Guide to Secondary Spill Containment: Everything You Need to Know

In the industrial sector, managing unforeseen spills efficiently is crucial to ensure both environmental and workplace safety. Secondary spill containment is a proactive measure designed to prevent hazardous materials from escaping into the surrounding environment. Polystar Containment has provided robust secondary containment solutions for more than 20 years. This guide aims to shed light on the importance of secondary spill containment, will provide secondary containment examples and demonstrate how Polystar can ensure a safer and compliant operational framework for your enterprise.

Understanding Secondary Spill Containment

Secondary spill containment is a critical aspect of industrial safety and environmental protection. It acts as a line of defense against unintended releases of hazardous materials, ensuring that they are captured and contained promptly.

What Is Secondary Spill Containment?

Secondary spill containment refers to the strategies and systems in place to capture hazardous substances in the event of a spill, preventing them from contaminating the surrounding environment.

What is the Difference Between Spill Containment and Secondary Spill Containment?

Spill containment vs. secondary spill containment – which do you need? Understanding the distinction between the two is crucial for the proper handling of hazardous materials.

Spill Containment primarily refers to the initial measures and systems put in place to contain hazardous materials within designated areas. This could include mechanisms like sealed containers, storage tanks or other containment vessels that hold hazardous materials securely under normal conditions. The primary objective of spill containment is to prevent hazardous materials from escaping their designated containment systems.

Secondary Spill Containment acts as an additional layer of protection, designed to contain hazardous materials in the event the primary containment systems fail. Examples of secondary spill containment solutions include berms, dikes and containment pallets that capture and hold spills, preventing them from contaminating the surrounding environment. Secondary spill containment products aim to mitigate the impact and prevent further damage in case the primary containment measures fail.

Both are integral parts of a comprehensive spill prevention and response strategy, ensuring a safer and compliant operational environment.

What Is the Purpose of Secondary Spill Containment?

The use of proper secondary spill containment products:

• Minimizes environmental damage
• Ensures the safety and health of workers
• Helps in maintaining adherence to regulatory standards such as OSHA secondary spill containment requirements

By adhering to these secondary containment requirements, facilities can significantly reduce the risk of environmental contamination, ensure a safe and compliant operational environment and avoid costly fines.

Types of Secondary Containment Systems

Polystar offers a broad spectrum of secondary spill containment products to cater to various industry needs. These secondary containment examples are just a sampling of what we offer:

• Truck Spill Secondary Containment Systems: Designed to manage spills during truck transport or offloading of hazardous materials.
• Railcar Spill Containment: Tailored for handling spills, such as:
• Fuel and Oil Transfers: Containing spills during the transfer of fuel or oil between railcars and other vehicles or storage tanks.
• Loading and Unloading Areas: Capturing spills from loading and unloading of hazardous materials.
• Maintenance and Cleaning Areas: Containing runoff or spills during maintenance and cleaning of railcars.
• Railcar Storage Areas: Managing incidental spills from railcars in storage that are holding hazardous substances.
• Tank Containment: Ideal secondary spill containment products for containing hazardous waste spills from:
• Chemical Storage Tanks
• Fuel Storage Tanks
• Waste Storage Tanks
• Water Treatment Facilities
• Mobile Refueler Containment: Engineered for spill control during mobile refueling operations, particularly:
• Fuel Transfer Spills: Capturing spills during the transfer of fuel to vehicles or equipment.
• Equipment Failures: Managing spills resulting from equipment malfunctions or failures.
• Overfilling Incidents: Containing overflows during refueling activities.
• Accidental Discharges: Addressing unexpected discharges of fuel.
• Construction Barriers: Effective in containing spills in construction sites, including:
• Concrete or Paint Spills: Containing accidental spills of concrete, paint or other construction materials.
• Hazardous Material Containment: Capturing leaks or spills of chemicals or hazardous substances used on-site.
• Stormwater Management: Preventing contaminated water from entering local water systems.
• Dirt and Debris Containment: Keeping dirt, debriso r other particulate matter contained within the construction area.
• Equipment and Vehicle Washing Areas: Collecting and managing runoff from equipment cleaning operations.
• Drillers Containment Pads for Fracking Spills: Addressing the unique spill containment needs of hydraulic fracturing operations, for example:
• Chemical Spills: Containing accidental spills of fracturing fluids or other chemicals.
• Flowback Water: Managing flowback water to prevent ground contamination.
• Equipment Leaks: Capturing leaks from drilling equipment or machinery.
• Fuel Storage Areas: Containing spills around fuel storage areas on site.
• Spill Containment Berms: These secondary spill containment systems provide a robust barrier to manage spills, particularly useful in trucking and railcar operations.
• Containment Pads: Versatile solutions that can be utilized in various situations, including:
• Vehicle Maintenance Areas: Containing spills from oils or other fluids during maintenance.
• Fuel Transfer Points: Capturing spills during fuel transfer operations.
• Chemical Storage Areas: Preventing ground contamination from hazardous chemical leaks.
• Loading Docks: Collecting spills from loading/unloading operations.
• Industrial Manufacturing Sites: Containing accidental spills of industrial fluids.
• Agricultural Facilities: Managing pesticide or fertilizer spills.
• Chemical & Hazmat Storage Buildings: Engineered to securely store hazardous materials, minimizing the risk of spills.
• Portable Spill Prevention: Offering flexibility and effectiveness in managing spills across different operational scenarios​.

Custom Secondary Containment Systems from Polystar Containment

Polystar excels in creating custom secondary containment solutions tailored to meet the distinctive needs of a broad range of industries. Whether it’s addressing specific regulatory compliance, accommodating unique site conditions or handling diverse types of hazardous materials, our custom secondary spill containment products are engineered with precision to ensure optimal performance. By closely collaborating with clients to understand their unique requirements, we deliver unique containment solutions that ensure a safer and compliant operational environment.

Polystar Containment: Pioneers in Secondary Spill Prevention Products

With more than 20 years in the industry, Polystar Containment has extensive experience in the field of spill prevention and containment. Our move to Stow, Ohio in the summer of 2013 marked a pivotal phase in the company’s growth which allowed us to double our production and manufacturing space so we can engineer larger and stronger components for heavy duty use. We also have dedicated departments for welding and fiberglass production.

What Sets Polystar’s Secondary Containment Solutions Apart?

We take pride in being a US-based original equipment manufacturer of secondary spill containment products. Every product offered is engineered and manufactured in-house at our own facility. By controlling the entire manufacturing process, Polystar stands as a reliable, domestic source for robust secondary containment solutions.

The core of Polystar’s success lies in its innovative use of composite plastic materials in manufacturing spill containment products. By employing fiberglass reinforced plastics, Polystar has revolutionized the secondary spill containment industry. These innovative materials significantly enhance corrosion resistance, strength and product longevity when compared to alternatives.

The innovative use of these modern materials has set a new industry standard, allowing for the engineering of larger and stronger components adept for heavy-duty use while ensuring environmental safety and compliance. Through continuous material innovation, Polystar delivers superior secondary containment solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern industries.

FAQs About Secondary Containment Systems

Learn more as we answer some common questions about secondary spill containment.

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How Do You Create Custom Secondary Spill Containment Solutions?

Polystar crafts custom solutions by utilizing its in-house welding, fabrication and wood shops to create unique molds and models for fiberglass and composite products. This integrated approach accelerates the production process, eliminating extra costs and ensuring timely delivery of custom secondary spill containment solutions tailored to meet your specific needs.

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How Can Polystar Containment Help Me Comply With OSHA Secondary Spill Containment Requirements?

Polystar offers a range of secondary spill containment solutions engineered to help companies comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. By providing custom-designed containment systems, Polystar ensures that your facility has the necessary measures in place to manage spills effectively and maintain a safe working environment. Another Polystar advantage is that we assist you through every phase of your containment project, ensuring the final setup complies with SPCC regulations and OSHA secondary spill containment requirements.

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What Types of Materials Are Used in Polystar’s Products?

We primarily use composite plastic materials, particularly fiberglass reinforced plastics, in manufacturing many of our spill and secondary spill containment products. These materials offer a myriad of advantages including reduced fatigue, minimal thermal expansion and transfer, superior corrosion resistance and enhanced strength and longevity.

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