| It's a fact: spills can and do happen. How well the | | | | and the area in which they are used (indoors or |
| incident is planned for before it happens, how well | | | | outside). |
| it is handled both during and after the spill is vital | | | | - Obtain an adequate amount of personal |
| to avoiding workplace injury and maintaining | | | | protective equipment (PPE) for all employees who |
| well-being of employees. | | | | would need it. |
| OSHA requires all workplaces where employees | | | | - Develop a training program for the use of PPE. |
| are exposed to hazardous chemicals to have a | | | | - Develop a plan for monitoring inventory cleanup |
| written plan to deal with spills. The written plan | | | | supplies and replace as needed. |
| must deal with what each employee is doing in | | | | - Develop a training program for all employees |
| the workplace and his potential for exposure to | | | | and ensure that it is updated regularly or when |
| hazardous chemicals. A plan may be made for a | | | | any new hazardous chemicals are added. |
| workplace with 10 employees using 1 or 2 | | | | If a large volume of chemicals are used in the |
| chemicals or for a factory with hundreds of | | | | workplace, emergency procedures must be |
| employees using a variety of hazardous chemicals. | | | | developed as well as cleanup plans. This should |
| The plan basics are the same - just as the goals | | | | include: |
| are the same; to minimize injuries, damage, | | | | - Escape procedures and escape route |
| downtime, and OSHA penalties. | | | | assignments |
| Some of the reasons for spills are: | | | | - Establishment of an emergency communication |
| - Improper handling of the chemical in the | | | | center |
| warehouse, the laboratory, or the worksite | | | | - Special procedures for employees who perform |
| - Chemical containers punctured by forklifts | | | | critical procedures or are responsible for plant |
| - Lids not closed tightly | | | | shutdown |
| - Improper storage methods | | | | - Special assignments for medical teams and |
| - Employee carelessness | | | | rescue operations |
| Planning ways of dealing with a chemical spill is | | | | - Methods for reporting fire or other emergencies |
| essential to protect employees, to avoid a release | | | | - Systems to account for all employees after |
| to the environment, or a fire or some other form | | | | evacuation |
| of property damage. The first step in developing | | | | - Development of an updated list of all responsible |
| a plan is: | | | | employees and their phone numbers |
| - Identify all of the chemicals in use. | | | | - Effective security measures to prevent |
| - Identify employees who are responsible for | | | | unauthorized access and protect records, etc. |
| different aspects of the program. | | | | - Develop an effective documentation plan for |
| - Complete a hazard assessment for each | | | | training, handling a chemical spill, emergency |
| chemical that is in use. | | | | procedures, and evacuation. |
| - Compile a list of the hazardous chemicals and | | | | - Determine which federal, state and local statutes |
| obtain MSDS sheets for each. | | | | apply to chemicals used in your facility and what |
| - Label the chemicals with the appropriate health | | | | information must be reported. |
| and safety hazard notations (flammable, | | | | - Evaluate the effectiveness of the plan. |
| corrosive, etc.). | | | | Nobody expects an emergency or disaster but |
| - Develop a plan for the control and cleanup of | | | | they can happen anywhere, anytime and can |
| chemical spills. | | | | strike anyone. Planning outlines steps that must be |
| - Ensure that there is a spill control and clean up | | | | taken to deal with an emergency effectively. |
| plan for each hazardous chemical in use. | | | | Thorough training ensures that these plans work |
| - Obtain an adequate amount of control and | | | | smoothly when they are needed. |
| cleanup supplies that are suitable for each chemical | | | | |