
Control measure
Absorption of polluting materials
Control measure knowledge
It may be appropriate to contain minor spillages by using absorbent materials, such as pads, sheets and booms. Soil, sand and cement all have absorbent qualities and can be used to create improvised containment barriers or bunds.
Polluting materials retain their hazardous properties when absorbed and this should be considered when handling any absorbed material. Absorbent materials should not be used for larger spillages, such as a road tanker incident, because of the amount of waste that will be created and the cost of its disposal.
Environmental agencies supply grab packs that contain resources such as oil absorbent pads and booms. These should be made available on fire and rescue service pumping appliances, high volume pumps (HVPs) and environmental protection units (EPUs).
The absorbent material waste should either be handed over to the responsible person, or arrangements made for its safe disposal.
The environmental agency officer should inform the responsible person about their responsibility to dispose of polluting materials, such as contaminated booms or pads, and cost recovery under the ‘polluter pays’ principle. If the environmental agency is not present, personnel may need to provide the responsible person with this information.
Strategic actions
Consider providing environmental agency grab packs on pumping appliances, high volume pumps and environmental protection units
Have arrangements in place for the disposal of contaminated absorbents for incidents when the responsibility for waste disposal cannot be identified
Tactical actions
Determine if the polluting materials can be dealt with by using an appropriate type of absorbent materials
Consider using the grab packs provided by an environmental agency or alternatives to absorb polluting materials
Hand over the absorbent material waste to the responsible person, or make arrangements for its disposal
Be prepared to provide the responsible person with information about the disposal of polluting materials and cost recovery, if the environmental agency is not present
TRAINING SPECIFICATION
Knowledge and understanding
Control measure element | Learning outcome |
---|---|
Types of absorbent materials |
Understand:
|
Hazards of absorbed material |
Understand:
|
Environmental agency grab packs |
Understand:
|
Responsible person duties and the ‘polluter pays’ principle |
Understand:
|
Practical application
Control measure element | Learning outcome |
---|---|
Determine if the polluting materials can be dealt with by using an appropriate type of absorbent materials |
Demonstrate the ability to:
|
Consider using the grab packs provided by an environmental agency or alternatives to absorb polluting materials |
Demonstrate the ability to:
|
Hand over the absorbent material waste to the responsible person, or make arrangements for its disposal |
Demonstrate the ability to:
|
Be prepared to provide the responsible person with information about the disposal of polluting materials and cost recovery, if the environmental agency is not present |
Demonstrate the ability to:
|
- Control measureDilution of polluting materials
- Control measureTreatment of polluting materials