{"id":13498,"date":"2022-04-03T10:27:47","date_gmt":"2022-04-03T08:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=13498"},"modified":"2022-04-03T10:28:33","modified_gmt":"2022-04-03T08:28:33","slug":"best-practices-to-clean-and-prevent-shop-spills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2022\/04\/03\/best-practices-to-clean-and-prevent-shop-spills\/","title":{"rendered":"Best practices to clean and prevent shop spills"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There will be spills on the shop floor, but a prepared shop will keep accidents from becoming a slippery slope.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Spills happen. Maybe not often, but shop managers should accept that they can\u2014and 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

Assess the environment<\/h3>\n

\u201cOur main effort is to make sure that there isn\u2019t a spill to clean up in the first place,\u201d said Jessica Smith, health and safety specialist at Rush Enterprises<\/a>, speaking on the company\u2019s spill-handling strategy.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cStep one, we evaluate our on-site potential spills: things from the truck, their storage capacity, and their condition,\u201d she explained. \u201cNext, we\u2019re 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?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Tyler Fussner | Fleet Maintenance<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Technicians<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
Technicians at Rush Truck Leasing – Las Vegas utilize an assortment of spill containment equipment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It pays to be meticulous in this evaluation and assessment process. Account for any and all fluid-related instances, and plan accordingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want to look at your total gallon and a worst-case scenario,\u201d said Susan Naser, vice president of sales and marketing at SpillTech<\/a>, a manufacturer of industrial absorbents. \u201cSay you have 10 55-gallon drums\u2014550 gallons. Are you really going to absorb all 550 gallons at one time? No, you\u2019re not. But one 55-gallon [drum] might fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

In such a scenario, Naser advised to have 55 gallons of absorbency around just in case. \u201cThat 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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<\/a> (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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreases and oils are very, very slippery\u2014and you have a lot of people walking around,\u201d Naser explained. \u201cSo, you need to make sure those floors are clean and dry and oil-free so that you don\u2019t have slips and falls, which is the No. 1 worker comp[ensation] situation in most facilities. Drips lead to slips.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Prepare for the inevitable<\/h3>\n

After assessing the fluid volumes and at-risk areas of the shop, prepare for addressing the potential spills. Smith explained Rush\u2019s approach to preparing for such incidents.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to determine containment methods; we always rely on a physical barrier first,\u201d she said. \u201cIdeally, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are diligent as far as strategically placing those spill kits around or close by any source of spill,\u201d said Kevin Gollner, vice president of ethics and compliance and chief compliance officer at Rush. \u201cYou 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Tyler Fussner | Fleet Maintenance<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"When<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
When assessing the shop for spill-prone areas, understand where fluid-related services frequently occur and prepare for spills with adequate response equipment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

When preparing a spill-reaction plan, safety is paramount. After understanding where spills may come from, prepare to safely address them.<\/p>\n

Personal protective equipment is key, Naser explained. \u201cIf there\u2019s any kind of spill, make sure that you have the proper protection\u2014eye protection, hand protection\u2014even with basic oils and greases.\u201d<\/p>\n

The chemical and PPE manufacturers will have the safety data sheets and literature needed to ensure the PPE can handle the spill.<\/p>\n

Naser also emphasized being prepared for what is at risk of contamination from spilled fluids.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Picking the right spill kits and equipment<\/h3>\n

A myriad of spill cleanup and containment products, as well as equipment to handle and facilitate fluid management, are available. To select the right ones, a manager should have an idea of their spill-management needs and seek the products and equipment that will help serve them best.<\/p>\n

The Andax<\/a> Big Containment Pac<\/a>, for example, includes gloves, a disposable bag, pads, socks, and an inflatable containment bag, and can contain up to 110 gallons and absorb 10 gallons total. Shops also should have plenty of degreaser to help with final cleanup of the floor, equipment, and personnel. Kafko<\/a>\u2019s Oil Eater<\/a> Heavy Duty Spill Kit includes a 5-gallon bucket of its biodegradable Oil Eater Cleaner\/Degreaser<\/a> along with absorbent pads, pillows, universal snakes, booms, protective gloves, oil-resistant, high-temperature disposal bags, and an emergency response instruction guide.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe rely on universal spill kits rather than a chemical-specific kit,\u201d Smith said of Rush\u2019s choice of kit type. \u201cOne problem our industry faces is [that there are] a variety of different fluids that have the potential to be spilled on-site. The universal spill kits can take care of a variety of fluids safely and effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith said Rush technicians favor durable sorbent rolls for smaller spills.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe technician can take as little or as much as they want,\u201d she explained. \u201cIt\u2019s great to put down when you\u2019re working on preventative maintenance or a repair where you know there\u2019s going to be leaking fluid.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"SpillTech&rsquo;s<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
SpillTech\u2019s Universal Commander Roll, No. GRSF1550S, and Roll Holder Dispenser with Magnets, No. A-MAGRACK, is ideal for setting up near work stations, attached to rolling carts or vehicle lifts, allowing technicians to have quick and easy access to absorbent material.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

SpillTech\u2019s Universal Commander Roll, No. GRSF1550S, is one such product, which Naser said is key for vehicle maintenance personnel. \u201cWith this roll, you tear off what you need. You take it to your workstation as your own little personalized roll for use for any leaks, spills, drips, and stuff that you have.\u201d<\/p>\n

SpillTech also has the Roll Holder Dispenser with Magnets, No. A-MAGRACK, that further extends the versatility of the universal sorbent roll. Naser advised that technicians attach the rack to their rolling cart, or even on a vehicle lift in-bay, to allow technicians to have quick and easy access to the absorbent material.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re the alternative to older methods like clay or loose absorbent,\u201d Naser said. \u201cNobody wants to get a bag of dirt and throw it on an oil spill. You already have a mess. Now, you make a bigger mess.\u201d<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Naser explained that size and quantity of cleaning material are important aspects of the equation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is all about minimizing waste, too,\u201d Naser said. \u201cWe make a product that is an expense.\u201d<\/p>\n

And this waste is absorbed financially by the business and later by the environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we find is that most people don\u2019t use the pad to its full capacity,\u201d she continued. \u201cYou buy this heavyweight pad, you wipe down a little bit after you spill something, and you throw it away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Putting the right type of pad in the kit helps reduce that additional cost and trash.<\/p>\n

Beyond spill cleanup and containment products, look for equipment that can lend to the mitigation of spills in the first place.<\/p>\n

One such piece is the QuickFit Oil Change System <\/a>for diesel engines from Parker Hannifin<\/a>. The aftermarket system is made up of a few components and serves as a single connection point for oil changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a flush-faced coupler that users attach to with the corresponding quick disconnect,\u201d explained Cameron Koller, market development manager for Parker. Using the system consists of a simple three-step process. \u201cYou purge with shop air\u2014you blow out the existing oil to the pan; then you switch to a vacuum line and, at that same connection point, evacuate the old oil; and then you return to the same connection point and refill with new oil. It\u2019s a lot more efficient; you don\u2019t have to mess with any plugs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koller said QuickFit saves time in tight engine spaces and promotes safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives a central point for ease of access for ergonomics,\u201d he explained. \u201cEvery time you connect or disconnect, it is not going to spill, or have the same risk for spilling, as you typically would in a normal oil change process.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Pictured<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
Pictured is an installed QuickFit Oil Change System from Parker Hannifin, which provides a single access point for oil changes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Ancillary to the QuickFit itself, a shop would only need an air hose and a vacuum hose to utilize the system and expedite their oil changes, as well as mitigate oil spills throughout the process. Fleets can install the universal system themselves, or work with Parker\u2019s distribution network to have it installed in their vehicles. Furthermore, the system itself does not require additional maintenance and has minimal upkeep.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheoretically, as long as everything\u2019s routed and installed properly, that thing is installed and intended to not be touched until that engine has expired its life,\u201d Koller said. He also noted that including an inspection of the system during a PM schedule is advisable to ensure there is not rust accumulation on metal components.<\/p>\n

Shops can also leverage oil change systems. Vivek Bedi, CEO of ESOC Commercial Truck Inc.<\/a>, said ESOC\u2019s closed-loop oil change systems allow technicians to change a Class 8 engine\u2019s oil in less than 10 minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe equipment allows the operator to perform an oil change on a tractor power unit while it is hot, getting the tractor in and out of the bay at a faster time,\u201d Bedi said. \u201cWith our system, the operator is not exposed to hot oil; the machine grabs a sample from the power unit, the system evacuates the oil [and] automatically disposes of it to a dedicated waste tank, allowing the operator to dispose of the old filters [which are dry] and reinstall the new filter without pre-filling the filters. Once the filters are installed, the machine primes the power unit to the specified volume. The engine is primed and basically [performs] a hot start; minimal metal on metal wear [is incurred] due to all the oil passages and coolers [being] filled with oil.\u201d<\/p>\n

Benefits include time and labor savings, an increase in safety protocols, protecting the workers from hot and hazardous fluids, and protecting the environment, Bedi noted.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is to \u2018turn downtime into road time,\u2019\u201d Bedi said.<\/p>\n

Communication and training<\/h3>\n

A plan is only as valuable as its acceptance, adherence, and adoption. To execute a proper cleanup plan when the time comes, a shop must establish a culture of safety. At Rush, this starts day one for new technicians.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe introduce the technicians to all the safety equipment on site, where it is and how to use it, and what it\u2019s going to be used for,\u201d Smith said. \u201cFor spills specifically, we do have the job aids and spill kits; we\u2019re going to teach them how to avoid a spill; avoiding a spill can be the most effective way to deal with them. And then if the spill does occur, we\u2019re going to have them evaluate the hazard.\u201d<\/p>\n

This entails stopping what they are doing, stopping the active spill at the source, evaluating the quantities, and securing the area. This includes eliminating any potential sources of ignitions from the area.<\/p>\n

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\"Adequately<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
Adequately block off drains in the event of a spill to prevent further contamination.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Next, the point person will deploy the boom, damming materials, and the sorbents found in the spill kits. Finally, they must know how to properly dispose of the sorbents in specifically marked waste bins.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe train on this in a multitasking approach,\u201d Gollner explained. \u201cWe prescribe, from a safety and environmental perspective, the multiple touchpoints and keep touching them over and over. We use an online learning system we call Rush University, where we send out video training to our employees. These are short microlearnings, anywhere from three to five minutes, generally. We also send the SOP out through our alerting management system. \u2026 In addition, we perform audits on our locations. \u2026 We leverage an audit as a training; we go out there, we see, and then we teach and train. We also go in every one of our locations and perform in-person ethics and safety training, we call BEST (business ethics and safety training). \u2026 We do a lot in not only spills, but safety in general at Rush.\u201d<\/p>\n

Creating a culture of safety will lead to the successful execution of a spill-containment plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important part is to communicate that plan to all shop employees,\u201d Smith emphasized. \u201cSpill cleanup is everyone\u2019s responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

With everyone on board, and safety in high regard, addressing spills can become an efficient practice that will keep those in the shop out of harm\u2019s way.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things that we do is say it\u2019s okay if you\u2019re in the middle of a job to call timeout to clean up a spill, or call somebody to clean up the spill. Or block the spill-off,\u201d Gollner said. \u201cNo. 1, you\u2019ve got to have a plan. And you\u2019ve got to empower people to execute that plan. And if you do those two things, you\u2019re going to be much, much safer\u2014not perfect, but much safer.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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By Tyler Fussner<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Source: https:\/\/www.fleetmaintenance.com\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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There will be spills on the shop floor, but a prepared shop will keep accidents from becoming a slippery slope. Spills happen. Maybe not often, but shop managers should accept that they can\u2014and someday will. Knowing there will be spills is only the first step in maintaining a safe, clean, and efficient shop environment. But…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":13499,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[53,118],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13498"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13498"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13498\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13501,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13498\/revisions\/13501"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}