Chemical Hazard Awareness & Spill Response Training

Chemstore offers a high quality on-site training to leading organisations in the UK. These courses ensure compliance with the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act September 2005 and also address Industry Best Practice and EPA Requirements.

This course is designed to increase awareness of Hazardous Materials in the workplace and enable operators to safely react to spills on-site.

The topics covered under this course include:

1. Requirement of the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005.
2. What is a Hazardous Substance?
3. Identifying Hazardous Substances.
4. Health impacts of exposure to Chemical Substances.
5. Identify risks associated with chemical use.
6. Material Safety Data Sheets Explained.
7. Personnel Protection Equipment – Overview.
8. Practical Chemical Spill Demonstration.
9. Fire Extinguisher/Fire Blanket use for Chemical Spill.
10. Immediate first aid action for chemical burns.
11. General Principles of Chemical Safety.
12. Emergency Plans
13. Site Familiarization

Course Details

• Maximum number per session is 12 people.
• Duration 3 Hours.
• On site requirements – well lit and ventilated room & area for demonstration.
• Presentation Notes.
• Issue of Attendance Certificates.
• Chemstore’s Chemical Awareness and Spill Response Training can  prevent this happening in your workplace!  

Guide for Chemical Spill Response Planning

We are delighted to bring you this extensive framework for spill response planning for laboratories and storage areas. 

In spite of our best efforts, spills happen. When they do, it makes sense to respond to them as carefully and efficiently as possible.

Many spills can be prevented. Development and implementation of good practices will significantly reduce the likelihood of a spill.

Reading this guide will both help employees to prevent spills, and help plan for an appropriate response when spills do occur.

[Download the Full PDF Here]

 

Chemical Spill Response | Using Spill Kits

In the event of a chemical spill, follow your company’s Health and Safety procedure:

Stop and think. Stop working. Stop the spill.

Assess the chemical spill situation

• How big is the spill?
• Are there any injuries associated with the spill?
• Has it made contact with your skin or personal clothing?
• Can it be safely cleaned with a spill kit?

Immediate actions

• Call Emergency Services on 999 or 112 if there is a medical emergency or danger to life, health or the environment.
• Alert the people nearby.
• Isolate the area.
• Restrict access to those involved in the spill cleanup.
• Determine the extent of the spill.
• Keep doors closed.
• Monitor yourself carefully and completely.
• Check yourself for any chemical contamination or signs/symptoms of exposure (e.g., wet clothing, skin or respiratory irritation).
• For medical emergencies, follow directions under “Personal Injury.”
• Stay in or near the area until help arrives.
• Minimize your movements so as to avoid spreading contamination to other areas.
• Have a person who is knowledgeable about the incident be available to talk to or assist Emergency Personnel.
• Notify your Work Lead.

Chemical spill cleanup requirements

You can clean up a chemical spill if ALL of the following requirements are met:

• There is no potential for release to the environment. (NOTE: Care must be taken to avoid spreading or tracking chemical contamination to other areas.)
• There are no personal injuries resulting from the spill.
• You know what the chemical hazards are.
• The cleanup procedures are known and you have the proper spill cleanup materials.
• You have the proper PPE to protect yourself during the cleanup.
• Two people can clean the spill up thoroughly within an hour.
• The spill does NOT involve elemental mercury. Special cleanup and monitoring procedures are required for mercury spills. Moreover, mercury contamination is easily tracked to other areas.
• If ALL of the above requirements are not met, or if you have any DOUBTS about your ability to safely and effectively clean up the spill, then:
• Leave the immediate area.
• Close the door.
• Stay close by and control access.
• Place a warning sign of the entrance door “Spill—Do Not Enter” and
• Call Emergency Services 999 or 112 for assistance.

Other chemical spill cleanup considerations

Review these guidelines periodically—you must be familiar with them and know what to do before a spill occurs.
Understand the hazards of the chemicals you use. Consult the Material Safety Data Sheets.
Keep spill cleanup kits in your work area. There are different types for acids, bases and solvents.
These are commercially available from Chemstore. It is important to note that absorbents and other materials used for spill cleanup need to be “inert” to the spilled material. For this reason, combustible materials such as sawdust and paper towels are generally inappropriate substitutes for the materials contained in spill kits. Wear the proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to protect yourself. The minimum includes a lab coat (or coveralls), chemical goggles, and chemically resistant gloves rated for the chemical(s) of concern.

Contact the Health and Safety Team at Chemstore for more details on:

Ireland: sales@chemstore.ie Phone: 061 327792
UK: sales@chemstore.co.uk Phone: 208 704 1807

[http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/chsp/html/emergency.shtml]

 

Knowing the correct Spill Kits to have on your Premises

Choosing a Spill Kit may seem like a daunting task. With different type available, how do you know which spill kit will be the correct one for your needs. Knowing which type of Spill Kit really isn’t as difficult as it may seem. Here at Chemstore Environmental we can help you narrow down the selection to a few kits that will be suitable for your situation.

 

1. What liquids will you be absorbing?

Choosing a spill kit with absorbents designed to absorb both water and oil-based liquids when responding to an oil spill on water can be a costly mistake. Also having a spill kit available with limited compatibility when responding to a highly corrosive liquid may result in an undesirable chemical reaction. By knowing what liquids are used in your facility, you can select the correct variety of kit to meet your needs. Chemstore Environmental offer professional advice and carry the complete and full range available.

 

2. What is the volume of your worst-case scenario spill?

You need to know the largest amount of liquid that could be spilled from a single container or holding tank. If your liquids are stored in drums, this would likely be the contents of an entire drum, If you store liquid in totes, consider the volume of your largest tote – usually anywhere from 200 to 500 gallons.

 

3. What type of container works best for your location?

The majority of companies choose to locate spill kits in every area prone to spills, such as loading docks, drum storage areas, dispensing stations and waste fluid collection stations. Others companies choose to have one or two kits that can be transported to the area where a liquid is spilled. Chemstore Environmental can advise on what to have and where. Chemstore Environmental 30 Litre spill kits have handles that make them easy to carry to the site of a spill. Dollies and wheeled containers are available to make larger kits portable. Some kits can even be transported with a forklift.

 

4. Do you already have a cabinet or container for your kit?

There is no regulation that tells you what a spill kit must include, or what the container must look like. If you already have a storage cabinet in an area where you’d like to put a spill kit, or if you have old spill kit containers that just need to be restocked, nearly all of our spill kits have refills available. Simply choose a refill based on your absorbency needs and stock it in the container or cabinet already at your facility.

Chemical Spills in the Workplace