Used Oil - Floor Cleanup
Suggested Best Management Practices (BMPs)
These best management practices (BMPs) are intended to provide some ideas for the content of Pollution Prevention Plans (P2 Plans) and relay helpful information which could minimize generation of wastes and releases of contaminants. A variety of wastes may be mentioned in the BMPs. BMPs are not a comprehensive guide for waste management compliance. For example, the owner/operator should be more familiar with the quantities and characteristics of their own wastes and should seek out other available resources for requirements such as determining whether a particular waste should be managed as a non-hazardous waste or a more strictly regulated “hazardous waste.” More complete regulatory citations and guidance are available from other, separate resources within WDEQ, including the Wyoming Hazardous Waste Rules and the Wyoming Solid Waste Rules.
In the case of used oil, please be aware that used oil is regulated under
Chapter 12 of the Wyoming Hazardous Rules and Regulations and the Wyoming Solid Waste Rules.
In addition to regulations, general help with interpretations and guidance can also be found at the following link: http://deq.state.wy.us/shwd/I&C/index.asp
Questions to Consider |
Suggested Best Management Practices - BMPs |
Do you employ procedures to minimize spillage? |
Prevent spills from ever reaching the floor. |
Do you immediately deal with spills? |
Never walk away from a spill. If spills are not cleaned up immediately: workers can slip and fall; oil, antifreeze, and other spilled material can mix and be tracked around your shop, into vehicles and outside; and you will spend more time and money washing the floor. |
Do you ensure plenty of rags are available? |
Mechanics should carry rags so that small spills can be wiped dry when they occur. |
Do you have a spill response kit easily accessible? |
In case a medium-sized or larger spill occurs, cleanup equipment should be well marked. For example, attach red flags to mop buckets used for spill cleanup so they can be easily located by workers. Keep all spills out of sewer drains. |
Do you maintain a clean shop? |
Sweep your floor with a broom every day to prevent unnecessary dirt and contaminant buildup. |
Do you minimize the generation of contaminated wash water? |
Try not to hose down your work area! This practice generates large quantities of contaminated wash water that is discharged to a sewer, or worse, is flushed out of the shop to a storm drain. |
Do you use a pressure washer to clean your floors? |
If it does become necessary to use a pressure washer to clean your floors, be sure the wash water is disposed of properly. Even if pressure washing is performed by a contractor, your shop is responsible for proper management of the wash water. The best way to avoid this liability and the costs associated with pressure washing is to clean up spills when and where they occur. |
Have you considered floor sealants? |
Consider sealing your shop floor with epoxy or other suitable sealant. A floor sealed with epoxy won’t absorb spills as a concrete floor does and makes spill cleanup easier. |
Do you have a protocol for dealing with spent absorbents? |
Use absorbents wisely. Keep absorbent devices on-hand to prevent very large spills from spreading. After use, wring out the absorbed fluid into the proper drum for recycling or disposal, and reuse the absorbents. Spent absorbent devices must be disposed of properly. Please be aware that this may mean determining whether the spent absorbent should be managed as hazardous waste. |
YOUR IDEAS FOR YOUR BUSINESS |
SEE THE TOOLBOX INTRODUCTION ON WAYS TO START YOUR P2 PLAN. IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION AND POLLUTION FROM HAPPENING AT YOUR BUSINESS. IF A SPILL HAPPENS ANYWAY, YOU MUST BE IMPLEMENTING A POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR DEQ’S VOLUNTARY REMEDIATION PROGRAM. |
