What are some best practices for safely and efficiently transloading bulk chemicals between
different modes of transportation, such as from railcars to tanker trucks?
Bulk chemical transloading can be a safety-sensitive process requiring best practices to be followed in order to ensure that the greatest care is taken. With the extent of bulk chemical transloading that Ventura Transfer Company does, specifically to tanker trucks from railcars and vice versa, we take extreme care for the safety of our team, equipment, and customer products.
These best practices begin with training. Our S.O.P.s are a written guide to the process that a loader will be performing and is always available as a reference if there is any uncertainty in that process. This is accompanied by continuous training as well as supervision from department leads and supervisors to ensure that loaders are fully supported in their roles and can be as safe and efficient as possible.
Along with training, we have thorough inspection practices. Our team is trained to inspect their equipment for any wear or damage before use, as well as our guideline of making sure equipment and empty tankers are Clean, Dry, and Odor-Free (CDOF). This also includes maintaining compliance with the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) guidelines for inspection of railcars.
Due to the nature of the work that we do, we also take extra precautions through the use of 2-part spill protection to ensure that any drips are collected and able to be disposed of properly. This, paired with our safety program’s emergency spill response trailers, means that we are prepared for the worst-case scenario to be handled in the best way possible.