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Commentary on Part 4- Appendix A

Model Spill Control Procedure

1. Purpose

To provide guidelines on how to contain and clean-up spills of flammable and combustible liquids; how to provide safe disposal of these materials and whom to notify in the event of a spill.

2. Definition

  1. Minor Spill
    A minor spill is small enough it can be safely cleaned up using the emergency spill kit. (See Item 7)
  2. Major Spill
    A major spill is one that cannot be contained safely with the materials on the site and/or threatens to enter the sewer system or travel beyond the boundaries of the plant to endanger the environment.

3. Emergency Spill Coordinators

A list of at least three persons who have knowledge and experience in the safe handling, cleanup and proper disposal of waste materials should be provided along with their telephone numbers. One of these people should be notified immediately after a spill has occurred and should respond to the spill site to take charge of containing the spill, cleanup and waste disposal.

4. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

All employees involved in the handling, use and storage of flammable and combustible liquids are required to know the hazard associated with these liquids. MSDS should be readily available for all hazardous materials the employees will be in contact with, including flammable and combustible liquids. The emergency spill

coordinators mentioned in Item 3 should have the responsibility to ensure that this data is available to employees and the MSDS manual is updated when any new material is brought into the facility or a new material is produced.

5. Action To Take In Case Of A Spill

Every facility that produces, stores or handles flammable and/or combustible liquids should be capable of dealing with minor spills and organizing an immediate response in the event of a more serious spill.

5.1 Safety Considerations

Appropriate protective equipment must be worn before a spill can be cleaned up. Rubber gloves, coveralls, rubber apron, rubber boots, safety goggles and breathing apparatus are just some of the equipment that may be used, per the advice outlined in the MSDS required under WHMIS.

All spill material should be considered flammable and hazardous until otherwise proven. The spill should be isolated from any possible ignition sources such as smoking, welding, electrical equipment and grinding.

5.2 Contain the Spill

5.2.1.      Where a leak occurs, quickly shut off the source by closing a valve and/or shutting down a pump.
5.2.2.Use shovels and absorbent booms or socks to dam the area.
5.2.3.Use absorbent pads, wipes or absorbent material to soak up the liquid.
5.2.4.Prevent the spill from contaminating other materials, entering sewers or traveling off the plant site to endanger the environment.

5.3 Ventilation

A spill of flammable liquids will result in the release of vapours that are usually heavier-than-air. These vapours tend to settle on the floor or in pits, stairwells and trenches or other areas below the floor level. These vapours are capable of traveling long distances and may encounter an ignition source at a remote point, ignite and flash back to the original spill area. The removal of these vapours at the floor level or from other low areas will prevent this from occurring.

Natural and mechanical ventilation are the two basic forms of ventilation. Natural ventilation uses convection currents of heated air or normal diffusion to carry vapours away from an area. Opening windows and doors will assist this process. Great care should be taken when using mechanical ventilation such as portable fans. Unless these fans are classified as Class I, Division 1 they may create a source of ignition for these vapours.

5.4 Contact One Of The Emergency Coordinators

Immediately contact one of the Emergency Coordinators, who should respond and take charge of the situation.

If a fire should result, follow plant procedures for Fire.

6. Other Important Telephone Numbers

6.1    Emergency
911
6.2    

7. Emergency Spill Kit

Wherever flammable/combustible liquids are processed, stored or used an emergency spill kit containing the following items should be readily available. This kit should be customized to each operation and the type of materials and quantities likely to be spilled. An example of a kit is set out below:

Reviewing the history of spills may provide some useful insight as to quantities likely to be spilled.

The emergency spill kit should be checked regularly to ensure that all items are at hand and in a usable condition.

Personnel should be trained both in preventing and responding to an incident in order to create a risk awareness among the employees. All personnel should have practical training in alarm procedures, fire fighting, life saving, the reduction of environmental damage and on the proper method of handling a minor spill using the emergency spill kit. Quick application of adsorbent materials will reduce the rate of vapour generation.

8. Disposal Of Waste

Disposal must occur in conformance with municipal by-law and MOE requirements. Qualified private contractors may be used for larger spills. Absorbent socks, booms or pillows used to clean up a spill, should be sealed in steel drums that are labeled as containing flammable or combustible waste.

NOTE:

Each spill control procedure should be tailored to the particular facility. It is strongly recommended that the local fire department review and comment on each written spill procedure before the plan is finalized. A review of the procedure should be initiated after any changes in plant processes, storage arrangements and new technology.

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