| Highly industrialized countries are characteristically | | | | materials may include booms, mats, and pads that |
| more prone to environmental hazards than those | | | | can absorb both water and oil-based liquid spills. |
| that are less developed. In the United States, the | | | | When there is an accidental spill either of known |
| environmental impact of manufacturing is | | | | or unknown substances, the first easy to follow |
| recognized and protection measures are actively | | | | hazmat cleanup tips that the spill response team |
| implemented to ensure that business practices are | | | | should do is to contain the spill and try to identify |
| within environmental safety regulations and that | | | | the substance so that additional safety measures |
| manufacturing wastes are disposed of properly. | | | | can be done. There are usually personal protection |
| Liquid wastes and spillages are mandated by law | | | | materials that are included in the spill kits for use |
| to be contained from spreading through the | | | | by the members of the spill response team. |
| country's water ways. | | | | These include masks, goggles, protective |
| The Clean Water Act which started out as the | | | | footwear, lab gowns, and gloves among others. |
| Federal Water Pollution Control Act in the 1940s | | | | The chemical spill should be contained with |
| was enacted to stop citizens from polluting the | | | | chemical hazmat booms that should be placed |
| country's waters both through personal and | | | | around the perimeter of the spill to prevent it |
| business acts. As part of the environmental | | | | from spreading further. Depending on the toxicity |
| safety regulations, those entities that are possible | | | | of the spilled substance, immediate spill cleanup |
| water contaminants due to liquid spills should have | | | | might be necessary to avoid further damage to |
| spill control and cleanup mechanisms in place. | | | | individuals and property. |
| Manufacturing companies are required to have as | | | | Another easy to follow hazmat cleanup tip is to |
| part of their safety measures spill kits in their | | | | use the right kind of cleanup mat or pad for the |
| work areas to effectively control and clean up | | | | substance involved in the spillage. There are |
| any type of liquid spills. These spill kits come in | | | | several types of chemical cleanup materials that |
| various sizes and in various types. Those with | | | | can be used depending on what substance was |
| possibilities of chemical spills usually have hazmat | | | | spilled. Using an oil-only spill mat will not work as |
| cleanup kits with materials that are particularly | | | | effectively on water-based spills as a chemical |
| designed to contain and absorb most kinds of | | | | hazmat spill mat. Oil-only spill mats and pads only |
| chemicals. | | | | absorb oils or hydrocarbon fluids as they are |
| Hazmat cleanup kits usually come with a list of all | | | | water repellant. The best spill mats to use are |
| the things included in the kit as well as a set of | | | | universal spill mats, chemical hazmat spill mats, and |
| instructions on how to use them for hazmat | | | | polybacked absorbent spill mats and pads. These |
| cleanup emergencies. These hazmat cleanup | | | | spill mats are highly absorbent of all types of |
| materials are usually yellow in color to serve as a | | | | liquids including both those that are water-based |
| caution to individuals in the area that there is a | | | | and those that are oil-based. |
| potentially harmful liquid spillage. Hazmat cleanup | | | | |