify other workers and personnel. The Occupational Safety and Healthy Administration (OSHA) mandates that all nearby workers are informed in the event of a chemical spill. This is done to protect their safety and to help control the spill.

Not Acting Fast Enough

When a chemical spill occurs in the workplace, time is of the essence. The longer you wait, the larger the spill will become. And larger spills require more time, energy, and resources to clean. Act fast to contain and ultimately clean the spilled chemical. This is why it’s important to have a step-by-step plan in place on how to clean spilled chemicals; otherwise, workers are left scratching their heads regarding the best course of action.

Not Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Before you attempt to clean spilled chemical, you should first don the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). This gear is used to protect workers from the potentially harmful effects of exposure to chemicals. Failure to gear up in PPE before cleaning or otherwise handling a chemical spill could place the worker at risk for serious injury or illness.

Failure To Remove Contaminated Clothing

If a hazardous chemical leaks or spills on a worker’s clothing, he or she should immediately remove the contaminated clothing. Even small amounts can place worker at risk for injury and/or illness. The bottom line is that all contaminated clothing should be removed promptly to ensure the safety of workers.

W. VA Residents Reporting Illness Months After Chemical Spill

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chemical testing in a laboratory

Researcher testing water samples for toxic chemicals.

It’s been over five months since a storage tank owned by Freedom Industries leaked some 7,500 gallons of the coal-cleaning foam 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) into the Elk River. This spurred an emergency alert by West Virginia officials, cautioning residents in nine counties — Boone, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam, and Roane counties and the Culloden area of Cabell County — to avoid using the tap water for any purpose other that flushing the toilet.

While officials claim the water in those nine affected counties is now safe for human consumption, many residents continue to report illnesses which they believe are linked to the January 9 Elk River chemical spill. A recent Community Assessment Population Survey revealed that 30% of the 500 residents polled said they felt ill after drinking the water. Of those 30%, roughly half reported to have drank the water after the water ban was lifted.

The most commonly reported symptoms were skin rashes and irritation; however, many residents also reported diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness after drinking the water.

Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department stressed the importance of flushing the contaminated water from plumbing systems in a recent interview with the L.A. Times. He noted that schools in particular are at risk for water contamination due to their elaborate and complex plumbing systems. Even if the water is now clean and safe to drink, some of the old contaminated water may be lingering in homes’ and buildings’ plumbing systems. This is why it’s important for individuals and families to flush their pipes when a water ban is lifted.

“The plumbing system is a complex system, we’ve learned the hard way,” Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, told the L.A. Times. “Sometimes what’s conceivable to happen is the flushing process may not have taken care of the school system’s flushing in one go. People are still not drinking the water.”

News of residents’ lingering health problems stemming from the chemical spill come in the wake of reports from jail inmates claiming they were forced to drink the contaminated water or suffer from dehydration. Several inmates have taken to the media to report that they were given just 2 bottles of water per day, which wasn’t enough to keep them hydrated. Some of these inmates were forced to drink the contaminated tap water to prevent dehydration.

Tips To Prevent Hazardous Chemical Spills In The Workplace

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Why chemical spill prevention is important for your facility

metal barrel chemical drumsChemical spills or leaks can pose a direct threat to workers’ health, the environment, and nearby animals. This is why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have strict rules in place. For both the prevention and cleanup of workplace hazardous chemical leaks or spills.

When you’re running a business, it can be easy to overlook the fundamentals of maintaining a safe working environment. But companies storing, transporting, using or handling hazardous chemicals must take precautionary measures.

And that’s because failing to take preventive measures against chemical spills could place your company at risk. Including OSHA and/or EPA fines. Not to mention placing your workers’ health and well-being in jeopardy.

Some people assume that only large-scale chemical leaks—like the one in West Virginia in 2014—are dangerous. But in reality, it’s often smaller leaks that prove more harmful to workers and the environment. So read on to see our three tips for reducing chemical spill risks in your facility.

1. Store hazardous chemicals under cover outdoors

To protect against rainfall, always store your hazardous chemicals in a covered area outdoors. If rainwater mixes with a hazardous chemical, it can dilute it. And so contaminate the workplace or become a storm-water pollutant. Granted, chemicals diluted with water are typically weaker. But this also means there’s more of it. Which means response teams have to work extra hard to clean up hazardous chemical spills mixed in with rainwater.

There are a number of different outdoor drum storage solutions available. Including lockable units with hard or roll tops. As well as larger shed buildings that can hold up to 20 drums.

What is a hazardous chemical?

A hazardous chemical can include any of the following products that are commonly found in many workplaces:

  • Flammables
  • Corrosives
  • Oils
  • Solvents
  • Explosives
  • Combustibles

2. Properly label all hazardous chemicals

hazmat class 3 flammable liquid labelOSHA requires companies to properly label any hazardous chemical that it stores or uses in the workplace. Each type of chemical must have a clear and accurate label describing its contents. For instance, whether it is flammable, corrosive, oil or another chemical type in the list above. Color coding your safety cans is one helpful way to quickly ID its contents.

Why is correct labeling necessary? Well, that’s because it helps ensure safe response in the event of an accidental spill. By understanding the type of chemical spill, responders can use the correct clean up materials. As well as knowing which level of personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to wear.

3. Train workers in chemical spill prevention

Of course, a very important step in preventing workplace spills involves employee training. You should train workers how to properly handle respective chemicals to minimize risks. This includes everything from which container to store chemicals in, to what PPE to wear while using them.

Finally, ensure your staff know the proper cleanup procedures in the event of a spill. Including which type and color absorbents to use. See our post to learn how to choose the right spill containment kit for your facility.

Travis ZdrazilHave questions about which chemical spill containment or absorbent products to purchase? Contact Travis Zdrazil at travis@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.