Spills are a common occurrence at many facilities, and the safety of both the work environment and workers depends on an effective and quick response. The best means of preparation is to have the correct cleanup equipment on hand, conduct training on actions to take, and commit to restocking material so your workplace is continually able to handle spills.
To be prepared, standard rolls, pads, other general absorbents, and designated spill kits should be easily accessible and located throughout the facility. This will enable fast spill cleanup during an emergency. Spills can lead to serious injuries, property damage, and negative environmental impact if they reach drains or open water. However, they are preventable as long as employers provide preparation, appropriate materials, and effective training.
What Materials Are Required for Spill Cleanup?
Spill kits are the most common and effective means of cleaning up spills, and there are a wide variety of sizes and choices available. While some are designed for certain spills/substances such as dangerous chemicals, spill kits typically contain these three components:
- Personal Protective Equipment. PPE is always incorporated in a spill kit, no matter what type of substance the kit was meant to handle. Common types of PPE in spill kits are shoe covers/booties, gloves, and face/eye protection. Chemical spill kits typically include respirator protection, a disposable lab coat, and an apron that’s corrosive resistant.
- Absorbents. Also known as sorbents, these items include loose powder such as sand, sponges, cloths, pillows, and pads which are made from material that’s able to contain and absorb a spill. Absorbents vary depending on the material they’re intended to soak up. Universal spill kits contain all-purpose or general absorbents, while a battery acid spill kit’s absorbents will involve a chemical neutralizer.
- Cleanup materials. Kits generally include a scoop or dust pan, plastic bags, and instructions. On top of adequate cleanup supplies, disposal materials should also be included to aid in reducing the potential for a public risk or environmental hazard. For example, all PPE items should be disposed of after a single use. Instructions within the kits will include an explanation on proper disposal.
There are differences between absorbent and cleanup materials, as well as PPE. Training is necessary to ensure workers understand these differences and the limits of their spill kits, especially if certain chemicals may be involved in the spill situation. It’s important to review safety data sheets and make sure the spill kits you have on hand are equipped to handle potential incidents.
Spill Cleanup Best Practices
As with many workplace safety precautions, there are some best practices to keep in mind when conducting spill cleanup in your facility. It’s important to be prepared for a spill to happen at any time, and workers need to understand the proper procedures so spills can be effectively and safely handled. Beyond the procedures and contents of a spill kit, employees should also know the potential dangers of all materials they’re working with, actions to take when initial steps don’t seem to be effective, and how to correctly dispose of everything in the end. Improper disposal can compromise public health or environmental health.
First, a facility should be assessed to pinpoint any areas that may be particularly susceptible to spills, whether this involves a simple, harmless substance such as water, or a hazardous chemical. Evaluate work areas where drips, leaks, or transportation of substances tend to occur. Appropriate spill kits should be especially stocked in these at-risk areas. They should be located in plain sight and able to adequately hold the amount and type of liquid that will likely be cleaned up. This ranges from plastic bins to chemical drums that go from one gallon to 90 gallons. Common spill kits include universal spill kits, portable spill kits, and HazMat emergency spill kits.
Once the spill is taken care of, the last best practice is to maintain your stock of spill kits. Replenish socks, pads, and other absorbent materials frequently. It’s ideal to keep track of necessary kits and materials, and order more when there is depletion. If individual contents of a spill kit are used, they should be replaced as soon as possible. This way, your facility is always prepared.
In cases of chemical spills, there may be a specific spill cleanup procedures to follow. This is especially important to note for workplaces that handle a variety of chemicals as a part of everyday operations. Typically, universal spill kits do the job, but the following substances require specific tools and procedures during the cleanup process:
- Acid chloride
- Alkali metals (lithium, magnesium, potassium, sodium)
- Bromine
- Hydrofluoric acid
- Mercury
- Phosphorous (white or yellow)
Many of these require absorbents that were specifically designed to handle the chemical. For example, alkali metal spills need to be smothered with dry sand and avoid contact with water. Phosphorous should be smothered with a wet absorbent such as wet sand, and Bromine requires a 5% solution of sodium thiosulfate before it’s absorbed with chemically inactive material. If your workplace handles any of these chemicals, refer to the guidelines established by OSHA and Safety Data Sheets to address concerns and ensure absolute safety.
How to Report A Spill
There are several different authorities to potentially report to when a spill occurs. Who you contact mainly depends on the severity of the situation. It is required to report spills that involve oil on land in excess of 42 gallons, any amount of oil in state or international waters, or events that involve hazardous materials.
If you either witness or are involved with an emergency or spill that poses a threat to public health, such as chemical and/or oil spills, biological discharges, and radiation emergencies, call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802. For chemical spills, CHEMTREC at 1-800-424-9300 gives you access to experts on chemical and hazardous material and maintains a database of Safety Data Sheets. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know (EPCRA), certain facilities need to additionally report the releases of hazardous substances to local/state officials (such as a state emergency response system).
To the best of your ability, have the answers to the following when you call:
- Where the spill occurred
- What substance spilled and how much
- Who spilled the material, and if cleanup is being conducted
- If there is any damage to the environment or resources
- How the call center may be able to get back to you in order to convey more information
Once cleanup has been completed and the spill has been reported, you may receive a letter in the mail with a spill/release report form that asks you to detail the spill, your efforts to stop it from spreading, cleanup procedure, and disposal.
Spills can have disastrous consequences, and they’re common occurrences. However, if the correct cleanup equipment is on hand, workers are knowledgeable on steps to take, and facilities follow spill cleanup best practices, you can efficiently clean up spills and keep both the environment and your employees safe.
