Hazmat crews filled Route 87 in Evans, West Virginia, on March 19, 2012, after an oil spill delayed traffic for several hours, according to Charleston Daily Mail. The news source reports a tractor-trailer leaked one container of Barchlor, a clear, oily chemical that is insoluble in water.
Two people tried to remove the chemical from the scene before emergency staff arrived, and were taken off-site to receive treatment. However, Jackson County Emergency Operations Director Walt Smittle told the news source Barchlor posed no environmental cleanup risks, and crews were instructed to eliminate the liquid accordingly.
Emergency officials may struggle to keep citizens safe during chemical spills. Few people may realize the immediate impact of skin exposure to these pollutants, and hazmat teams could face challenges getting on-site quickly. Authorities can use the XSORB II encapsulator to limit health concerns among residents because the product reduces chemical spill damage instantly.
The encapsulator contains, absorbs and disinfects liquids, including potentially hazardous waste. People can use the non-leaching product to sweep spills away. The solution can absorb up to 14 times its weight, and is safe for landfill disposal nationwide.
