So the hunters out there know that when you go out, getting ready for the big kill, its a no brainer that you suit up head-to-toe in your camo outfit. Why? So you blend in of course. The sneak attack you need to achieve when hunting,  is  easier  when you blend in with the surrounding environment, most likely the woods. Also, if you move around a lot, the camo-scheme helps minimize your movements, making them less noticeable to your prey.

Did you know, that the camouflage color scheme has also transcended into spill operations?  Spill sorbents, like pads and rolls, offer a camouflage-style covering so that the top layer of the sorbent hides absorbed leaks and drips so it always looks clean.  Camo in this case , helps minimize the effects of leaks, drips, spills and footprints that are tracked by them.

Just think, the next time you have an OSHA inspection, or a union visit, switch your sorbents from regular pads and rolls to camouflage style pads and rolls. They’re  still just as effective in keeping your warehouse, manufacturing plant, or loading dock s safe, but they look a lot cleaner  to the eye too.

Keep your area safe while also looking clean.

Tweet This Post

So when you think of milk you tend to think of a delicious satisfying cool-down drink that nicely compliments a very rich piece of cake or a handful of cookies right? Yeah me too. But not the EPA. Yes, I said the EPA. I know your wondering how do milk and EPA fall into the same sentence? I’ll tell you how.

While this oil spill in the gulf is not horrific enough, it appears that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) under the Clean Water Act, apparently intends to classify milk as a hazard to the waters of the United States and add tremendous compliance costs and regulatory burdens. To some, okay many, especially farmers, this goes way beyond the focus of the Clean Water Act. Since when did the spillage of milk cause thousands of fish to die, much like the oil in the gulf is right now?

In addition to the Clean Water Act is a separate program called the Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Program. According to the EPA, “The goal of the SPCC program is to prevent oil spills into waters of the United States and adjoining shorelines.” According to this program, a farm would be covered by the SPCC if the farm:

Stores, transfers, uses, or consumes oil or oil products, such as diesel fuel, gasoline, lube oil, hydraulic oil, adjuvant oil, crop oil, vegetable oil, or animal fat

Could reasonably be expected to discharge oil into waters of the US or adjoining shorelines, such as interstate waters, intrastate lakes, rivers, and streams

Stores more than 1,320 US gallons in above ground containers or more than 42,000 US gallons in completely buried containers

So what exactly has farmers crying over spilled milk? The EPA is loosely defining now, milk as an oil. How you ask? Because if you look at the first criteria of this SPCC coverage, it included the storage of animal fat, and what is in all milk? You got it.  “Milk typically contains a percentage of animal fat, which is a non-petroleum oil,” the EPA rule says. “Thus, containers storing milk are subject to the SPCC rule when they meet the applicability criteria…”  So without a doubt, any substantial sized farmer would definitely store more than 1,320 gallons of milk on their property making them subject to the laws & regulations of the SPCC rule.

But have faith, the farmers are not taking this sitting down. They are currently preparing their own 20-page appeal in regards to milk being classified as an oil.  As the oil from the BP spill continues to pollute and kill thousands of wildlife and ruin thousands of miles of beaches in the South, so to does the farmers war against the EPA in this ruling.

Tweet This Post

Think you misread, no you didn’t.

A hair salon in New Jersey is stepping up and helping out anyway they can by collecting and recycling hair clippings from their customers. Don’t think its true? It is, read more here.

The website that this salon owner found online, Matter of Trust, is an ecological organization that collects shampooed hair and nylons for oil absorption. All hair is able to be donated, including human, pet and even alpaca and llama fleece furs. Plus, you don’t have to be a business owner or farmer to support the cause.  Individuals and pet owners can send in their donations (hair or monetary) and know that it is making a difference. All donations are going towards the creation of booms that are being used all along the Gulf Coast.

Courtesy of Alabama Press Register

Tweet This Post

Spill kits can be costly, but are very important. Not only do many facilities require them to be accessible by law, but they can prove to be very handy.

Ever wonder why a kit is so expensive? Its because you are  buying the container and the spill sorbents.  Containers for spill kits can range from the inexpensive such as a nylon bag or a plastic bucket, to the more expensive containers such as overpacks or salvage drums. One way to reduce your costs is to make a one-time purchase of the kit and then, going forward just simply buy the sorbent refills. If you have a spill that requires the use of 5 pads and a couple socks, buy pads and socks to simply refill the kit. You do not have to keep re-buying the entire kit and its container.

Or perhaps you already have an unused container on hand that would be perfect for housing sorbents.  Maybe you have an unused wall cabinet or an empty drum that could hold your spill pads, sorbent socks and booms, or waste disposal bags. If that is the case, just buy the sorbents and make your own spill kit.

In terms of choosing the right sorbents to purchase, there are typically 3 types to choose from: oil only, universal and hazmat.

• Oil Only is designed to absorb petroleum, hydrocarbons and other oil-base liquids

• Universal is designed to absorb all non-aggressive liquids such as oil, coolants, solvents, antifreeze and water

• HazMat is designed to absorb aggressive caustic chemical and acid spills

No matter what spill kit, spill sorbents or spill containment you need, Seton has your solutions.

Tweet This Post

Wondering how? Are you thinking this can’t be true? We’ll it is.

I know, I know -  the time cleaning up, the cost of the sorbents, the disposal fees, its all so expensive, but it really is the little things that add up and can save you money in the long run.

Lets take sorbents. Did you know that there are perforated sorbents? Yes! Much like the new Bounty® paper towels you might use at home. The new Select-A-Size towels are perforated, allowing you to use only the size towel you need depending on the size of your spill. The same thing is available for industrial sorbents! Big spill or small, the perforated sorbents do the same.

Get more out of your spill sorbent purchase. Sorbent Rolls and Pads are available in perforated styles. Perforated means you save time and money. Why use an entire 15″ x 19″ pad when you only need  a 5″ x 18″ size? Save your sorbents and save yourself some money. Using the smaller size spill sorbents means that you can use it as a wipe, a sock, a full size pad, or even make it longer and use it as a roll. You’re in control of how much you use and how much you waste.

If you’re looking to save money on spill cleanup, look no further. Seton has all the sorbents you need, even the money-saving perforated kind. Available in oil only, universal and hazmat options, you can get it all, here.

Tweet This Post

When the S.S. Jacob Luckenbach sank in 1953 near the Golden Gate Bridge, no one really thought much of it, until 2002, when California’s seabird population started to decrease. It was then determined that the ship that sank almost 50 years prior, was the source of a devastating oil leak, endangering the seabird population.  In light of this revelation, California and federal trustees have been awarded $16.9 million to help restore California’s seabird populations.

To read more on the story regarding the S.S. Jacob Luckenbach click here.

Back in 1953 the proper tools to attend to a spill of this magnitude didn’t exist. Fast forward 47 years later and the spill response resources are available.

This begs the question, “How would you handle an oil spill in your own facility?”

Seton has thousands of spill response & control products that can help keep spills at bay.

Tweet This Post

You never know when a spill will occur. Therefore having the right spill sorbents on-hand for the job will make all the difference. Sorbents allow you to contain and clean up spills quickly and are the most common type of spill response item.

There are multiple variations of sorbents to choose from. In order to select the right type of spill sorbent, you must consider the environment that the sorbent is to be used in and how large the spill potential or drip is.

• Pads – These are considered the industrial sorbent towel and are used for all types of spills, drips and leaks; very easy to deploy and provide an economical solution for absorbing various liquids
• Rolls – Similar to pads, just provide additional coverage
• Booms -  Typically used to absorb, contain and skim oil/hydrocarbons from water; also used when large amounts of liquid are needed to be absorbed
• Socks – Used to contain and absorb a spill, drip or leak; commonly wrapped around leaky machinery
• Pillows – Used when larger quantities of liquid are needed to be absorbed; commonly placed under a repetitive drip, in a sump, or on a large volume spill
• Granular - Multi-purpose absorbents for spill clean-up, ideal for first response emergency situations, lab packing and stabilization of free liquids

No matter what type of sorbent you need, for any spill scenario you have, Seton offers all of the above in all 3 types, from Oil Only, Universal and HazMat sorbencies.

Tweet This Post

When working with or storing dangerous chemicals and liquids, a major part in effective clean-up and proper precautionary measures is making sure you have the right spill response items on hand. The most common type of spill response item are sorbents.  Sorbents are materials or composites used to recover liquids such as leaks, drips or spills. The typical sorbent is designed to adsorb liquids onto its surface.

There are three types of sorbents to choose from. In order to select the right type of sorbent, you first must consider the type of liquid to be absorbed, the potential spill volume and the frequency of use.

Choosing the right sorbent is essential to proper spill clean up.

• Oil Only – White in color, this type of sorbent is designed to selectively absorb petroleum hydrocarbons and other oil-based liquids. This type of sorbent will not absorb any water-based liquids and is frequently used for intense environmental clean up to smaller everyday basic oil spills.
• Universal – Grey in color, this multi-purpose sorbent is designed to absorb all non-aggressive liquids such as oils, coolants, solvents, antifreeze and even water. This type of sorbent is frequently used for industrial spill clean up applications, but also used for general spill control.
• HazMat – Green in color, this type of sorbent is designed to absorb aggressive caustic chemical and acid spills. This type of sorbent is frequently used for commercial, industrial and other workplace spill scenarios.

No matter what type of sorbent you need, for any spill scenario you have, Seton offers all of the above in all forms, from sorbent pads, to sorbent rolls,  spill booms, spill socks and sorbent pillows.

Tweet This Post