Spill Control

Risk Management Services states that the purpose of a spill control plan is to ensure that any chemical spills are cleaned up properly and appropriately. There are various steps in a spill control plan that a laboratory personnel should follow and be able to respond to a small laboratory spill without putting themselves in harms way. If there should be any doubt or concern about safety issues, the laboratory personnel should immediately call 911. There should be written safe work procedures in preparation for hazardous operations that are adequately instructed and followed. Accidental spills should be controlled and handled immediately after it happened. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that the personal protective equipment that is required and/or provided is available when it is needed.

There are different steps that must be noted for different chemical materials such as acids, flammable solvents, caustics, and mercury, but most ideally follow these steps.

(http://aribrokers.com/restoration-safety-handle-chemical-spills/)

Chemical Spill Example

Spill Clean Up Procedure Steps:

1) Immediately notify all personnel and the supervisor of the facility of what was spilled and how hazardous it could be. You must evacuate and post caution signs if necessary. 

2) If any clothing or personal belongings are contaminated, you must immediately remove them and enter the emergency shower. If the eyes have been contaminated, you must immediately wash them in the designated emergency eye wash station for at least 15 minutes. Make sure that the chemical spilled and contaminated is not water reactive.

3)  Obtain the names of the chemicals involved, approximate amount that was spilled, hazards of said chemical, flammability, flash point, vapor pressure, toxicity, and corrosiveness before responding. 

4) Only preform clean-up procedures if the appropriate spill control material, equipment, and personal protective equipment is ready and available, the personnel is familiar with the clean up procedures and equipment, more than one other person in the lab is able to participate, work in teams, and there is no ignition sources present. 

5) After reviewing the MSDS and assessing the hazards from the spill, an established and appropriate clean up is measured and implemented. 

6) Determine the extent of evacuation for how hazard the spill substance and quantity is. 

7) Gather the required equipment and materials required to clean up the spill. 

8) Assemble and put on the appropriate clothing, gloves, eye protection, respirator, or any other required PPE needed when dealing with the specific chemical substance. Make sure the appropriate respirator type and cartridges are used. If SCBA is required, call 911. 

9) Use spill control material to make a container and prevent it from leaking into a drain or container that could further contaminate. 

10) Mix any spill control compound necessary with the spill material and wait for the neutralization/absorption to complete and remove of the material in a spill-proof container. 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18Kmo-1U1fc)

Demonstration of how to contain and absorb a chemical spill that follows steps 9 & 10

11) Wash the affected area and any personal protective equipment worn with an appropriate chemical cleaning solution to prevent any future contact with the spilt material. 

12) Arrange of a pickup for the spilled substance through ant environmental services facility. 

13) The responsible person of the spill must complete the UBC spill procedures reporting table. 

14) If the spill is reportable, contact any agencies that require notification.

15) Complete any incident or accident forms and send them to any risk management services. 

16) If there is any spill that is greater than one liter that is highly hazardous, highly flammable, highly toxic and corrosive, call 911 immediately.