february2022 - 23

S
pills happen. Maybe not often, but shop managers should
accept that they can-and someday will. Knowing there
will be spills is only the first step in maintaining a safe,
clean, and efficient shop environment. But it will take
more than that to create a successful cleanup and containment
plan. All shops are different, and they all won't be
spotless, as commercial vehicle maintenance is full of
greases and oils and fluids waiting to hit the floor. But
the following steps will allow the shop to react better and
faster to such spills, while also promoting employee safety
and a clean, professional look.
Assess the environment
" Our main effort is to make sure that there isn't a spill
to clean up in the first place, " said Jessica Smith, health
and safety specialist at Rush Enterprises, speaking on the
company's spill-handling strategy.
To do this, Smith said supervisors should take time
to understand when and where spills could take place,
what could spill, as well as how severe a potential spill
could be. This includes estimating the quantity of fluid
that could be spilled.
" Step one, we evaluate our on-site potential spills:
things from the truck, their storage capacity, and their
condition, " she explained. " Next, we're going to identify
potential discharge scenarios. Can the tank overflow?
Can the storage drums crack? Are the trucks in for
repairs damaged and leaking? What are the potential
discharge volumes? "
Asking the right questions will help in the development
of a game plan for the handling of any spills that occur.
First, examine what type of work is done in the shop and
the frequency of each. Note common repair procedures
that involve fluids. Where are fluids stored in the shop?
Does the shop have dedicated bays for oil changes? Ask
the team how often these jobs result in spills.
It pays to be meticulous in this evaluation and assessment
process. Account for any and all fluid-related
instances, and plan accordingly.
" You want to look at your total gallon and a worst-case
scenario, " said Susan Naser, vice president of sales and
marketing at SpillTech, a manufacturer of industrial absorbents.
" Say you have 10 55-gallon drums-550 gallons. Are
you really going to absorb all 550 gallons at one time? No,
you're not. But one 55-gallon [drum] might fall. "
In such a scenario, Naser advised to have 55 gallons of
absorbency around just in case. " That is how you have to
look at it; you have to look at your total, then you have to
look at your worst-case scenario. "
She said large spills are not common, but small ones
can do big damage via slips and falls. According to the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), more than one in four nonfatal work injuries
that resulted in missed work in 2019 were related to slips,
trips, and falls. With technicians in such high demand,
shops can't afford to have them miss time due to accidents.
And due to the nature of trucks and their need of fluids
and greases to work, the potential is always there.
" Greases and oils are very, very slippery-and you have
a lot of people walking around, " Naser explained. " So, you
need to make sure those floors are clean and dry and
oil-free so that you don't have slips and falls, which is the
No. 1 worker comp[ensation] situation in most facilities.
Drips lead to slips. "
Other factors to consider include the potential for flammability,
corrosivity, and chemicals and fluids to enter
drains. If a truck starts to leak outside of the facility, the
shop should know how to address that as well.
ยป Technicians at Rush Truck Leasing-Las Vegas utilize
an assortment of spill containment equipment.
Photo: Tyler Fussner | Fleet Maintenance
Prepare for the inevitable
After assessing the fluid volumes and at-risk areas of the
shop, prepare for addressing the potential spills. Smith
explained Rush's approach to preparing for such incidents.
" We're going to determine containment methods;
we always rely on a physical barrier first, " she said.
" Ideally, things are double-walled, drums are sitting on
containment pallets, and storage areas are surrounded
by a berm. If physical barriers are not possible, for example,
if the truck is in for repair, then spill kits and other
sorbents specific to the potential fluid spills are placed
strategically around the shop. "
To expedite cleanup, spill kits tailored to each specific
fluid should be easy to access, and located in transfer
areas and every other shop bay, she advised.
" We are diligent as far as strategically placing those spill
kits around or close by any source of spill, " said Kevin
Gollner, vice president of ethics and compliance and chief
compliance officer at Rush. " You may have a 50-gallon
drum; well, that would require a differently sized spill
kit than maybe fluid leaking out of a truck right next to a
service bay, or maybe a 1,300-gallon tank outside. "
When preparing a spill-reaction plan, safety is paramount.
After understanding where spills may come from,
prepare to safely address them.
Personal protective equipment is key, Naser explained.
" If there's any kind of spill, make sure that you have the
proper protection-eye protection, hand protection-even
with basic oils and greases. "
The chemical and PPE manufacturers will have the
safety data sheets and literature needed to ensure the
PPE can handle the spill.
Naser also emphasized being prepared for what is at
risk of contamination from spilled fluids.
Federal, state, and local regulations may also call for
reporting certain incidents, so shop management should
be familiar with what is required and when. Otherwise,
the company may be open to fines and penalties.
Spill response
in seven steps
SpillTech has identified a
seven-step process to spill
response, which touches on a
lot of safety measures in properly
addressing spills. Consider
these steps when developing
a spill cleanup action plan.
1. Assess the risk and how
people, property, and the
environment will be impacted.
2. Select personal protective
equipment (PPE) and go
above requirements.
3. Confine the spill with
sorbent pads, socks, and dams,
being cognizant of drains.
4. Stop the source, such
as turning a tippedover
drum upright, and
salvage fluid from broken
containers into new ones.
5. Evaluate the incident and
start cleanup, being mindful
that used absorbent materials
become hazardous and must
be disposed of properly.
6. Decontaminate the site,
people, and equipment.
If a spill occurs outside,
dispose of any contaminated
materials such as soil.
7. Complete all reports
mandated by federal, state,
and local authorities for spills.
February 2022 | FleetMaintenance.com
23
http://www.FleetMaintenance.com

february2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of february2022

Hitched Up: Planning for the shop of the future
Equipment: Innovation powers up modern CV batteries
In the Bay: Look upstream to reduce DPF downtime
Shop Operations: Best practices to clean and prevent shop spills
Under Vehicle: Pumping up TPMS and ATIS maintenance practices
Body & Cab: 'Maintenance-free' LED headlights still need TLC
Management: The pitfalls of promoting technicians to supervisors
Diagnostics: Climbing out of the diagnostic rabbit hole
Fleet Parts & Components
Tools & Equipment
Classifieds
Guest Editorial: Fractional air filter improvements make your fleet whole
february2022 - 1
february2022 - 2
february2022 - 3
february2022 - 4
february2022 - 5
february2022 - Hitched Up: Planning for the shop of the future
february2022 - 7
february2022 - Equipment: Innovation powers up modern CV batteries
february2022 - 9
february2022 - 10
february2022 - 11
february2022 - In the Bay: Look upstream to reduce DPF downtime
february2022 - 13
february2022 - 14
february2022 - 15
february2022 - 16
february2022 - 17
february2022 - 18
february2022 - 19
february2022 - 20
february2022 - 21
february2022 - Shop Operations: Best practices to clean and prevent shop spills
february2022 - 23
february2022 - 24
february2022 - 25
february2022 - 26
february2022 - 27
february2022 - 28
february2022 - 29
february2022 - Under Vehicle: Pumping up TPMS and ATIS maintenance practices
february2022 - 31
february2022 - 32
february2022 - 33
february2022 - 34
february2022 - 35
february2022 - Body & Cab: 'Maintenance-free' LED headlights still need TLC
february2022 - 37
february2022 - 38
february2022 - 39
february2022 - 40
february2022 - Management: The pitfalls of promoting technicians to supervisors
february2022 - Diagnostics: Climbing out of the diagnostic rabbit hole
february2022 - 43
february2022 - Fleet Parts & Components
february2022 - 45
february2022 - Tools & Equipment
february2022 - 47
february2022 - 48
february2022 - Classifieds
february2022 - Guest Editorial: Fractional air filter improvements make your fleet whole
february2022 - 51
february2022 - 52
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