Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

10
Each year, slips and falls in the workplace cost employees their wellbeing and businesses their productivity, protability and reputation. Liquid spills are major causes of these incidents and can also harm the environment. This paper includes information on: The risks to your employees and business Preparing for spill incidents • How to respond to spill incident s before they get out of hand and in ways that reduce the risk of injurious, even deadly, slips and falls Tips on training responders and ot her employees It is likely to be of special interest if you hold any of the following positions: • Maintenance Manager • Technical Specialist Operations or Productio n Manager • Engineer • Purchasing Ofcer • Stores Manager • Administrator Company Executive or Direct or • Laboratory Technician • Warehouse Manager • Environmental Health and Safety Manager Where there’s a spill, there’s a Way your guide to spill response © 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk

Transcript of Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

Page 1: Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

8/7/2019 Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/where-theres-a-spill-theres-a-way 1/9

Each year, slips and falls in the workplace

cost employees their wellbeing and businesses

their productivity, protability and reputation.

Liquid spills are major causes of these incidents

and can also harm the environment.

This paper includes information on:

• The risks to your employees and business

• Preparing for spill incidents

• How to respond to spill incidents before they get out

of hand and in ways that reduce the risk of injurious,even deadly, slips and falls

• Tips on training responders and other employees

It is likely to be of special interest if you hold any of the following positions:

• Maintenance Manager

• Technical Specialist

• Operations or Production Manager

• Engineer

• Purchasing Ofcer• Stores Manager

• Administrator

• Company Executive or Director

• Laboratory Technician

• Warehouse Manager

• Environmental Health andSafety Manager

Where there’sa spill,

there’s a Wayyour guide to spill response

© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk

Page 2: Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

8/7/2019 Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/where-theres-a-spill-theres-a-way 2/9

hazards

you can’taffordto falldoWn onMany workplace operations

require liquids to be stored,

moved and dispensed on site.

Such processes inevitably involve

the risk of spillages, reaching

oors and walkways – turningclean, dry surfaces that normally

provide sound footing into

slippery hazards that can provoke

injurious, even deadly falls.

Statistics show that:

• Slips and falls are the single

most common cause of major

injury in the UK workplace.1

• 95% of major slips result in

broken bones.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

By law, you are obliged to provide

a safe environment for employees

and visitors to your premises.

For more information on theregulations you need to comply

with, refer to:

• Health and Safety at Work

Act 1974.1

• The Workplace (Health,

Safety and Welfare)

Regulations 1992.1

• The Management of 

Health and Safety at Work

Regulations 1999.1

You also have an obligation

to your organisation. Slips

and falls on spilt liquids can

prompt legal action against

you for non-compliance with

health and safety legislation.

Other possible outcomes include

loss of experienced personnel

through injury, an anxious

or demoralised workforce,

disrupted production, and

the destruction of your

business’s reputation.

Your protability is also at

risk – through compensation

payouts, lost sales and increased

insurance premiums.

Research shows that most

enterprises have scope to

improve in this important but

often over-looked area of their

activity – remarkably, when

asked, only 13% of members

of the Institute of Safety

and Health thought their

organisations were fully effective

at controlling the risk of slips

and falls.1

Slips and falls on spiltliquids can promptlegal action againstyou for non-compliancewith health and safetylegislation.

Registered ofce: New Pig Ltd • Hogs Hill Watt Place • Hamilton International Technology Park • Blantyre G72 0AHFreephone: 0800 919 900 • Fax: 0800 731 5071 • [email protected]

© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk

Page 3: Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

8/7/2019 Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/where-theres-a-spill-theres-a-way 3/9

a surefooted

strategyDecades of development, driven

by the dangers of slippery

surfaces and by the need for

legal compliance, have created

highly effective containment

products and technologies to

help you prevent spilt liquids

from contacting the oor.

Products like Absorbent Mats,

Socks and Pillows soak up

everyday discharges and connethem close to their sources before

they can become dangerous

slip and fall hazards.

Nonetheless, 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 – 

it’s essential you develop a

comprehensive SpillResponse 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, incident

responders and otheremployees.

Assess and preparein advance

Key to the success of your Spill

Response Strategy is dening, in

advance of any spill:

• The nature and maximum

potential volume of all liquids

in each area of your facilitylikely to spill.

• The health and

environmental risks

associated with each liquid.

• The type and tolerances of all

liquid containers on site.

• Your pollution prevention

equipment inventory and

where these supplies

are stored.

You are advised to consult the

Environment Agency’s PPG 21:

Incident Response Planning  

for more information on how

to survey your workplace forspill hazards.3 

Seven Steps to SmartSpill Response

Your tactical Incident Response

Plan should be implemented

immediately after a spill occursand comprise these seven

sequential steps:

1.Assesstherisk. Decide the

type and amount of liquid

that has spilled, and the risk

posed to spill responders and

the environment.

2.Equiptheresponders.

If appropriate, ensure

responders have protective

clothing and equipment.

3.Confnethespill.

Use Absorbent Socks and

non-absorbent Spill Barriers

to keep the spill fromspreading into walkways,

water sources and drains.

4.Stopthespillatitssource.

This may be as simple as

turning a displaced container

upright or closing a valve, or

may require plugging a leak.

5.CleanUp. Absorbent Pillows

and Mat Pads may be used in

conjunction with vacuumingand pumping equipment to

complete the clean up after a

large spill.

6.Decontaminate. With the

initial clean up complete, all

those exposed to potentially

hazardous materials will

need to be thoroughly

decontaminated. Likewise

the affected area – and any

tools used such as shovels,pumps and vacuums – 

will require cleaning and

possibly degreasing.

7.Report.Complete all

reporting procedures in

accordance with local and

national guidelines for

spill incidents.

Once your Incident Response

Plan is complete, it’s

recommended you review it

with your local re and rescue

service, your local authority and

the Environment Agency. These

bodies can advise on practices

and procedures and keep a copy

of your plan on le.

Copies of the Plan should also be

easily accessible on site, to refer

to should a spillage occur.

Use AbsorbentSocks and non-absorbent SpillBarriers to keepthe spill fromspreading intowalkways,water sourcesand drains.

Registered ofce: New Pig Ltd • Hogs Hill Watt Place • Hamilton International Technology Park • Blantyre G72 0AHFreephone: 0800 919 900 • Fax: 0800 731 5071 • [email protected]

© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk

Page 4: Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

8/7/2019 Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/where-theres-a-spill-theres-a-way 4/9

Kill the spill

1. Assess the RiskWhen a spill happens, the rst

response of all at the scene must

be to STOP, LOOK and LISTEN.

•STOP – Never walk

through, taste or touch a

spilt liquid, or rush into a

spill area to help a worker

who is unconscious or

otherwise injured. If there

is an unfamiliar smell in

the air, do not venture into nd the source.

•LOOK – See if you can

tell how big the spill is and

check the container label or

Material Safety Data Sheet

(MSDS) to establish the

liquid involved. Look to locate

the source of the discharge

and the control equipment

available in the area.

Assess whether the spill is

heading for drains or other

sensitive areas, and decide

the primary dangers to spill

responders, other co-workers

and the environment.

•LISTEN – Open your ears

for any unusual sounds. If 

you can hear burst feed lines

or released pressure valves

hissing, this will help you

identify the spill’s source.

At this point, informing others

and isolating the spill site will

help reduce the risk of slip and

fall accidents. Communicationchains for reporting spills, alarm

procedures, and the option of 

erecting barriers and barricade

tape are issues your Incident

Response Plan will need to

consider and employees need to

be comfortable executing.

2. Equip the Responders

In spill situations, it’s essential

that responders are providedwith appropriate Personal

Protection Equipment (PPE).

Different PPE types and styles

have been developed to protect

all parts of the body from a

myriad of hazards.

If the exact concentration and

danger of a spilt liquid is not

certain, best practice is to assume

the worst and use kit offering the

highest levels of protection.

To ensure the PPE offers adequate

protection, you should consult:

• The Material Safety Data

Sheet for the liquid concerned.

• Information supplied by the

liquid’s manufacturer.

• Information supplied by the

PPE’s manufacturer.

Responders should be familiar

with the PPE available to them.

Chemical-resistance guides willalso assist the choice of suitable

protection in the event of a spill

and should be readily available.

Different PPE types and styles have been developed to protectall parts of the body from a myriad of hazards.

Registered ofce: New Pig Ltd • Hogs Hill Watt Place • Hamilton International Technology Park • Blantyre G72 0AHFreephone: 0800 919 900 • Fax: 0800 731 5071 • [email protected]

© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk

Page 5: Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

8/7/2019 Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/where-theres-a-spill-theres-a-way 5/9

Kill the spill

Equip the Responders(continued)

PPE items in common use include:

•Suits – these protect

responders’ bodies and you

should ensure you obtain

the right types for the liquid

hazards present in your

workplace:

– Type1or2Equipment 

is for use when a spiltliquid is unknown, when

its strength requires the

highest level of protection,

or when responders could

be immersed.

– Type3Equipment is for

use when the spilt liquid

demands high levels of 

respiratory protection but

skin protection is less

of a concern.

– Type4Equipment is

for use when the spilt

liquid presents minimal

skin hazard and permits

the deployment of air-

purifying respirators.

– Type5or6Equipment 

is for use when there is

no potential for splashes,

immersion or unexpectedinhalation of spilt liquids;

a minimal buffer with no

respiratory protection.

•Gloves– these shield hands

from corrosive, irritant or

excessively hot or cold liquids.

•Goggles – these safeguard

eyes and faces from chemical

splashes, ying particles

and dust.

•BootCovers – correctly

sized, these buffer feet from

exposure to chemicals, debris

and/or abrasive surfaces.

•Respirators – these isolate

wearers from harmful levels

of airborne contaminants.

Ensure each PPE set is issued

according to the specics of the

spill and the responder’s needs.

• Consider the working

environment. If there’s a

risk of abrasion, snagging or

tearing, opt for heavier-duty

kit. Check if two or more

liquids have spilled and if the

PPE’s fabric can resist theircombination. Remember:

inadequate PPE is more

dangerous than no PPE

as responders will think

they are safe and take

hazardous actions they

otherwise wouldn’t.

• Size matters too. A PPE

suit that’s too small will

stretch, making it vulnerable

to tearing or bursting. Onethat’s too large could billow

or drape to produce an

additional slip hazard.

• Also ensure separate PPE

are compatible with each

other – check, for example,

that a particular respiratordoes not interfere with a

responder’s eye protection.

• It’s important to remember

that PPE does not make

responders invulnerable.

This kit is not part of an

employee’s daily routine, so

a person using it needs to be

doubly cautious. Ensure that

PPE is deployed whenever,

wherever a hazardous liquid

is spilt – even if it seems it

can be dealt with quickly.

• Regular checks should also

be made to ensure PPE is

being used, and if not, to

investigate why.

• PPE should be inspected

periodically to ensure it is t

for purpose, especially after

each use if being cleaned andpacked away for re-use.

Registered ofce: New Pig Ltd • Hogs Hill Watt Place • Hamilton International Technology Park • Blantyre G72 0AHFreephone: 0800 919 900 • Fax: 0800 731 5071 • [email protected]

© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk

A PPE suit that’stoo small willstretch, makingit vulnerableto tearing or

bursting. Onethat’s too largecould billow ordrape to producean additionalslip hazard.

Page 6: Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

8/7/2019 Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/where-theres-a-spill-theres-a-way 6/9

Kill the spill

3. Conne the SpillWith the risk assessed, and

enabled by the right PPE, your

responders can move to conne

the spill and reduce the hazard

it poses – not just to co-workers

who could slip and fall, but to the

wellbeing of your plant and the

environment beyond.

•Establishisolationor

workzonesto protect all

those in the affected area – especially if the spill presents

the danger of an explosion or

a respiratory hazard – and to

help maintain site security.

Air-monitoring equipment

can be used to dene

these zones.

•UtiliseyourSpillKits. 

These contain all the supplies

you need to conne, control

and clean up an emergency

spill. Make sure the Kits,

and especially the included

Absorbents, are suitable

for the liquid hazards in

your facility:

– UniversalAbsorbents

soak up non-aggressive

liquids such as oils, water,

coolants and solvents.

– Oil-OnlyAbsorbentstake up petroleum-based

liquids such as motor oil,

hydraulic oil, gasoline,

diesel and kerosene.

– Haz-MatorChemical

Absorbents are meant for

aggressive liquids, such as

acids and caustics, and for

unknown liquids.

Circling the spilt liquid

with Absorbent Socks or

Booms will minimise its

spread. Place the line of Socks near the leading edge

of the spill, so there’s room

to add a second if the rst

line becomes over-saturated.

Remember to overlap

adjoining Socks by several

centimetres, in the direction

of the movement of the liquid,

for a stronger barrier effect.

Spill Kits should be placed

throughout your facility in

spill prone areas. Ensure

your purchases are packaged

for fast response and

immediate access, with rst

response items, like Socks

and Booms at the top. Spill

Kits should never be locked,

as trying to locate keys can

cost you valuable time in

the battle against spreading

slip hazards. Choose Kitswith tamper-proof seals to be

sure, at a glance, that the full

inventory is still inside the

Spill Kit.

•DeployNon-Absorbent

Barriers to stop spilt

liquid spreading to a water

source. Look for barriersthat are easy to move, erect,

decontaminate and re-use.

Protective drain covers

placed over drain openings

need to overlap them by at

least 8cm on all sides.

Spill Kits containall the supplies youneed to conne,control and clean upan emergency spill.

Registered ofce: New Pig Ltd • Hogs Hill Watt Place • Hamilton International Technology Park • Blantyre G72 0AHFreephone: 0800 919 900 • Fax: 0800 731 5071 • [email protected]

© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk

Page 7: Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

8/7/2019 Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/where-theres-a-spill-theres-a-way 7/9

Kill the spill

4. Stop the Spill at SourceOnce a spill is contained, you’ve

minimised the risks of slips and

falls, waterway pollution and

equipment damage. But to stop

the ow of liquid, you still need

to eliminate the spill’s source.

This may mean:

• Righting an upturned

container.

• Placing a leaking vessel ina secondary containment

or overpack.

• Closing a leaky or faulty

valve – to help, be sure to

clearly mark shut-off valves,

keep them unobstructed

and train responders as

to their location.

• Plugging a punctured

container or hose – for this,repair putty and patches are

dedicated solutions.

Ensure that Spill Kits, Overpacks

and other commonly used tools,

such as non-sparking spanners,

are readily available in those

areas your pre-assessment

identied as spill prone.

5. Clean Up

With the ow of liquid halted,you can move to assess and

conduct the clean up.

• At all times, avoid stepping

into spilled liquid. If you

do, you could slip and fall,

causing you serious injury;

and unless you clean any

residue from your footwear,

you will track it around the

workplace, causing more slip

and fall hazards for yourco-workers.

• Unless plant or other items

within the affected area

require removal or protection

from damage, it’s best to startfrom the outside of the spill

and work towards the centre.

• Use the buddy system and

make sure you are not

responding alone. Working

in isolation can present a

risk in itself.

• Use Absorbent Pillows,

Mats and Socks to soak up

spilled liquids. Pillows arebest for larger and deeper

spills, Absorbent Mat Pads

for smaller spills or thin,

dispersed layers. Not all

absorbents are chemically

compatible with all liquids – 

for example those containing

cellulose should not be used

with corrosives. So check their

suitability before deployment.

• If purity of material is notan issue, you can vacuum

certain spills to recover

liquid for re-use. With

ammables or corrosives,

the vacuum used must be

compatible – for example,

only ATEX-approved

machines are suitable for

ammable or explosive

atmospheres.

• For small spills, suchas those common in

laboratories, another option

is to neutralise the liquid in

question. Be sure to allow

time in drills and other non-

emergency situations for

responders to learn to use

neutralisers properly. Some

of these agents create heat

reactions that could inuence

response efforts.

• Ensure you collect all spent

materials used to combat

the spill. Absorbents and

disposable PPE and tools allassume the characteristics

of the liquids they’ve been in

contact with and should be

handled accordingly. Such

items must be disposed of in

compliance with your local and

national waste regulations.

At all times, avoidstepping into spilledliquid. If you do,you could slip andfall, causing youserious injury; andunless you clean any

residue from yourfootwear, you willtrack it around theworkplace, causingmore slip and fallhazards for yourco-workers.

Registered ofce: New Pig Ltd • Hogs Hill Watt Place • Hamilton International Technology Park • Blantyre G72 0AHFreephone: 0800 919 900 • Fax: 0800 731 5071 • [email protected]

© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk

Page 8: Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

8/7/2019 Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/where-theres-a-spill-theres-a-way 8/9

Kill the spill

6. DecontaminateThoroughly cleansing the spill

area, all tools and equipment

used and the responders

themselves is the nal 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

who’ve slipped and fallenor been otherwise injured

should be decontaminated

rst 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 during the

spill should be removed or

neutralised. To this end,

responders must know your

waste disposal arrangements

and where to deposit used

spill containment supplies.

Disposing of waste from

liquid spills is governed

by the Environmental

Protection Act 1990. For

more guidance, consult the

Environment Agency.

7. Report

Once the liquid spill at your

facility is fully cleaned up, youmust complete all notications

required under local and

national regulations. These are

likely to include medical reports,

local council or district reports,

internal company reports and

notications to the Environment

Agency. Unless you le these,

you and your business may be

severely penalised.

instil thedrillThe Environment Agency says:

“You should train your staff so

they know what they should

and shouldn’t do if there’s a

spill, where pollution control

equipment is and where a copy

of the Incident Response Plan

is located. They should alsounderstand that their health and

safety is more important than

stopping a spill.” 4

• Periodic training sessions

inform workers of their

personal responsibilities

to each other and to the

environment in the event of a

spill – even if it’s impractical

for all staff to develop the

expertise of fully edgedincident responders.

• Training and practice

drills are the best way for

responders to learn the

limitations of their PPE. Anactual spill is not the time for

someone to rst experience

restricted mobility, limited

peripheral vision and lack

of dexterity. All PPE users

should be made aware of 

why these items are needed,

when they’re to be used,

repaired or replaced, and

their limitations.

• Even ofce workers, and

others unlikely to come close

to the site of a spill, should

be trained as to which exits

to use, which designated

meeting area to arrive at, and

who to report to should a spill

incident occur. Otherwise,

the resulting chaos, with

undecided people milling

about clogged stairwells,

could result in multiple slip,trip and fall incidents.

• Employees who work in spill-

prone areas should receive

more in-depth training. This

may include instruction on:

how to spot re hazards

and identify containers by

their markings; defensive

measures to take in the event

of a spill, including emergency

shut-down procedures; howto locate and deploy Spill

Kits; and rst-aid, CPR and

debrillator training.

Periodic training sessions inform workers of their personal responsibilitiesto each other and to the environment in the event of a spill.

Registered ofce: New Pig Ltd • Hogs Hill Watt Place • Hamilton International Technology Park • Blantyre G72 0AHFreephone: 0800 919 900 • Fax: 0800 731 5071 • [email protected]

© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk

Page 9: Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

8/7/2019 Where There's a Spill, There's a Way

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/where-theres-a-spill-theres-a-way 9/9

absorb the

lessonsSlip, trip and fall incidents in the

UK workplace cost 40 workers

their lives in 2009 5, with liquids

spilt onto oors and walkways

among the commonest causes.

Such events can also harm

the environment and have

expensive, potentially disastrous

consequences for affected

businesses. Legal action against

compliance failures, damagedemployee morale, disruptions to

production, and your business

reputation tarnished – all these

are possible side effects.

Even with the best liability

insurance, you’re likely to incur

considerable expenses. Your

insurance premiums are likely

to rise too – for example, an

employee breaking an arm can

increase these by £6,000 or more.1

Crucial to minimising the risk

of slips and falls is developing a

comprehensive Spill Response

Strategy. Best practicerecommends that you:

1. Assess, in advance of any spill

event, the exact risks posed

by the liquids at your facility.

2. Develop a comprehensive,

7-step Incident Response

Plan. Sourcing sufcient

reserves of suitable Personal

Protection Equipment, Spill

Kits and other key supplieswill help ensure the plan’s

success should it ever need to

be implemented.

3. Ensure all employees are

trained, in accordance with

their roles and locations, so

they know precisely how to

react in a spill event.

Bear in mind that once you’ve

created your Spill Response

Strategy, it will need to be

periodically reviewed andupdated, based on monitoring,

learnings from spill events,

and changes to your company’s

operations and personnel.

Observing these recommendations

will help keep your workers safe

– and your business on its feet.

References1 Health and Safety Executive2 Your Legal Rights/Barbour Environment Health and Safety3 Environment Agency/Pollution Prevention Guides 214 Environment Agency/Pollution Prevention Guides 22

5 HR Review - 8/2/2010

Registered ofce: New Pig Ltd • Hogs Hill Watt Place • Hamilton International Technology Park • Blantyre G72 0AHFreephone: 0800 919 900 • Fax: 0800 731 5071 • [email protected]

© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk

Sourcing sufcient reserves of suitable PersonalProtection Equipment, Spill Kits and other keysupplies will help ensure the plan’s success shouldit ever need to be implemented.