| Most every type of company has hazardous | | | | conditions. There are a variety of instruments |
| chemicals and every employee should know what | | | | that can be used including combustible gas |
| to do in an emergency or cleanup situation. There | | | | monitors, detector tubes and field survey meters. |
| are specific procedures and specific employees | | | | The technician should also be on the lookout for |
| assigned to those procedures. If done correctly, | | | | open pits and piles of material that could be |
| these procedures can save lives, injury and | | | | unstable. |
| property. | | | | Once the site has been characterized, the |
| In most cases the first person to report a spill is | | | | commander will determine if the spill requires |
| an awareness-level responder who does not | | | | special handling and then order the proper handling |
| participate in the actual cleanup. Once it is | | | | procedures. Most of the time an absorbent |
| reported the Incident Commander takes over | | | | compound is spread over the spill. These |
| insuring the proper procedures are implemented. | | | | compounds are usually granular in form and soak |
| As soon as possible an employee who is | | | | up materials. They are inert and cannot react to |
| authorized to come in close contact to the spill | | | | the chemicals they are absorbing. Next, disposable, |
| cordons off the spill site with warning signs and or | | | | absorbent blankets are added which are also inert |
| caution tape. If the spill occurs indoors the | | | | to absorb the remaining material. These blankets |
| responder should immediately seal off air ducts | | | | and compounds are then shoveled into an OSHA |
| and open doors and windows to the outside to | | | | approved container for disposal. |
| allow the vapors to dissipate. | | | | Although this process is routine most of the time, |
| Next, the responding employee should place | | | | however if a material is flammable or around |
| barriers like absorbents around the spill to prevent | | | | electricity special precautions should be used when |
| it from spreading. Common materials used for this | | | | shoveling - such as non-sparking gloves and |
| are urethane, PVC or absorbent socks made of | | | | turning off all electronic equipment before cleanup. |
| polypropylene. Socks both block and absorb the | | | | Lastly, the contaminated material is transported |
| hazardous spill and must be thrown out as | | | | to an EPA approved hazardous materials center |
| hazardous waste. Flexible barriers on the other | | | | where it is treated and reused or made |
| hand only block spills and do not absorb. They can | | | | non-hazardous and sent to a landfill. |
| be decontaminated and reused. Sandbags are not | | | | After a spill, everyone involved has to undergo |
| meant to absorb hazardous materials and should | | | | decontamination procedures. The employees go |
| never be used in cleanup. It is extremely | | | | through stations where their PPE is washed and |
| important that the diking keep the materials from | | | | they are washed thoroughly with water and |
| running into storm drains or sewers and | | | | detergent. This washing solution is then disposed |
| contaminated the environment. | | | | of and the worker takes a shower. At this point |
| At this point, a HAZMAT Technician takes over. | | | | the cleanup process is complete. |
| The first process is characterizing the spill site by | | | | In a hazardous spill situation everyone has a job. |
| determining the chemicals in the spill and then | | | | Learn yours thoroughly so you are in a position to |
| determining the hazards. This characterization is | | | | help your facility avoid injuries and complete the |
| done by using direct reading instruments that | | | | cleanup effectively. |
| provide quick information on environmental | | | | |