Tow Professional

VOL4 ISS2 2015

Tow Professional is a comprehensive publication for the towing and recovery market. It is mailed directly to more than 29,000 decision makers including owners, presidents, CEO's and principals of towing companies throughout the United States.

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T ow operators are often the first to arrive at an accident scene, mean- ing they come across chemical spills from disabled vehicles on a routine basis. Knowing how to properly identify the types of spills and use the correct cleanup products are key skills in quickly clearing any spill, whether it's on the road or in your shop. The Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation knows the importance of clearing spills quickly to minimize traffic delays. They classify traffic incident spills into three cat- egories: 1) Vehicular Fluid Spills (fuel, coolants and transmissions fluids); 2) Cargo Spills (non-hazardous or hazardous); 3) A mixture of the first two categories. Regulatory standards are currently in place to protect responders, the public and envi- ronment from exposure to these chemi- cals. Still, there is much that can be done to minimize traffic delays caused by the spill clean-up efforts, especially when the only spills present are from vehicle fluids. All first responders, including tow truck operators, should have proper train- ing so that they can identify the potential harm of the materials present, as well as know what can be done to minimize that harm. This ability to analyze the scene better enables tow operators to report details to authorities before they arrive. Having the proper training, resources and personal protection equipment allows tow operators to assist with basic spill control and containment. Sorbents, storm water inlet covers and wedges are just a few of the products that can be used. Sorbents may be made of many mate- rials and are designed for specific uses. Universal sorbents absorb any liquid from water-based fluids, non-aggressive liquids such as radiator coolants, petroleum- based chemicals such as gasoline or diesel fuels, and even aggressive chemi- 42 Tow Professional | Volume 4 • Issue 2 | www.towprofessional.com ill on rol Do ou Have he igh Training and ill Produc o e ond? b y : P a u l E . , A W D i r e c t Te c h n i c a l P r o d u c t S u p p o r t p h o t o s : C o u r t e s y o f W e i l W r e c k e r, B i r m i n g h a m , A l a b a m a

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