When you work in an industrial setting, you know how imperative cleanliness is. Depending on the business itself, some can be more in demand of this than others. If I had to single out an example, it would especially be the case with workplaces that handle various types of liquids and chemicals.
Improper storage, whether on the floor or pallet racking commercial shelving, can easily result in hazardous situations from direct exposure of the workers to the chemicals. The other danger comes from indirect exposure in the form of spillage leading to slipping accidents, and even fire hazards by reaching exposed wires.
Whichever the risk, one thing is certain – you require adequate material handling equipment. Something which, in terms of liquids, would be the example of versatile drip trays designed to safely store and handle dangerous substances.
What are Drip Trays?
Also known as spill trays, they’re considered secondary containers that are created to prevent splashes, spills, and drips from reaching the workplace environment. Since they can contain liquids from different containers, and drums, they’re available in a wide range of sizes and shapes for various applications.
To make sure you choose properly, and have the peace of mind you’d be safe from any unwanted accidents or events, it’s necessary to pay attention to the design of the types of oil drip tray you buy for your business. Same as when you’re shopping for other types of safety equipment in the example of hi vis clothes.
What to Consider When Shopping for Drip Trays?
Standards
First things first, check whether the products of the sort are made according to the strict Australian standards to be certain of their safety and high durability. If you stumble upon those that offer protection that exceeds the standards, then you know you’ve got products worth the investment.
Materials
In terms of materials, anything made from a tough 100% polyethylene construction would do since it guarantees quality and durability even with tough usage. Despite this, such trays may not be suitable for every situation or liquid, particularly not in cases with flammable liquids since the material can reach a point of extreme heat and melt.
Respective of this, corrosion resistance is truly mandatory. And so is quick and easy cleanliness and maintenance! If you’re handling anything flammable, then you should stick to other options such as those made from hardwearing steel.
A third option meant for chlorinated solvents is the spill pallets made from fluorinated polyethylene. For general uses when you’re not dealing with any particularly dangerous chemical, you could use the PVC and polypropylene options.
Size and Capacity
The next aspect you’d have to focus on would be the size and capacity to ensure they’re suitable for your containers. Knowing the exact measurements of the spill bins and other containers you plan on using them with would be of help because it would assist you with easily deciding on the trays’ dimensions and strength. Mind you though, among the dimensions, depth and height are just as crucial as width and length.
Shape
Not less essential than any of the aforementioned aspects, the shape of the trays ought to be suitable for that of the bins and containers you’d be using them with. You can commonly find spill drip trays in both rectangular and round shapes.
If by chance you plan on repurposing the trays for other applications as well, have in mind there are compact ones that are great for use under vehicles, especially useful for protecting garages and workshops from oil spills.
Thanks to this multi-use and convenient sizing and shape, it’s not surprising some businesses count on this type of equipment for containing leaks from damaged roofs and pipes. In addition to protecting the work environment and employees from slipping accidents, as well as fire hazards, they in turn help protect the floors from damage too.
Design
Now, when speaking of the design itself, some make it easy for you to handle and dispose of the spillages like the spill drip trays with easy pour rolled corners. Others are ideal for stacking which is a property particularly handy for bigger coverage of the floor surfaces in factory and warehouse conditions thus increasing productivity and safety. There are also those that have integral grounding connectors for earthing.
Now, if you plan to transport the hazardous liquids, and fear the containers, canisters, and bins might get wear and tear from the journey, spill pallets can be the ideal choice for you. Besides being a nice long-term investment, they would give you the peace of mind you won’t put the environment in danger either in case of leaks.
Besides providing utmost protection, you can rest assured you’d be able to easily move them to and from warehouses since they can be handled with forklifts. Access ramps are also neat features because they make the pallets handy for access with trolleys, as are anti-tip bars that ensure the pallet stays put even if the forks aren’t inserted correctly.
Certain designs offer outdoor storage thanks to being units with galvanised steel frames and covers, whereas others have convenient drain points to allow for easy disposal of the spilled contents. When you think of cleanliness and maintenance, this is quite the feature you can rely on. Don’t leave anything to chance, not even the slightest detail, given that employee and environment safety are at stake!
