Spill Prevention, Control, & Countermeasure

 

Overview

 

Required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for facilities with high quantities of certain materials such as oil and fuel on-site.

 

Definitions

 

Discharge- Including, but not limited to, any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emptying, or dumping of oil

 

Harmful Quantities- Any amount of oil or fuel that causes a film, sheen or discoloration of water or causes sludge beneath the surface of the water

 

Spill Prevention

 

•  Properly constructed  storage tanks

o Compatible with materials

o Double-walled, steel

•  Inspection and maintenance of tanks

o Conducted monthly

o Minor leaks repaired early

•  Storage away from storm drains

 

Spill Control Equipment

 

•  Absorbent Booms/ Berms

o Floats to confine / absorb water oil on water

o Hugs ground for land-based spill containment

o Rope runs length of boom for easy retrieval

o Clips and rings allow you to link booms together

•  Empty Drums, Shovels, Brooms

 

•  Granular Absorbent

o Grains of absorbent material (clay)

o Placed onto the spill to absorb the spilled material

Spill Control Procedures

 

1.   Notify your Supervisor

2.   Use the boom / berm to contain the spill

3.   Place the granular absorbent on the spill

4.   Use broom to spread the granular absorbent if needed

5.   Use shovel to pick up the used granular absorbent

6.   Place in empty drum to dispose

 

Once a spill has occurred, it must be contained as quickly as possible!

 

Emergency Response Plan

 

Overview

Proper emergency planning and response are important elements of the safety and health program that helps minimize employee exposure and injury. The standard requires that the employer develop and implement a written emergency response plan to handle possible emergencies before performing hazardous waste operations.

What must be in the plan? The plan must include the following elements: •          personnel roles, lines of authority, and communication procedures, •          pre-emergency planning, •          emergency recognition and prevention, •          emergency medical and first-aid treatment, •          methods or procedures for alerting onsite workers, •          safe distances and places of refuge,

•      Site security and control,

•      Decontamination procedures,

•      Critique of response and follow-up,

•      Personal protective and emergency equipment, and

•      Evacuation routes and procedures.

What must I do?

Each employee who has the potential to be exposed to a hazardous substance release should know:

·            What hazards are present in the workplace.

·            How to obtain a written copy of the emergency planning and response plan.