The characteristics and properties of the material, the process, and the use of conventional as well as special material handling equipment can contribute to widespread material spillage throughout a plant.

Most spillage is not picked up quickly. This spilled material is then exposed to disturbance by workers, air currents, vibration and moving equipment. Sometimes spillage is not cleaned up at all. Once the material's angle of repose is established, further spillage runs over to the next horizontal surface, perhaps to the floor below. This is not only detrimental to cleanliness of the plant, but also a potential waste of product.

There are three types of Spillage:

Continuous Spillage:
   Belt Conveyors:
      - at feeding point enclosures
      - at skirting enclosures
      - at head return pulley return belt
      - at take-up pulley
      - at return idlers
   Crushers
   Chutes
   Vibratory Feeders
   Vibrating Screens
   Transfer Boxes

Spillage Due to Maintenance and Repair:
   Changing bags at baghouses
   Opening and cleaning screw conveyors and rotary valves
   Cleaning of vibrating screens and other enclosures
   Cleaning of dust build-up in ducts and other equipment

Accidental Spillage:
   Equipment Malfunction
   Controls Malfunction

Spillage is a serious obstacle to achieving clean plant conditions. It should be eliminated wherever possible, minimized and controlled where it is inevitable. Spillage control is intertwined with Dust Control and therefore, integrated solutions should be implemented whenever possible.

Ridesic Consultants' approach to spillage control includes conventional methods as well as tailor made solutions to specific processes and client needs.