THE FIRST 5 STEPS TO TAKE IN A FLOOD OR SPILL RESPONSE
Your flood or spill response could be the deciding factor in a disaster recovery. Immediate and effective action is crucial to minimise damage, prevent injury and cover all of your insurance bases. For businesses and individuals alike, the domino effect of inaction can prove costly. Learn the first five steps now, before you’re in urgent need.
1. Focus on Safety First
The hazards around water and liquids are significant, ranging from electrical risk to structural damage, contaminants, free-floating debris and more. These bring the potential for wounds, infection, falls, poisoning and burns, all the way through to drowning and even death.
Before undertaking any remediation, the first step is to assess the area and identify safe and dangerous zones around the spill or flood. Where possible, evacuate anyone who does not need to be there and communicate your safety zones with anyone who remains. In commercial settings, this might involve activating emergency response plans and notifying all personnel. As with any good flood or spill response, ensure your own safety – do not enter dangerous areas and always wear protective gear like gloves, masks and boots.
2. Identify the Source and Stop the Flow
If it is safe to do so, the next step is to find the problem and do what you can to shut it down.
To identify the source:
Home: Common sources include burst pipes, overflowing sinks or malfunctioning appliances like washing machines.
Industrial Settings: Leaks can stem from storage tanks, pipelines or machinery. Be vigilant for unusual wet spots or dripping sounds.
The Community: Floods can arise from natural causes like heavy rain or river overflow. Stay updated with local news for flood warnings.
To stop the flow:
Shut Off Valves: In case of a water-based flood, locate the main water valve and shut it off. This can often be found at the front of the building, protected by a council cover plate, or inside a kitchen or utility room.
Use Spill Kits: For chemical or oil spills in industrial settings, use spill kits that contain absorbents, containment booms and protective equipment.
3. Notify Relevant Authorities and Services
In cases of a flood or spill response that involves severe flooding or hazards, contact emergency services immediately. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to contact local authorities, environmental agencies or professional waste management services. In commercial settings, this may also mean following specific industry protocols and reporting procedures. Be sure to review and update these policies and protocols each year so they remain relevant in the event they are ever needed.
4. Document the Scene
Now that the immediate threat has been contained and there is less risk, start taking photographs and detailed notes. Your flood or spill response should document the extent of the problem and continue to do so as the levels recede. Providing a complete picture to authorities, insurance agents, builders, body corporates and the like removes the risk of ambiguity in understanding the extent of the damage. This also helps to inform any measures that may need to be put in place for the future, such as raising low-lying assets above flood levels. This documentation is often a regulatory requirement in commercial settings and crucial for post-incident analysis.
5. Begin Containment and Clean-Up
Step 5 is to prevent further spread, while executing a safe and effective clean-up, paying particular attention to the potential for mould and other ongoing hazards.
Containment
Physical Barriers: Use sandbags, absorbent booms or temporary berms to contain the spread of liquid. For indoor spills, towels and mops do the trick.
Diverting Flow: If possible, divert the flow away from sensitive areas. In a garage or driveway, you can use shovels or brooms to redirect the spill away from the house.
Clean Up
Absorption: Use materials like kitty litter, sand or commercial absorbents for small chemical or oil spills. For water, sponges, towels and mops are effective.
Specialised Equipment: In larger areas, wet/dry vacuums, pumps or squeegees work well.
Air Circulation: Increase air circulation with fans and open windows to help dry out the area.
Dehumidifiers: In enclosed spaces, use dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture from the air.
Large commercial spills or more extensive damage will likely involve coordinating with professional clean-up teams. At Enwaste, our 24-hour emergency response team is on hand whenever you need us, bringing decades of expertise and a fleet of powerful vacuum tankers to handle any flood or spill response. Get in touch with our team today and make us part of your preparedness plan.
