Spill Containment Blog

Spill Containment Blog

Spill Containment and Spill Cleanup Solutions

What Are the Best Industrial Products for At-Home Messes?

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Upgrade Your Home Cleanup Game with These Industrial-Grade Solutions!

repair tools beside a rag and oily puddle

Explore solutions to keep spills and leaks around your home in check

No one would argue that paper towels have their uses. However, they also have limitations. Some of the best products for managing life at home can’t be found at the grocery store.

For example, the common household solution for protecting floors from spills when you’re working is a tarp. But a tarp doesn’t absorb spills; it simply collects them. The most efficient way to protect your floors from paint and oil is an absorbent mat.

The bad news: These mats aren’t usually marketed outside industrial applications. The good news: You can buy them for your home anyway! The same is also true for versatile absorbent socks (no, not those ones that you’re used to dealing with on laundry day).

Here, we take a look at two handy products that go beyond traditional household supplies. Both can help simplify your life by managing everyday messes and protect your home from stains or leaks.

What is an Abzorb Mat?

abzob-oil-mat

Keep your garage floor dry and free of oily leaks with an Abzorb Mat

Abzorb Mats feature a top layer made of a universal absorbent capable of containing all kinds of liquids. This lightly textured surface is dark gray to disguise stains and help prolong its use. The bottom layer has a non-penetrable vinyl backing that’s skid-resistant and will stop absorbed liquids from leaking through the mat and damaging the floor below.

The Abzorb Mat is specially designed to lay flat without curling or buckling, which helps prevent trips and falls. Our “stain stopper” backing is so tough that we guarantee it against leaks, cracks, and tears for three years.

Available in 3-foot and 6-foot widths, you can even get custom lengths if you need a specific mat size.

What is an Abzorb Mat for?

There are countless uses for this flexible mat in your home or garage!

Try placing it underneath where you park or work on your car to catch oil or antifreeze drips and prevent concrete strains. If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow in winter, the Abzorb Mat is perfect for catching melting snow runoff from vehicles, snow removal equipment, and even boots in the entryway or mudroom.

The Abzorb mat’s anti-slip properties make it great for back doors and garage doors. You can use it as a work bench cover, shelf liner, paint mat, craft mat, as well as underneath pet food and water bowls. Curtail expensive cabinet damage due to pesky cleaning container spills or faucet leaks—cut one to size and place it under your kitchen or laundry sink.

These mats may be designed for industrial purposes, but you can find plenty of useful implementations in your own home.

What is an Absorbent Sock?

Featuring heavy-duty construction, universal socks are long tubes filled with super absorbent materials like cellulose. Their flexible nature allows you to contour and snugly conform them to just about any shape or area. When a leak or spill occurs, the sock efficiently absorbs the liquid while creating a barrier to prevent it from spreading.

Available in 4, 8, and 12-foot lengths, these highly absorbent socks can be used to soak up water, oil, or just about any other household spill you can think of. Just one 8-foot sock can absorb over 1.5 gallons of liquids!

What are Absorbent Socks for?

You’ll be surprised just how many places you can use absorbent socks. Lay them along doors and window seals to stop drafts and make your home more comfortable year-round. Because they’re absorbent, they’ll also help avoid seepage during a driving rainstorm.

Wrap them around your water heater, washing machine, A/C, or water filtration system. Then relax in peace of mind should that machine or equipment create condensation puddles or spring an unexpected slow leak. Leaking toilet cistern? Keep your bathroom floor dry and slip-free by wrapping a sock around your toilet pan until you have time to call the plumber (or fix the issue yourself).

Best of all, absorbent socks are reusable. Simply wring out any excess moisture by hand, then let them air dry before using them again and again.

Ready to Make Your Life Simpler?

If you’re ready to simplify your life and protect your home from everyday messes and mishaps, these industrial-grade products have got you covered. Whether it’s the Abzorb Mat’s versatility or the Absorbent Sock’s ability to prevent and contain leaks, these solutions go beyond what traditional household items can offer.

Still, you might have questions about which at-home absorbents are right for your specific needs. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered there too! You can contact Travis Zdrazil at travis@absorbentsonline.com or give him a call at (800) 869-9633. Travis is a seasoned expert in absorbent products and can provide you with personalized advice to ensure you choose the right solutions.

For more valuable insights into protecting your home and discovering unique products you won’t find on your typical store shelves, check out our other posts:

This is a revision to a blog post with an original publication date of January 31, 2017.

Reduce Winter Slip-and-Fall Dangers

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Increase winter safety with a water-absorbent floor mat and non-slip workplace surfaces

watch your step stair tread

Minimize a slip risk this winter by being mindful of where you walk

Are you ready for winter? In many parts of the U.S., snow, ice, and freezing-cold temperatures are making regular appearances. Wintry conditions make for slick surfaces on roads, sidewalks, steps, and indoor floors. And that increases the risk of slip, trip, and fall accidents.

In the workplace, winter-related slip, trip, and fall accidents can cost employers in several ways. Like lost productivity from employee absences. Or, liability insurance and worker’s compensation claims. And even lawsuits.

Insurance services provider, Zurich, reports the average value of a general liability claim for snow- or ice-related slip, trip, and fall accidents is around $85,000.

Meanwhile, the starting price for a water-absorbent floor mat is less than $20. Meaning that minimizing winter accident risks is smart for safety and business practices! Read on for helpful tips to keep your workplace safer over winter.

Preventing winter slips, trips, and falls

slippery floor hazard sign

Slip-resistant floor surfaces will keep your workplace safer over winter

The best way to prevent slips, trips, and falls in the workplace is to always be aware of where you are stepping. And second, by keeping up with good housekeeping and maintenance practices. In other words, the right safety products can help reduce slip risks and prevent injuries at your facility.

Below we’ll cover a few non-slip products for floors and high-traffic areas. That means everywhere from your building’s front door to the warehouse stock room, and anywhere else between.

Make stairs and floors safer

Water-absorbent floor mat

water absorbent floor mat

An anti-slip absorbent doormat increases safety in workplace entryways

Absorbent floor mats aren’t just for soaking up oil leaks on your workshop floor. They are also excellent wiper and scraper matting for foot and vehicle traffic. Use them to remove moisture, dirt, or grit before or after it enters your facility.

Heavy-duty mats made of super-absorbent polypropylene will take in all liquids. Additionally, the non-penetrable backing will prevent concrete floor stains.

For walkways and areas around machinery, try an absorbent floor mat. This adhesive back matting can protect your facility from puddles that accumulate due to tracked-in snow and water.

Built for durability, industrial absorbency matting products are for semi-permanent applications. Unlike those machine-washable chenille bath mats or microfiber kitchen rugs with rubber backing that you use at home.

Non-slip gripper tapes

non-slip gripper tape on ramp

Gripper tread tape will add traction to ramps and more

One step in reducing fall injuries can be as easy as “peel and stick.” Non-slip tapes and treads offer a quick way to give extra protection to areas where slippery floors are a danger. For example, ramps or high-traffic areas like walkways. These tapes and treads are easy to apply and provide more secure footing on wet floors and stairs.

Non-slip tape comes in rolls, so you can easily size and cut the tape to your specifications. The tape comes in several colors: black tape, which blends in with the surroundings, and easy-to-see solid yellow and striped tape.

Stairs are accident-prone sites even in normal conditions. Add ice and slush, and they can quickly turn into high-risk areas. To make stairs safer in winter conditions, place non-skid treads on each step. Non-skid treads are available in solid colors and also with personalized printed messages. Such as “Caution,” “Watch Your Step,” and “Slippery When Wet”. And means you’re also offering employees a constant reminder to stay safe.

Don’t forget the stair tread covers

anti-slip stair tread covers

Tread covers for stairs help increase grip in wet wintery conditions

Another way to make stairs safer is by installing stair tread covers that give each step more traction. Two types of anti-slip step tread covers are available.

Fiberglass stair tread nosings are ideal for new constructions or renovations. For instance, indoor or outdoor stairs with wood, concrete, or metal steps. The long-lasting fiberglass resists chips, scratches, dirt, oil, and stains.

Aluminum stair tread nosings are useful for making worn, dangerous steps safer. The rust-proof metal treads have a mineral grit non-skid surface that will give you many years of service. These nosings are also compliant with federal OSHA and ADA regulations.

Other absorbency products and winter supplies

Winter weather can bring an abundance of nature’s aqua in many forms. Be it snow, sleet, hail, rain or ice. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to have a stock of general absorbents on hand in addition to non-slip floor mats.

water absorbent caution pads and rolls

Absorbent caution mats will warn of slip hazards while you clean up wet footprints

You can use versatile absorbent pads for water to soak up puddles or wipe up wet footprints. There are even absorbent caution mat pads to warn about slippery floor hazards. Absorbent booms or pillows are other handy toss-and-go solutions for soaking up rain puddles on your shop floor. Many are wringable and reusable, too.

If a winter storm poses the threat of damage to your building’s roof or pipes, consider investing in a leak diverter. These temporary and economical solutions will prevent puddles of rain on your factory or office floor.

In addition to a water-absorbing floor mat or doormat, there are plenty of other low-profile options for year-round use. For instance, in frequently wet areas like factory or industrial kitchen floors. There, a heavy-duty and slip-resistant kitchen mat also offers anti-fatigue benefits as well!

Talk to the workplace clean-up supply experts

During the winter season, you have an obligation to protect your employees and your business from slips, trips, and falls. AbsorbentsOnline makes it easy and affordable to make your workplace a safe place.

AbsorbentsOnline is here to help with personalized service that you won’t find on Amazon. Contact us by email or call toll-free at (800) 869-9633.

This is a revision to a blog post with an original publication date of December 3, 2014

Winter Is Here. Are You Ready?

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Workplace cold weather advice and safety tips for the winter months

frost on workshop bench vice

Icy winter conditions pose workplace risks for your plant and people

Winter is here, and cold temperatures bring unique safety risks for those who work outdoors. For instance, frostbite and hypothermia are risks due to lost body heat (especially when wearing wet clothing). Additionally, slip hazards increase during outdoor activities like de-icing equipment and vehicles.

Make sure your workplace and employees are ready to face the elements this winter season. As the temperature drops, help prepare for potential hazards with the following winter safety tips and advice.

What’s so dangerous about winter?

Winter weather can be dangerous in different ways, from the effects of wind and rain to snow and cold temperatures. The key is to properly prepare for winter weather conditions. Thus, determine how conditions may affect your facility, equipment, and employees.

Here are just a few safety issue scenarios and solutions to consider:

1. Slippery surface hazards

Does water or ice turn certain stairs or ramps into slip-and-fall hazards? Installing permanent safety treads can head that problem off. More so, they save time and money rather than sprinkling rock salt every day. Indoors, industrial absorbent mats help keep floors clean and dry. You can say goodbye to puddles from wet work boots or umbrella drips.

roof leak diverter

Add pipe and roof leak diverters to your winter storm emergency kit supplies

2. Potential structural damage

Will winter storm rain or snow meltwater pose structural building risks, like roof damage? Make sure you’re prepared with the right stormwater management products. For example, a temporary and easy-to-install roof leak diverter.

3. Frozen pipes

Likewise, burst pipes and ruptures are other common occurrences in freezing temperatures. However, having an emergency kit for leaks ready to go can quickly halt equipment damage. Moreover, save you from facing an expensive repair bill.

4. Heating risks

Does your facility or warehouse rely on devices like gas-fueled space heaters for warmth? Without correct ventilation, a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide is possible. Install a battery power CO detector as an alert against carbon monoxide poisoning. But don’t forget to check your detector every year to make sure it is in good working order. And always keep a stock of extra batteries in your emergency supplies!

5. Personnel health

And of course, protecting your employees from health problems in cold conditions should be a top priority. In extremely cold conditions, hypothermia—an abnormally low body temperature—poses a very serious health risk. Warning signs in adults include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, slurred speech, and drowsiness. If your employees start to exhibit these symptoms, seek medical care immediately. Especially if their temperature falls below 95° F.

Staying safe in winter while working outdoors

workers shoveling snow

Monitor body temperature during frigid outdoor activities like shoveling snow

Unfortunately, wintertime doesn’t always allow for job sites and work activities to move indoors. Especially for service industries such as construction and maintenance crews. In many regions of the United States, snow removal using snow blowers or shoveling is a necessity to keep operations running smoothly.

That’s why it’s essential to educate staff on basic cold-weather safety tips. Like knowing the warning signs of hypothermia and frostbite. Help them to stay safe by ensuring they understand the importance of:

  • Dressing in appropriate layers for the weather. This includes hats, gloves/mittens, and outerwear;
  • Taking frequent breaks in warm, dry areas to allow their bodies to recover;
  • Eating and drinking warm, high-calorie foods and beverages as well as avoiding alcohol and caffeine; and
  • Avoiding fatigue because the body uses a lot of energy to keep warm.

Healthy bodies are better equipped to handle extreme temperatures and weather conditions. That means, one way you can prepare for the changing season is with overall health and fitness!

The best preparation is comprehensive training

Your best tool against cold-induced injuries and illnesses is an informed, well-trained staff. Here are some areas in which you should train your workforce:

  • Prevention — Being aware of all cold weather risks gives you the opportunity to prevent some of the dangers. Prevention training will ensure you have the safety materials you need to get your workforce through the winter without a hitch.
  • Identification — Employees should be able to recognize and identify different cold-induced illness and injury symptoms and signs in themselves and others. The sooner you identify problems, the sooner you can treat them.
  • Treatment — You should train your workforce in proper first aid to allow members to treat cold-induced injuries and illnesses. Knowing the right steps to take if someone starts showing trench foot or hypothermia signs could turn a possibly major injury into something minor.

OSHA’s website provides many workplace winter safety tips, including winter driving and a cold stress guide. As well, the CDC offers helpful publications such as preventing cold-related injuries for workers.

Useful winter safety supplies for your workplace

absorbent caution mats

Soak up wet footprints and warn of slip hazards with caution mat absorbents

As we mention above, preparing your workplace to tackle cold conditions is a must. Help ensure a safer winter season with our list of workplace emergency supplies:

Even in this modern age, winter weather can be extremely dangerous for the unprepared. Don’t get caught out in the cold: Plan for winter workplace safety.

Have questions about which absorbents are right for your needs? Contact Travis Zdrazil at travis@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

This is a revision to a blog post with an original publication date of December 6, 2016.

Choosing The Right Absorbent Mat

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Why absorbent floor matting is a smart business decision

industrial floor mat

Industrial absorbent mat rolls help keep your walkways safe

Purchasing absorbent mats for your business is a smart investment that will pay off in the form of a cleaner, safer workplace. No matter how hard you try to prevent it, spills are bound to happen.

If your business uses oils, coolants or solvents, then laying out absorbent mats in appropriate locations will help keep your workplace safe in the event of a spill. In fact, they can also help your facility comply with OSHA requirements for keeping floors in a clean and dry condition.

Hard-wearing industrial mats work in many flooring situations. Just a few examples include building entrances or walkways. As runners in office environments, they help protect carpet in high foot traffic areas. To keep storage spaces dry, place them alongside pallets or shelving. They are also ideal around machinery and equipment, or underneath vehicles.

But with so many different types of mats available, how do you know which one to choose? As a starting point, here’s some information about the differences between absorbent floor mat options to help you decide.

Absorbent mats vs. absorbent pads or rolls

absorbent pads and rolls

Single-use absorbent pads and rolls often come in easy access dispenser boxes

Similar names, but there are big differences between absorbent mat pad/rolls and absorbent mats for floors. As a basic explanation, think of temporary or disposable versus semi-permanent applications. Pads and rolls are typically thrown away after one use, just like absorbent pillows and absorbent socks.

Meant for quick response, the purpose of pads and rolls is cleaning up spills. These products are usually light to medium weight and offer fast wicking absorbency. They often come in bulk dispenser boxes and have different colors to indicate their purpose. Gray color universal pads are for all liquids, yellow is hazmat/chemical absorbent, and white is oil spills.

Both types of absorbent products have their uses in the workplace. But for the following, we’ll explore heavy-duty mats for semi-permanent flooring applications. That is to say, not meant for one-time use such as cleaning up, or, spill control.

What type of chemicals will your floor mats come into contact with?

absorbent camouflage floor mat

This heavy duty camouflage mat absorbs spills and disguises floor dirt

Oils can be very slippery on concrete floors which is dangerous for truck wheels and general safety. Battery acid leaks are another common workplace hazard that can permanently damage floor surfaces and require expensive repairs. Even shelving or storage areas that house machinery, chemicals, liquid cleaning products or other fluids pose potential leak risks. In all these scenarios, absorbent matting can easily address and protect your facility from stains, slips and more.

If you haven’t done so already, you should identify the type of chemicals used in your workplace. Using this information, you’ll be able to choose a mat that’s tailored towards your unique site needs.

For instance, some companies may use oil absorbent mats. Others will prefer universal floor mats capable of absorbing oil, coolants, solvents and even water. The versatile survivor camouflage mat is a popular option that offers universal absorbency. It not only keeps floors dry, but disguises floor grime too.

Identifying which chemicals are present at your location means you can choose a mat accordingly.

Opt for heavy-weight mat materials

absorbent walkway mat

Heavy weight rug rag absorbent roll mats are ideal for high traffic and industrial work areas

Another key area for selecting the right absorbent floor mat is its construction material. Cheap, low-grade materials will result in faster wear and tear, forcing you to shell out more money to replace them. On the other hand, absorbent mats built with professional-grade materials will offer you many years of use.

The Industrial Rug Rag Mat‘s construction features recycled polypropylene along with acrylic materials. Both create an exceptionally strong and durable combination that’s perfect for high-traffic work areas. This mat is also considered “universal,” meaning it’s able to absorb oil, coolants, solvents and water.

Investing in a high quality mat for your site helps minimize the worries of potential slip hazards, as well as floor surface damage. Look closely at product information and specifications. Ideally, choose floor mats with non-penetrable backing and non-skid properties.

The bottom line is that you need to choose an absorbent mat made with materials capable of both withstanding foot traffic and absorbing chemical spills.

Consider your matting location

forklift mat protects warehouse floor

Matting absorbs oil and protects floors while the gray color hides dirt

Determine where you plan on using your new absorbent mat before making a purchase. Will you place mats inside, on factory floors, with exposure to foot and vehicle traffic? Or, do you require a weatherproof mat you can use for outside applications? These may seem like basic questions, but will help insure you pick the right product for the right place.

For outdoor environments, ground protection matting can help prevent damage or contamination to soil and grass. Because they are both washable and re-usable, ground mats make a convenient and cost effective solution for a variety of industries, from construction to event planners and caterers.

Railroad track mats are another specialty oil absorbent mat option for outdoor use around or below rail cars. An absorbent surface and non-penetrable backing means you can confidently use both of these outdoor mat products against ground polluting leaks.

It’s not uncommon for factories and industrial businesses to place mats underneath vehicles or machines to protect against hydraulic fluids, oils and battery acids. For this particular instance, forklift mats are the ideal choice to maximize your level of protection. Much like the previously mentioned Industrial Rug Rag, forklift mats also use polypropylene for its superior oil absorbent and protection capabilities.

In addition, the Forklift mat features a non-skid bottom, allowing for a stronger grip to the floor. Vehicle operators can safely drive over the mat without worrying about it shifting around.

Find more mat product details at AbsorbentsOnline.com

We’ve got you covered when it comes to workplace floor safety, and more!

When it comes to mats for your workplace floors, you can be sure you’ll find a great selection and a great price at AbsorbentsOnline.com. While you’re there, why not take a look at our other useful workplace spill containment and clean up response products. From shop rag or towel wipers, to spill berms, spill kits and more – we’ve got you covered! And don’t forget about other floor safety and comfort products, like stair treads and anti-fatigue mats.

This is a revision to a post with an original publish date of September 16, 2013.