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8/7/2019 Where There's a Spill, There's a Way
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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
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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 • pigpen@newpig.com
© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk
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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 • pigpen@newpig.com
© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk
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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 • pigpen@newpig.com
© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk
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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 • pigpen@newpig.com
© 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.
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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 • pigpen@newpig.com
© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk
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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 • pigpen@newpig.com
© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk
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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 • pigpen@newpig.com
© 2010 New Pig Ltd. All rights reserved. • facebook.com/newpiguk • www.newpig.co.uk
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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 • pigpen@newpig.com
© 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.
Recommended