The What's and How's of Chemical Bunding

 

source: globalspillcontrol.wordpress.com

Chemical bunds are essential for safely managing and storing dangerous liquids to prevent contamination of the surroundings and protect people. It's crucial to carefully choose the right options based on the specific chemicals being stored and the location where they will be used. This is what chemical spill bunding is all about.

What's Chemical Bund

A chemical bond is like a big tray or platform where you place your chemical containers or drums. Its purpose is to catch and hold any leaked chemicals, preventing them from spreading. The bund is especially important because it can capture leaks that might otherwise go unnoticed. You'll find bunds under storage tanks or areas where chemicals, hazardous substances, flammable or toxic liquids are stored.

Using IBC bunds or pallet bunds is essential for preventing spills and leaks from reaching the ground, thus protecting the environment, workplace, and people from exposure to hazardous materials stored in your containers.

Chemical Bund Size

To ensure safety, the bund size should be able to hold 110% of the maximum capacity of the largest tank or drum in the chemical store. This extra space is important for adding foam during emergencies. If you have multiple containers or drums in the chemical store, the bund capacity should be 110% of the volume of the largest container or 25% of the total volume stored, whichever is larger. It's also important to note that incompatible substances should always be stored in separate bunds.

Materials

Bunds are typically made from either plastic or steel. Plastic bunds are commonly made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is the same material used for chemical drums, containers, and IBCs. These plastic bunds are usually static and not suitable for transportation on forklifts. If you need to transport your chemical containers using forklifts and the chemicals are not corrosive, steel bunds would be a better choice. However, if you are storing corrosive chemicals, it is recommended to opt for a plastic bund or a plastic bund liner inside a steel bund.

Why's Bunding and Secondary Containment Important?

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Having a secondary containment plan is crucial for minimizing hazards related to chemical spills and leaks at work. Bunding and bunded storage are essential components of this strategy. Chemical spill bunding is designed to contain chemical spills and leaks — and stop them from spreading through the workplace or into the surrounding environment. For example, if your business has flammable or combustible substances that aren’t contained in a compliant manner, a chemical leak could result in further workplace hazards such as fire and explosion.

As stated in Work Health Safety (WHS) Regulations, all Australian workplaces have a legal obligation to contain and manage spills.

Chemical Spill and Leaks Hazards

Chemical spills and leaks in the workplace can lead to a variety of serious problems:

• People can be harmed by coming into contact with spilled chemicals, leaks, or their vapours, leading to health hazards.
• Chemicals like flammable liquids, explosives, and compressed gases can cause significant property damage.
• There is a risk of fire and explosion with certain chemicals, especially if they are close to a source of ignition.
• Without proper secondary containment measures, chemicals can make their way into water systems through drains or seepage, causing water pollution.
• Chemical spills can also seep into the soil, leading to soil contamination and environmental damage.

Different Types of Bund Products

There is a wide range of bund products designed for spill containment, offering both temporary and permanent solutions. In Australian workplaces, you can commonly find the following types of bunds:

• Floor bunding - this is installed to effectively control chemical spills on the floors of workplaces.
• Intermediate bulk container (ICB) bunds - these are specifically designed for storing hazardous liquids in bulk containers of 1000 litres.
• Bunded pallets/drum bunds - these provide a safe storage solution for chemical and oil drums, ensuring any spills or leaks are contained.
• Bunded shelving - this type of bund is used to protect hazardous substances while they are stored on open shelves in the workplace.

These different types of bund products cater to various needs and help maintain a safe environment in Australian workplaces.

Risk Factors at Your Workplace

• Health hazards - what are the potential health risks for workers in case of a chemical spill? This includes burns to the skin and eyes, as well as the consequences of ingesting, inhaling, or swallowing the spilled chemicals.
• Physical - consider the flashpoint of the chemicals and how likely are they to ignite or explode if there is an uncontrolled leak or spill
• Environmental - are the chemicals toxic to the environment? How much is needed to contaminate groundwater or pastoral lands? Also, consider the proximity of the job site to the ocean, waterways, drains, forestry, or residential areas.
• Chemical properties - if your workplace has chemicals that are corrosive or reactive that can damage or corrode the construction materials used for their containment, then there's a risk.
• Chemical quantities - consider the quantities of chemicals being handled and their concentration levels. The level of risk varies greatly between a small jerrycan of mower fuel and a large tank of unleaded petrol.
• Temporary storage- consider if there are temporary storage areas for flammable liquids, and how long will they be kept there.
• Site vulnerability - if the job site is prone to storms, flooding, heat, heavy traffic, or offsite risks from neighbouring properties and there are explosives or other dangerous goods present, the risk is present.
• Containers - consider the type of chemical containers being used and how susceptible are they to cracking, impact, deterioration, overfilling, or collapse