COVID-19 Response Solutions VIEW OUR RANGE
Despite being careful, spills can still happen. As soon as they happen, it’s what you do next that matters.
Even if you think “we’re too careful for spills”, it may not be you — it may be your equipment: a hydraulic line rupturing and spilling fluid all over the floor, a pipe blowing a valve and spraying process chemicals everywhere. Or it may be on your premises: a delivery truck backing into an outdoor bulk tank, spilling hundreds of litres of waste oil, or a delivery tanker spilling fluid in your parking lot near a storm drain. Or it may actually be you: when a staff member driving a forklift knocks a pallet of drums, one falls and the bung starts leaking…
But it may be none of these. Even operations with excellent material handling and liquid-transfer procedures can experience that 1 in 100 chance that something will go wrong. And when it does, it’s usually Murphy’s Law that it will be at with the worst liquid, at the worst time, in the worst place.
So rather than “if’, it’s more like “when,” “where” and “how” a spill happens. Because liquids are unpredictable, it’s important that you know what to do.
Spills handled incorrectly can be anything from annoying (disrupting operations) and very annoying (shutting down your facility), to dangerous in injuring employees or causing environmental damage. They can also be very costly — either in fines, or by jeopardising your business’s financial stability or by ruining your image.
Where to begin?
Firstly, identify any weak spots (such as drums, bulk tanks, drains, and so on), then reduce the risks.
Preparation is key. Having spill response equipment doesn’t mean you’re asking for an accident. Like insurance, you have it on hand to minimise the worst. Preparation includes a plan that all staff know about, the right equipment and proper training. In this way you will limit damage and injuries, and be able to get back to normal with minimum downtime. Complying with regulations is also much better for your profits.
There are 5 steps in responding to spills:
STEP 1: BE READY
Begin with the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) of the materials you have onsite. These will tell you:
Next, do an audit to confirm how these materials are stored, transferred and used, and the worst-case scenario for any spill.
Identify your business’s spill-prone areas and create an action plan — for each one — that includes possible spill scenarios, steps for effective response and the resources needed to respond; this may include outside resources, so make sure to detail all contact information. Make sure you also detail employee responsibilities (this is better by job description, in case individually named people leave).
And now you need to train your staff. Every employee — whether they sit in the office or work on the floor — needs to know their role during a spill emergency. Roles may vary from making announcements, securing the perimeter or physically responding to the spill. Regular drills are a good idea so people know what to do in the heat of an emergency.
Staff will have different levels of involvement, from first responder awareness, to first responder operations, then hazardous materials technicians, hazardous materials specialists and on-scene incident commanders.
Part of being prepared is having the right equipment:
Then, of course, it’s also an excellent idea to have the right patch, repair and maintenance gear on hand, and also to have the right storage and materials handling.
Your audit and written plan will give you a good idea about what to stock in each spill-prone area, which can mean the difference between a minor incident and major catastrophe.
STEP 2: INVESTIGATE (BUT DON'T TOUCH)
While it may seem like the right thing to do, never just run into a situation — it could be highly dangerous. Always size it up first. That’s why it’s vital to train staff to recognize hazards and risks.
Not all staff will be designated spill responders, but all should be trained to:
STEP 3: USE PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (PPE)
All emergency spill responders need the right PPE to protect them from potential hazards.
If you’ve done a proper audit and have spill response plans in hand, your responder staff will have a pretty good idea about what they’re up against. SDS (safety data sheet) or other guides will help the response team choose the right equipment to handle the spill
STEP 4: CLEAN UP
Once the response team is properly suited up, and have secured the area around the spill, it’s clean-up time.
It’s important that workers don't ever respond to large spills by themselves. Having a “buddy” makes it easier to put on and take off suits, carry equipment, transport any victims and deal with situations if something goes wrong.
Whatever size the spill is, the clean-up process is the same:
1. Create a physical barrier around it:
Always block access to floor or storm drains and other environmentally sensitive areas
2. Find the source — and stop it:
3. Clean up
Begin from the outside and work towards the middle, unless something inside the spill area has to be removed or protected from damage.
4. Collect clean-up materials
5. Decontaminate
Once the spill is cleaned up, your facility is ready to swing back into operation.
STEP 5: FILE ANY REPORTS NEEDED
Including reporting requirements and contact information in your response plan makes it easier on the person who has to file any formal reports. It’s also a good idea to find out if certain spills (and clean ups) need to be reported straight away and to whom; you don’t want to cop fines for not following reporting guidelines.
For help in choosing the right spill-response equipment for your facility, call us on 1800 HOT HOG (468 464). Or get in touch with us.