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In the event of a chemical spill, the person who caused the spill is responsible for cleaning it up. It’s also their responsibility to have clean-up materials and equipment readily available. For these, and other safety reasons, it’s very important to know the properties of the chemicals you work with or handle. Use the SDS sheets on each chemical to learn about the level of protection required, proper handling and cleanup of chemicals used. Let’s review the guidelines for responding to emergency chemical spills.
Materials & Equipment for Cleanup
- PPE: Chemical resistant gloves, aprons, footwear, and splash proof eye/face protection. You should only use respiratory protection if you’ve been trained, approved, and fit tested for proper and safe use
- Absorbents: spill socks, vermiculite, or clay (kitty litter) can be used to contain and soak up spills
- Containers: Approved plastic bags can be used to collect absorbents on small spills. Five-gallon pails or 20-gallon drums with liners may be appropriate for larger quantities
- Pick-up equipment: a brush and scoop, or broom and shovel, for picking up contaminated absorbent material
- Neutralizers: made for acid or alkalines, many show a color change when neutralization is complete
- Detergents and cleaning supplies: to thoroughly clean surfaces of any residual chemical
Handling Chemical Spills
- If the chemical is hazardous and in an enclosed area, immediately alert room occupants and evacuate the area, if necessary
- If there is a fire or medical attention is needed, contact 108 (India) for other countries local emergency contact number.
- Attend to anyone who may be contaminated. Contaminated clothing and jewelry must be removed. Immediately flush the skin with water for at least fifteen minutes. Get medical attention and provide information on the chemical to medical personnel. Check the SDS for any delayed or residual effects. Clothing must be laundered before reuse
- If a volatile or flammable material is spilled, immediately warn everyone in the area, control sources of ignition and ventilate the area
- Use personal protective equipment as appropriate to the hazards (Refer to the Safety Data Sheet or other references).
- If the spill is large, if there’s been a release to the environment, or if no one knowledgeable about spill clean-up is available, call 108
- Never enter a contaminated atmosphere without protection or use a respirator without approval and training. If you need to use a respirator, be sure there is another person outside the spill area in communication in case of an emergency
- Contain the spill as soon as possible with a row of absorbents. Protect floor drains or other means from environmental release. Spill socks and absorbents can be placed around drains, as needed
- Loose spill control materials should be distributed over the entire spill area, working from the outside, circling to the inside. This reduces the chance of splash or spreading of the spilled chemical. Bulk absorbents and many types of spill pillows may not work for every chemical. Make sure the spill cleanup materials are appropriate to the chemical
- When spilled materials have been absorbed, put the materials in a container with a broom and scoop or shovel
- If the spill is on outside soil, use a shovel to dig up any contaminated earth. Dispose of the contaminated dirt with the absorbent material to prevent the chemical from entering ground water
- Label container(s) with hazardous waste stickers listing the contents as Spill Debris containing the chemical name
- Remember that using an adsorbent doesn’t alter the chemical properties of that chemical
- Decontaminate the surface where the spill occurred using a mild detergent and water
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