Where There'S A Spill, There'S A Way: Your Guide To Spill Response
Where There'S A Spill, There'S A Way: Your Guide To Spill Response
Where There'S A Spill, There'S A Way: Your Guide To Spill Response
THERES A WAY
YOUR GUIDE TO
SPILL RESPONSE
Presented By New Pig UK
Such processes
involve the risk of
spillages reaching
floors and walkways
turning clean dry
surfaces, that
normally provide
sound footing into
slippery hazards
that can provoke
injurious, even
deadly falls.
Slips and falls are the single most common cause of major injury in
the UK workplace.1
Nearly 11,000 major slip or fall incidents are recorded each year.2
Slip and fall accidents cost employers more than 512 million per
year.1
For more information on the regulations you need to comply with, refer to:
ITS WORTH
NOTING
Slips and falls on
spilt liquids can
prompt legal
action against you
for noncompliance with
health and safety
legislation.
A SUREFOOTED STRATEGY
More severe spill incidents do happen, even at well-run facilities. To mitigate the
worst dangers such events pose to your employees, your business and the
environment its essential you develop a comprehensive spill response strategy.
This strategy should comprise:
Advance Risk Assessment and Preparation
An incident Response Plan for immediate implementation when a spill occurs
On-going training for managers, incidents responders and other employees.
Seven Steps to Smart Spill Response:
Asses the risk decide the type and amount of liquid that has been spilled and the risk it
poses to spill responders and the environment
Equip the responders if appropriate, ensure responders have protective clothing and
equipment
Confine the spill use Absorbent Socks and non-absorbent Spill Barriers to keep the spill
from spreading into walkways, water sources and drains
Stop the spill at its source this may be as simple as turning a displaced container upright
or closing a valve
Clean up Absorbent Pillows and Mat Pads may be used in conjunction with vacuuming and
pluming equipment to complete clean up after a spill
Decontaminate With initial clean up complete, all those exposed to potentially hazardous
materials will need to be thoroughly decontaminated
Report complete all reporting procedures in accordance with local and national guidelines
for spill incidents
REMEMBER:
Different PPE types
and styles have
been developed to
protect all parts of
the body from a
myriad of hazards.
STOP
Never walk through, taste or touch spilt liquids, or rush into a
spill areas to help a worker who is unconscious or otherwise
injured.
LOOK
See if you can tell how big the spill is and check the container
label or Material Safety Data Sheet to establish the liquid
involved. Look to locate the source of the discharge and control
the equipment available in the area.
LISTEN
Open your ears for any unusual sounds. If you can hear burst
lines or released pressure valves hissing, this will help you
identify the spills source. At this point informing others and
isolating the spill site will help reduce the risk of slip and fall
accidents.
WHERE THERES A SPILL, THERES A WAY
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TIP:
A PPE suite thats
too small will
stretch, making it
vulnerable to tearing
or bursting. One
thats too large
could billow or drape
to produce an
additional hazard.
Once a spill is contained, youve minimised the risks of slips and falls, waterway
pollution and equipment damage. But to stop the flow of liquid you still need to
eliminate the spills source. This may mean:
CLEAN UP
With the flow of liquid halted, you can move to assess and conduct the clean up
At all times avoid stepping into spilled liquid. You could slip and fall, causing serious injury.
Unless plant or other items within the affected area require removal or protection from
damage, its best to start from the outside of the spill and work towards the center.
Use the buddy system and make sure youre not responding alone.
Use Absorbent Pillows, Mats and Socks to soak up spilled liquids.
If purity of material is not an issue, you can vacuum certain slips to recover liquid for re-use.
For small spills, such as those common in laboratories, another option is to neutralise the
liquid in question.
Ensure you collect all spent materials used to combat the spill.
DECONTAMINATION
Thoroughly cleansing the spill area, all tools and equipment used and the
responders themselves is the final physical stage of your spill response.
Effective decontamination lines are essential to protecting the health and
safety of employees and emergency responders:
People in the spill area whove slipped and fallen, or otherwise injured should be
decontaminated first so they can receive medical treatment.
Practice drills should incorporate wet and dry decontamination procedures so everyone
is familiar with the process and possible scenarios.
Hazardous materials accumulated should be removed or neutralised.
REPORT
Once the liquid spill at your facility is fully cleaned up, you must complete all
notifications required under local and national regulations.
Assess in advance of any spill event, the exact risks posed by the liquids at your
facility.
Develop a comprehensive 7-step Incident Response Plan.
Ensure all employees are trained, in accordance with their roles and locations, so they
know precisely how to react in a spill event.
THANK YOU
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