Cleanup Tips for Spills Minor and Major

Even small spills of highly toxic or flammable substances can be hazardous. Large spills can cause serious injuries to employees and damage to your facility as well as have an environmental impact.

Cleanup should begin as soon as possible after a spill has been detected, contained, and evaluated.

Minor Spills

You may authorize employees in the work area to clean up small spills if the following conditions are met:

• The identity of the chemical is known and employees are authorized to work with it
• The MSDS indicates only minor hazards
• The spill is less than about 4 liters (approximately 1 quart)
• A neutralization or absorption spill kit is available
• Employees have the PPE required by the MSDS for cleanup
• Employees know how to dispose of spilled materials and have a proper disposal container

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Major Spills

Larger, more hazardous spills are generally too much for most employees to handle. In those cases, you have to call in your spill response team.

The spill response team is required whenever:

• The spill involves unknown chemical or mixture of chemicals
• The spill involves a known material that the MSDS indicates is highly toxic, highly corrosive, flammable, reactive, or radioactive
• The spill is in a public area and could spread to other areas
• Workers are unsure of the proper cleanup methods
• In most cases, the spill is larger than 4 liters

In the event of a major spill, employees other than the spill response team should evacuate the area, remove any contaminated clothing or PPE, and only return to the area when told it is safe to do so. Any employees who have had an unprotected exposure should have a medical evaluation.

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Knowledgeable Employees Are Safe Workers

Knowing the right thing to do in any situation is what keeps workers safe. Whether the situation involves a chemical spill or some other safety hazard, knowledgeable, skilled employees are safe workers. And to be safe workers, your employees must be well trained.

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• 32 complete safety units, meeting every key OSHA standard. Each includes full background for trainers, a ready-to-use safety meeting, and follow-up handouts. View a Table of Contents.
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• A complete training recordkeeping and tracking system that tells you which employees need what training, and then tracks your program to ensure they get it.
• Quarterly updates, included with the program. You receive at least 4 new safety units every 90 days, covering new OSHA standards and training needs.

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