THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO LAND SOCKS | ECOSPILL CONTAINMENT BOOMS
Inherent risk is minimised when dangerous liquids and chemicals are appropriately handled and stored. But, in the case of chemical spillage, quick and effective action can reduce damage and injury.
Containment booms, also known as land socks, are an essential part of spill response. Land socks get placed around the perimeter of a spill to contain it and stop the spread. Once a spill is contained effectively, the clean up can commence.
Ecospill leads the way, supplying environmental safety equipment to workplaces throughout Australia. In this article, we give you a simple yet all-encompassing guide to land socks.
ECOSPILL LAND SOCKS
Containment booms come in several different forms, the most common being land socks and floating booms. The main difference between the two is that one is for perimeter containment on land and the other on water.
At Ecospill, we stock a range of containment booms to keep your workplace and the environment safe in the event of a spill.
FUEL AND OIL LAND SOCKS
Ecospill’s fuel and oil containment booms are ideal for perimeter containment to minimise or stop the spread of a spill. They are suitable for fuel, oil, petroleum and general-purpose liquid spills on land.
- Thick with high absorption
- Used around the perimeter of the spill to contain it
- Filled with a cellulose fibre material
- Sizes: 90mm in diameter x 3m length & 90mm in diameter x 1.5m length
CHEMICAL LAND SOCKS
Ecospill’s chemical containment booms are ideal for perimeter containment to minimise or stop the spread of a spill. They are suitable for chemical spills on land
- Ideal for most chemical spills including, alkalis, acids, caustics and corrosives
- Used around the perimeter of the spill to contain it
- Filled with premium polypropylene material
- Sizes: 90mm in diameter x 3m length & 90mm in diameter x 1.5m length
FLOATING MARINE BOOMS
Ecospill’s floating marine booms are ideal for perimeter containment to minimise or stop the spread of a spill on water.
- Polypropylene inner core reinforced with mesh fabric for extra durability
- Interlocking clips for easy deployment and flexible extension of the perimeter
- Size: 125mm in diameter x 3m length
- Sold in bags of four booms
STORING LAND SOCKS
Before storing your containment booms, ensure they are clean and contaminant free. The radiation from UV rays can shorten the life of your containment boom. So, ensure you store it away from direct sunlight. Where possible, avoid storing your containment booms on the ground. This will help prevent mildew and insect/rodent infestations.
If you store your booms connected end-to-end, it is important that you avoid overlapping and/or knots. Failure to do so can hinder rapid deployment in the future.
DEPLOYMENT OF LAND SOCKS
The first step in responding to a spill is to stop it at the source. The second step is to stop the spill from spreading. Deploying a land sock around the perimeter of a spill is the most effective way to contain it.
Depending on the size of the spill, you may need to use multiple land socks to surround it. You can do this by overlapping the containment booms by about 30cm on each end.
Once you have stopped the source of the spill and contained the perimeter, the edge of the spill will get absorbed into the boom and no further spread will occur. Now it’s time to begin the clean-up measures!
LAND SOCKS MAINTENANCE
Harsh chemicals and fuels should not be used to clean your booms. An oil “stain” is far less harmful to the boom fabric than the damage diesel does when scrubbing with it. Mild detergents and medium bristled brushes are ideal for cleaning your containment booms. Steam cleaning should be done with caution as weakened seams and welds may separate as a result of heat and pressure.
Before storing your booms, rinse them thoroughly, allow them to dry and inspect for any signs of damage. This ensures that, in the case of a spill in the future, you are ready to respond efficiently.
AUSTRALIAN SUPPLIER OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Ecospill offers multiple services to help you maintain your duty of care to your staff and your environmental impact. Our primary goal is to help businesses meet their environmental needs, whilst remaining productive and growing.
We provide a wide range of quality environmental safety equipment to businesses in multiple industries across Australia. We’re here to ensure you can manage any spills that may occur within your workplace with ease.
Contact our friendly team to see how we can help you.