Even in small amounts, chemical spills and leaks can be dangerous. Train employees to respond quickly and effectively.
Although there is no specific training requirement for general employee response to the accidental spill or leak of potentially hazardous chemicals, there are specific training requirements for workers who:
- Handle certain specified hazardous substances such as formaldehyde, benzene, etc. (29 CFR 1910, Subpart Z)
- Work with chemicals considered “highly hazardous” (Subpart H)
- Are part of an emergency response team responsible for cleaning up spills and leaks (29CFR 1910.120 [q] [6])
- As first responders who are likely to witness or discover a hazardous materials release you must have sufficient training or experience to competently handle a variety of areas, such as identification, knowledge or risks, and notification procedures (29 CFR 1910.120[q][6])
In addition, the hazard communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires you to inform employees about hazardous substances in the workplace and train them to understand hazards and safe work practices, including dealing with appropriately chemical spills.
Subpart I, Personal Protective Equipment, would also apply to spill response. Employees who clean up chemical spills must be properly equipped with PPE such as goggles, gloves, chemical-resistant clothing and footwear, and respirators.
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Spill Reporting
The first thing any employee who spots a spill should do is notify the appropriate person, which might be a supervisor, you or one of your staff, or in the case of a large spill, your emergency coordinator.
Employees should report:
- The substance involved in the spill, if known
- Location of the spill
- Size of the spill
- Approximate rate of flow
- Any known exposures
Spill Containment
Specific steps for containing chemical spills depend on the chemical, the location of the spill, rate of flow, and size of the leaking container, among other issues. But the sooner containment starts, the better. The MSDS for the chemical will provide essential information.
In general, spill containment consists of several key steps, which must happen quickly and often overlap:
- Close any valves or pumps that are allowing the substance to spill.
- Cover drains or other possible routes that would allow the spill to spread and cause environmental damage.
- Patch holes in the container with patch kits, valve pluggers, or other suitable method.
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- Choose the best method to contain the spill. For example:
- Building a dike around the spill to stop it from spreading
- Repairing the container or placing it within a sound container
- Channeling the spill by diking, pumping, or opening a trench to a secure location for cleanup
- Placing an empty container under the leak to catch the spilling chemical
- Rotating or shifting the leaking container’s position to stop the spill
Tomorrow, we’ll discuss basic cleanup procedures for both small and large spills.