Health, Safety & Wellness - Spills

Spills

A spill can be a discharge of anything from a container or building which enters the natural environment (air, water and land). The safe cleanup of a chemical spill requires some knowledge of the properties and hazards posed by the chemicals, and any added dangers posed by the location of the spill. If you believe the spill is beyond your capacity to clean up, do not attempt to do so on your own.

Recommended Actions When There is a Spill:

·       Put on appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves, protective eyewear and respiratory protection (if needed)

·       Contain the spill with spill pillows or absorbent material and place barriers in front of storm drains to prevent spill from entering the storm drain

·       Anybody who may have been contaminated should flush contaminated skin or eyes for 15 minutes and call for medical assistance

·       Alert people in the immediate area of the spill to keep vehicles and people away from the spill area

·       After clean up, all materials, including absorbents, must be double bagged, labeled and disposed of as hazardous waste

·       Document the spill appropriately using the Accident/Incident report form