When working with chemicals, extensive measures should be taken to ensure the safety of your employees, workplace and the environment. While chemical storage cabinets are vital, some other simple chemical safety solutions can make a large difference to the security of your workplace. One such solution is a drain seal, which come in a range of sizes to suit your needs. These are placed over drains to form a physical blockage to prevent chemicals from entering. As they are made from neoprene rubber or polyurethane they can be easily cleaned and reused, making them a one-time investment. A drain seal should be used in the following instances:
- When Storm Water Drains are nearby
Drain seals are most commonly used outside to prevent spilled chemicals from entering storm drains and causing pollution to water courses. The drain seals should be located adjacent to the storm drain on a wall so that they can be deployed quickly in the event of a chemical spillage. It is good practice to put the drain seals in position over the storm drains when taking bulk deliveries of chemicals adjacent to storm drains.
- When working with corrosive chemicals
Drain seals can also be used as a precautionary measure against spills or leaks when working with corrosive chemicals. They help protect your workplace by preventing these chemicals from entering the drainage system, where they may cause damage to the pipes, incurring costs for repairs and potentially shutting down your workplace while these take place. As the seals are made of chemically resistant elastomers, they allow you time to use a spill kit to clean up the waste chemicals before rinsing the work room floor.
- When expensive chemicals might be recovered
If you are working with expensive chemicals, you may wish to recover them after a spill. A drain seal prevents them from literally disappearing down the drain, allowing you the opportunity to restore them to secure containers. However, this measure should only be taken in a sterile environment, where the chemicals could not possibly have been contaminated by traces upon the floor or drain seal.
Want to find out more about effective chemical safety measures or storage for your business? Browse our previous blog posts on similar topics or check out our extensive range of chemical safety products.