Preparing for hazardous materials spills

Any company that stores, uses or transports hazardous materials must be prepared for chemical spills.

Industrial Hygiene News reports that when a spill occurs, employees should first assess the risk surrounding the situation, from the volume of the spilled material to the hazard and physical properties, the location of the spill and the level of ventilation.

Then, cleanup specialists must be used to remove the spilled material safely. A HAZWOPER-trained team must manage the spills.

Federal regulations require employees to be trained to properly manage the spills. From 24 to 40 hours of classroom training plus hands-on instruction in practical spill response techniques is suggested, with refresher training mandated by OSHA. Managers also recognize the need for frequent drilling to maintain team readiness.