Nobody saw COVID coming. One day it was business as usual; the next, we were all sheltering at home, terrified for our lives.

While few of us can predict when a global health emergency will strike, we have better success preparing for business emergencies, such as spills. However, being able to plan for an emergency and actually living through one are two very different animals.

As much as you may think it's highly unlikely you'll ever have to concern yourself with a hazardous event at your business, this is precisely why planning matters: because the time to consider the spill containment solutions and procedures you need is not as the emergency is happening. Being prepared — even if you never need to act on the preparation — is the smart way to protect your business now, and in the future. 

As a Best Management Practice, an SPCC (Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure) plan will reduce your overhead and boost productivity, because you won't be losing inventory or wasting valuable time and resources dealing with spill emergencies. 

Here's how to create a spill prevention plan for your company:

• Research, Review, Assess

• Conduct a materials inventory
• Evaluate past spills and leaks
• Identify non-storm water discharges
• Collect and evaluate storm water
• Summarize these findings

• Prepare Your Spill Prevention Plan

• Facility description, activities, chemicals used
• Site plan with chemical storage locations, storm drains, collection basins. List which Impact Absorbents spill prevention and spill clean up products are on hand, or need to be ordered.
• Notification procedures in the event of a spill. Include contact information for key staff and regulatory agencies.
• Designate employee to oversee spill clean up
• Train staff in basic spill control and spill clean up procedures.

• Summarize and Post the Plan at Appropriate Locations (e.g., cafeteria, hazmat areas with spill potential, meeting rooms, etc.)

• Implement Spill Prevention Plan

• Begin spill clean ups using environmentally safe products from Impact Absorbents
• Keep emergency spill containment and spill clean up kits at the facility site.
• Review the Spill Prevention Plan at least annually and after any spill to see how effective it is and how it might be improved, as well as whenever new materials are introduced to the facility.

We hope we're on the far side of the pandemic, and that it will soon be history. But a hazmat spill can happen any time, so it pays to be prepared. At least we know there'll be plenty of masks on site.