Secondary Containment
The purpose of secondary containment is to prevent releases
of chemicals to the environment and reduce contamination
of soil and groundwater. Secondary containment requirements
provide temporary containment of accidental spills or
leaks until appropriate response actions are taken by
the owner/operator.
Benefits of secondary containment
- Cost efficiency: spill cleanup without secondary
containment is more costly.
- Simplified cleanup: secondary containment keeps
spilled material to a confined area (the containment).
- Decreased liability - less potential for environmental
damage or injury to health and safety of personnel.
What is adequate containment?
Secondary containment is anything that will
contain a waste, if the primary container fails. It
does not have to be anything fancy; it can be as simple
as a tote, a bucket, a drip pan, or a zip lock bag.
At a minimum, the containment must be big enough to
hold 110% of the contents of the primary container.
For example, the secondary containment for a 5-gallon
drum should be at least 5 X 1.10 =5.5 gallons in volume.
If your waste is stored outdoors, the potential exists
for rain and debris to collect in the containment. Be
sure to keep the containment clean and free of debris.
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Examples of secondary containment types |
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Portable secondary containment
platforms come
in various configurations and sizes.
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This single drum containment can be
easily moved with a forklift.
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Chemical buildings are
great for areas that store larger quantities of
waste.
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Tote used for smaller items |
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Zip lock bags are
often used to contain contaminated rags or wipes.
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Permanent containment for a fixed
item |
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