JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS

Safety Information for the University of California, Berkeley

CORROSIVE RELEASE RESPONSE

*Release of a corrosive solid, gas, or liquid and its cleanup or mitigation can lead to exposure to humans (mainly workers handling the material or responders to a release) and destruction of property.
TASK HAZARDS CONTROLS
1. Assess the spill for strength, volume, extent Exposure to the corrosive material by contact Avoid entry into area of release until after you meet
(boundaries of the release area) and the and/or inhalation. with site contact, material handler and others present
presence of other chemicals and items that may during the release. Study the appropriate MSDS or
pose possible chemical and physical hazards an equivalent source of information before entering
during response. the contaminated area.

Determine how the material released was being

handled when incident occurred; interview user,
handlers and others at the site of release.

Determine if there are substances or chemicals in

the vicinity of the release area that may conflict with
the material released.

Determine if there are heat sources in the vicinity

(vaporization), and de-energize them.

Make sure you have sufficient amount of the

appropriate neutralizer nearby before starting the
cleanup.

Locate eye-wash and shower, and plan the shortest

route of approach should there be a need to use
either or both.

Assess ventilation to determine if other areas/rooms

could be contaminated if the material is volatile.

During the tailgate safety meeting, make sure you

plan entry into spill area and protocol of cleanup.

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 2. Select and don the appropriate personal Inadequate protection of selected PPE Select the PPE based on the spill assessment of
protective equipment or clothing (PPE). Task 1, double check with a site contact familiar with
handling the material and confirm adequacy of
protection with an EH&S expert.
Slipping and falling when donning the PPE Suit up in an area free of equipment and debris.

Don foot PPE while sitting.

Practice the buddy system and request buddy to

assist during donning of PPE.
3. Monitor atmosphere based on Task 1 using the Skin or inhalation exposure to material released Wear appropriate PPE with adequate protection
appropriate Drager tube if material released is a while monitoring. Unless otherwise determined,
gas or a volatile material, or the appropriate assume material(s) released are skin and/or
assessment tool for material (e.g., pH paper for inhalation hazards.
most liquid and solid corrosives). Sharps injury or puncturing of PPE if Drager Handle the separated Drager tube properly, deposit
tube is used for monitoring the separated ends in a Ziploc bag or an appropriate
sharps container and set container outside the
cleanup area.

Carefully insert and secure the Drager tube into the

pump; take your time and do not hurry.

Upon completion of the monitoring, if a Drager tube

was used, place the spent tube in the Ziploc bag or
an appropriate sharps container, and set the
container aside outside the cleanup area. Use the
same container used in 3b-1.
4. Enter spill area with caution, and first search for Vision or mobility impairment due to PPE After donning the PPE, make sure the PPE does not
spill location and determine the actual area and preventing responder from accurately impair vision or mobility.
extent of contamination, including surfaces and determining extent of release.
nearby equipment and containers.
Make sure cleanup area is adequately lighted and
make sure droplets or particles of released material
are visible.
5. Apply appropriate neutralizer to the contaminate Reaction between the acid or alkali with other Conduct a pilot application in a small area of the spill
area or surface. chemicals in the immediate spill area, resulting to make sure that the neutralizer is appropriate and
in a potentially hazardous side reaction no side reaction happens.

At the area where a side reaction happens, perform

Task 1 and follow appropriate JSA.

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 Contact with other chemicals that ay be in the Slowly apply the neutralizer on the cleanup area,
immediate vicinity of the cleanup area starting from the perimeter and working inwards; do
not dump neutralizer. Wait for neutralizer to take
effect before collecting and containing the generated
waste in an appropriate container. Work in the
neutralizer with the second or third application to
avoid

Make sure there is sufficient neutralizer near the

cleanup area within easy reach by responders.

Avoid touching any bare skin, such as neck, ears,

etc., or hair during cleanup or before washing (after
removal of the PPE) outside of cleanup area.
6. After neutralization of released material and Contact with the corrosive material and other Avoid touching any bare skin, such as neck, ears,
collection of generated waste, decontaminate chemicals in the vicinity of the spill etc., or hair during cleanup or before washing (after
the contaminated surface and search for other removal of the PPE) outside of cleanup area.
spilled material and/or
Search for other contaminated areas such as under
furniture and other lab equipment.

Electrical hazards present in the vicinity of the Disconnect or de-energize equipment found in
release. cleanup area prior to handling.

Avoid contact with heat sources that may be in the

vicinity of the cleanup area.
Other physical hazards in the vicinity of the Use tongs to pick up broken glass and other small
release. items contaminated with the material or other
chemicals.

Decontaminate small equipment and other items by

hand carefully and within the cleanup area.

Properly dispose of expendables (towels,

neutralizers, etc.) in a heavy polyethylene bag.
Double bag if necessary.
7. Check the pH of the surfaces (search for other Exposure to un-neutralized acid or alkali Use tongs when using the pH strips.
locations that were reached by the material
released).
Make sure there is an adequate supply of neutralizer
within easy reach in
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 8. Collect and bag the waste (search for other Body injury due to lifting, twisting, bending, Use proper lifting and bending techniques; make
locations that were reached by the material falling or being struck by objects nearby. sure that your footing is secure while handling loads
released). of hazardous waste. Make sure object nearby does
not cause injury.
Injury due to sharps that are present near the Deposit sharps in an appropriate sharps container.
release area. Use of thick Ziploc bag should be the last resort.
Double bag if necessary.
9. Final cleanup May find unneutralized acid or alkali Perform Tasks 5 to 8 and the respective controls.

Use the same PPE as determined and confirmed to

be adequate as above.
10. Transportation of wastes Inadequate controls Refer to JSA for transportation of hazardous
materials.
Required Training: Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
1. 24-hour initial emergency response training 1. Eye protection: safety glasses with side shields or goggles
and yearly refresher. 2. If deemed necessary, additional protection of a face shield
2. Hazardous waste transportation 3. Double nitrile gloves; outer gloves should be the thicker kind.
3. Respirator protection training 4. Full protective suit resistant to the corrosive released
5. Foot covering resistant to the material or corrosive released and also slip resistant.

Other Information:
Contributors: Department: EH&S Specialist Ave Tolentino; EH&S Specialist Gary Bayne
Created: July 2003
JSA Library Number: EHS-ER-01

For more information about this JSA, contact the Office of Environment, Health and Safety at UC Berkeley, 317 University Hall #1150, Berkeley, CA 94720-1150
(510) 642-3073 http://www.ehs.berkeley.edu
The development of Job Safety Analyses is a Balanced Scorecard initiative of the AVC-BAS Safety Committee, sponsored by the Associate Vice Chancellor-Business and Administrative Services (AVC-
BAS) and the AVC-BAS Leadership Team http://bas.berkeley.edu/balancedscorecard

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