SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURE

Major Spill Response

DO NOT attempt to clean up major spills unless you have been trained in safe practices.
Safety glasses or chemical goggles must be worn / Gloves must be worn when cleaning up spill material
Appropriate footwear with substantial uppers must be worn. / Protective clothing must be worn
Respiratory protection may be required depending on spilt substance. / Definition : Major Spill
Spills that pose an imminent threat to health, safety or the environment and do have the potential to become an emergency within a short time frame.
FM HELPDESK: 83000 / QUT SECURITY: 88888 / EMERGENCY SERVICES: 000

Applies to All FM Staff and Contractors.

CORRECTION:

1.  Do not put yourself in danger.

2.  Assess the risks and decide whether the incident can be managed internally (contact FM Help Desk 83000 or Security on 88888) or if there is a fire (or fire risk) or medical attention is needed, contact Emergency Services at 000 first, then alert Security.

3.  Alert all area occupants and supervisor.

4.  Clear the area.
Persons should be evacuated from the affected area until the area has been deemed safe. A protective zone should to be established to minimise the risk to human health. This can be done by restricting access with temporary emergency fencing and by erecting warning signs.

5.  Establish ventilation. Vent vapours to outside of building only (open windows and turn on fume hoods or other extraction devices).

6.  Remove ignition sources and turnoff or unplug nearby electrical equipment.

7.  Attend to any people who have been contaminated. Contaminated clothing must be removed immediately and the skin flushed with water for no less than fifteen minutes.

8.  Consult the MSDS. The MSDS will have instructions on how to deal with specific substance spills. Where a substance is unknown, or the MSDS not available, always treat as hazardous. The hazards of the material and the correct clean-up procedures should be properly understood before proceeding to containment and clean-up phase.

CONTAINMENT:

1.  Locate the nearest spill kit.

2.  Wear appropriate PPE (as described in Section 5) to avoid breathing-in vapours and to prevent contact with skin and eyes.

3.  Stop the source. Providing it is safe to do so, stop the spill at its source.

4.  Contain the spill with appropriate spill material (as indicated in the MSDS).

5.  Prevent spillage from entering drains or water course. The spill should be prevented from infiltrating into the ground or entering the stormwater system. The outer edge of the spill should be dammed with rags, blankets, sand, sand bags, mops and/or absorbent booms.

Product / Additional Specific Containment & Clean Up Procedures
Petrol,
Diesel,
Lubricants, and Hydraulic Fluid / ·  Remove all ignition sources.
·  Increase ventilation by opening windows (if indoor).
·  Use clean non-sparking tools to collect the material and place into a suitable labelled container.
·  Absorb spilled product with kitty litter, sand, earth or vermiculite.
·  Collect residues in a flammable waste container.
Cooking Oil / ·  The spillage should be contained with cellulose fibre based product e.g.: sawdust.
Strong Acid / ·  The spillage should be contained with earth or sand and or neutralised with commercial acid neutralisers. Alternatively, special non leaching absorbents/materials suitable for strong concentrations of acids or alkaline may be used instead. ( Note: Unisorb ™ in FM kits for this purpose)
·  Spill kits for acids containing soda ash (sodium bicarbonate) can be sprinkled liberally over the spill.
·  Do not use rags or sawdust to clean up oxidising acid spills.
Strong Alkali / ·  The spillage should be contained using sand or earth and neutralised with citric acid or commercial neutralisers. Alternatively, special non leaching absorbents/materials suitable for strong concentrations of acids or alkaline may be used instead. ( Note: Unisorb ™ in FM kits for this purpose)
·  Any residual alkali should be washed with water ensuring that no contact occurs between washings and any aluminium or zinc containers.
Pesticide/Herbicide / ·  Increase ventilation by opening windows (if indoors).
·  Contain and absorb liquid spills with kitty litter.
·  Collect contaminated absorbent, place in plastic-lined metal drum.
Solvents/Paint / ·  Remove all ignition sources.
·  Increase ventilation by opening windows (if indoors).
·  Spills of organic solvents (e.g., turpentine and methylated spirits) should be absorbed using DRY earth, sand or a proprietary product suitable for the absorption of the liquid.
·  Commercial solvent neutralisers, such as Solusorb, act to reduce vapours and raise the flashpoint of the mixture.
·  Flammable solvents can be cleaned up with absorbent rags which then should be stored in vented containers.
·  Do not store the vented containers indoors.
CLEAN-UP AND REMEDIATION:

1.  Assess whether external assistance is required.

2.  Neutralise acids / alkalis substances (if required).

3.  Loose spill control materials should be spread over the entire spill area, working from the outside, circling to the inside. This reduces the chance of splash or spread of the spilled hazardous material. Use absorbent material as indicated in the MSDS.

4.  When spilled materials have been absorbed, use brush and scoop to place materials in an appropriate container (as described in MSDS).

5.  Mop up the affected surface.

6.  Collect solid residues, place into an appropriate sealed and labelled container for disposal as indicated in the MSDS. The method of disposing this waste will depend on the amount and the type of hazardous material that was spilt (refer to Section 11).

7.  If the spill does enter open ground, storm water drains, or waterways, immediately inform supervisor.

If the spill does enter open ground, storm water drains, or waterways, let your supervisor know so further prompt action can be taken.
References
  1. QUT FM PM800 H& S PLN805_017 - Emergency Plan for Hazardous Materials Spills or Leaks Response.
  2. QUT FM PM800H & S SOP805_032 – Minor Spill Response

Authorised by: Harvey Baldwyn – Maintenance Services Manager – QUT Facilities Management –

Date: 8th August 2011

Ref: SOP805_033_Major spills.docx / V 1:11 3 of 3