Chemical Spills
- Basic Information. Chemical spills are the uncontrolled release of a hazardous chemical, either as a solid, liquid or a gas.
- First Aid. ...
- Managing a Spill. ...
- Chemical Spill Prevention Practices
- Proper Storage and Transfer
What causes chemical spills?
Chemical spills commonly result from the unsafe handling of chemicals, improper chemical storage, chemical storage tank ruptures, improper containers for chemical disposal, and failure to dispose of chemicals in a timely manner.
What are the most common chemical spills?
Results: Of the 57,975 incidents that were reported, 54,989 (95%) involved the release of only one chemical. The top five chemicals associated with injury were carbon monoxide (2,364), ammonia (1,153), chlorine (763), hydrochloric acid (326), and sulfuric acid (318).
What is chemical spill disaster?
A chemical accident is the unintentional release of one or more chemical hazard substances which could harm human health and the environment. Such events include fires, explosions, leakages or release of toxic or hazardous materials that can cause people illness, injury, or disability.
What are the hazards of a chemical spill?
Corrosive chemicals can cause severe burns when touched, damage eyesight, and cause harm to the respiratory tract. Some chemical spills have a delayed carcinogenic effect, such as asbestos inhalation causing lung cancer years after the initial exposure.
What are the types of chemical spills?
There are two types of spills that you may run into: Simple Chemical Spills and Complicated Chemical Spills. Simple Chemical Spills are small, confined, and present minimal hazards. You can clean these up.
How do you manage a chemical spill?
When a chemical spill occurs, there are five steps to be taken: (a) control the source of the spill; (b) contain the spill; (c) isolate the area concerned (if appropriate); (d) contact the authorities (if appropriate); then (e) clean up the spill.
How do you handle a chemical spill in the workplace?
Call for emergency personnel to respond and clean up the spill.Don appropriate PPE including a laboratory coat, splash goggles, and appropriate chemically resistant gloves.Work with another person to clean-up the spill. ... DO NOT ADD WATER TO THE SPILL.More items...
What is chemical disaster example?
The Bhopal Gas tragedy was most devastating chemical accident in history, where over 2500 people died due to accidental release of toxic gas Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC). Such accidents are significant in terms of injuries, pain, suffering, loss of lives, damage to property and environment.
What are the 7 steps of spill response?
7 Steps To Spill Response1) IDENTIFY THE SUBSTANCE & DETERMINE THE RISK. ... 2) PROTECT YOURSELF. ... 3) STOP THE SPILL. ... 4) CONTAIN THE SPILL. ... 5) MINIMIZE THE RISK. ... 6) CLEAN UP THE SPILL. ... 7) DECONTAMINATE.
Who is responsible for chemical spills?
Managers and Supervisors. Managers and Supervisors are usually the ones who implement the administrative procedures, and operational policies that control chemical risks and hazards. And like all workers, they have a responsibility to follow those same procedures (leading by example).
What are the 3 important steps to be carried out following a chemical spill?
But, the 4 steps below will shape the foundation of workplace spill response.#1 COMMUNICATION. Communicate the hazard immediately regardless of the severity. ... #2 CONTROL. Once the spill has been communicated to the appropriate parties, control it. ... #3 CONTAIN. ... #4 CLEAN-UP.
What are the 3 spill classifications?
Releases (spills) can be categorized into three distinct groups in terms of emergency recognition: Releases that are clearly incidental. Releases that may be incidental or may require emergency response, depending upon circumstances. Releases that clearly require emergency response.
What chemicals are in oil spills?
Molecular compounds composed exclusively of these two elements are called hydrocarbons. Petroleum hydrocarbons are predominantly one of two types, aromatics or alkanes. Aromatics, which are based on a 6-carbon ring, tend to be the molecular compounds in oil that are the most toxic to marine life.
How often do chemical spills occur?
But spills happen frequently. According to data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there were 137 oil spills in 2018, about 11 per month. NOAA updates their incident reports of oil and chemical spills every day through their Emergency Response Division.
What is major and minor spill?
A minor chemical spill is one that the laboratory staff is capable of handling safely without the assistance of safety and emergency personnel. All other chemical spills are considered major. Minor Chemical Spill. Alert people in immediate area of spill.
What is a small chemical spill?
A small chemical spill is a volume which does not exceed the capacity of a standard spill kit. Note: Small chemical spills cleanup is the responsibility of the department. EH&S plays only a consultation role during small chemical spills.
What are the procedures to clean up a small spill?
The following general procedures should be followed by laboratory personnel to clean up small spills: Notify people in the immediate area. Evacuate all nonessential personnel from the spill area. Attend to exposed or contaminated personnel by following the First Aid Procedures.
How to prevent a spill from leaking?
Avoid breathing vapors of the spilled material and, if necessary, use a respirator (see Respirators ). Maintain or establish exhaust ventilation, if safe to do so, by opening the sash on the fume hood. Do not open doors or windows.
What is the purpose of absorbent material in a spill?
Using the absorbent material confine the spill, if this can be done without risk of injury or contamination.
What to do if you spill a lab?
Do not open doors or windows. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, lab coats, goggles and aprons to prevent exposure and minimize contamination. Obtain a laboratory spill kit. Using the absorbent material confine the spill, if this can be done without risk of injury or contamination.
Who is responsible for spilling chemicals?
In the event of a chemical spill, the individual (s) who caused the spill is responsible for prompt and proper clean-up. It is also their responsibility to have spill control and personal protective equipment appropriate for the chemicals being handled readily available. See Developing a Spill Response Plan for more information.
How to contact EHS about spills?
If the spill is large, if there has been a release to the environment or if there is no one knowledgeable about spill clean-up available, contact EHS at 609-258-5294 from 8:30am-4:30pm. Outside those hours, contact Public Safety at 609-258-3333 and ask for EHS assistance.
What is the EHS number for spill control?
See Recommended Spill Control Materials Inventory for more details. EHS maintains EHS chemical spill control kits that can be used if no other materials are available. After use, please call EHS at 258-5294 to restock.
What to use for spilled materials?
When spilled materials have been absorbed, use brush and scoop to place materials in an appropriate container. Polyethylene bags may be used for small spills. Five gallon pails or 20 gallon drums with polyethylene liners may be appropriate for larger quantities.
What is the best way to decontaminate a spill?
Decontaminate the surface where the spill occurred using a mild detergent and water, when appropriate.
Where are spill kits located?
Spill kits are located in major hallways, stairwells and near elevators. Note: For spills greater than 4 liters, call Public Safety at 609-258-3333.
What to do if a volatile flammable material is spilled?
If a volatile, flammable material is spilled, immediately warn everyone, control sources of ignition and ventilate the area.
How to stop a chemical spill?
If a one-gallon can on a storage shelf has rusted through and is leaking, a sprayer has tipped over, or a hazardous chemical is leaking from a damaged tank truck, do everything possible to stop the leak or spill at once. For instance, smaller containers up to 55 gallons can be put into larger containers to prevent further release of the chemical. However, stopping larger leaks or spills may not be so simple.
Why is it important to know how to handle accidental chemical spills?
Knowing how to handle accidental chemical spills and leaks safely is as important as knowing how to use the material correctly. Individuals using or distributing pesticides and other hazardous chemicals have a responsibility to protect the public and the environment.
What information do pesticide applicators need?
Although most pesticide applicators are quite knowledgeable in the use and handling of agricultural chemicals, they must also be adequately prepared to handle a pesticide spill or any accidental release of a hazardous chemical.
How to decontaminate soil saturated with hazardous chemicals?
The only effective way to decontaminate soil saturated with a hazardous chemical is to remove the top 2 to 3 inches of soil. This contaminated soil must be disposed of at a proper disposal site. The decontaminated area should be covered with at least 2 inches of lime and then topped with fresh topsoil.
How to report a chemical spill in Pennsylvania?
Do not leave the site unattended. The first contact to make in an emergency is the county emergency management office, which can provide or coordinate assistance and regulatory compliance. The office can be contacted by dialing 911 or checking the blue pages in a telephone directory. Have someone alert the state and local police if the spill occurs on a public highway. Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) Regional Office if the chemical is a pesticide or other agricultural chemical. Be sure to have the product label and material safety data sheet (MSDS) available. In certain cases, the fire department may need to be alerted, but be sure to caution them not to wash down the spill until advised to do so. In serious situations, contacting public health officials and the hospital emergency room may be necessary.
What laws govern pesticide disposal?
Two prominent laws are the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986.
What are the three C guidelines for hazardous spills?
The suggested guidelines in the event of a hazardous chemical spill are included under the "Three C" program: Control the spill, Contain the spill, and Clean up the spill.
Spill Response and Clean-Up Procedures
Developing A Spill Response Plan
- An effective spill response procedure should consider all of the items listed below. The complexity and detail of the plan will, of course depend upon the physical characteristics and volume of materials being handled, their potential toxicity, and the potential for releases to the environment. 1. Review Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) or other references for recommended spill cleanup metho…
Recommended Spill Control Material Inventory
- Spill kits are located in major hallways, stairwells and near elevators. Note: For spills greater than 4 liters, call Public Safety at 609-258-3333.