The size of a spill and the control and cleanup supplies on hand determine how it will be managed. Can it be dealt with by employees who have been trained to handle spills or must emergency response be summoned from an outside agency? There are several factors to be considered. First, what is the nature of this chemical? Is it:
- Highly explosive
- Very toxic
- Flammable
- Corrosive
- Volatile or unstable
Next, the employee situation and resources should be quickly evaluated:
- Has anyone been injured?
- Is the spill life-threatening or presenting a danger of fire or an explosion?
- Are the employees on hand well- trained?
- Are there adequate supplies to handle this spill?
Any workplace where acids are used should have plenty of supplies to contain and clean up a spill. Haz-Mat Kits, Acid Spill Kits and Acid-Base Kits are all stocked with materials to neutralize and contain an acid spill. They are available in various sizes with different quantities of materials. The size of the Spill Kit stocked in each individual workplace should be determined by the amount and size of a possible spill that might occur. For example, if a business only has a small volume of chemicals on hand, it will not need the same amount of containment supplies as a facility that manufactures a chemical such as sulfuric acid.
Using the Acid Spill Kit
If a spill occurs:
- Evacuate the area or cordon off the spill.
- Call 911 or emergency help if needed.
- Take care of anyone who might have been contaminated by the acid, following approved first aid procedures.
- Use personal protective equipment provided in the acid spill kit.
- If the spill is small, apply neutralizer to it. This is usually a powder to be sprinkled over the spill.
- Use a sufficient quantity of neutralizer. Its polymers will neutralize and encapsulate the chemical.
- The spill will become a gel and its color will change, an indication that it has been neutralized.
- Use the whisk broom and dust pan from the kit to clean up the gel.
- Place this material in the bag that comes in the kit.
- Dispose of according to federal, state and local regulations.
All employees should be trained in the use of the Spill Kits and if there is a variety of chemicals in the workplace, employees must know which spill kit is appropriate for each. Any spill that is not contained and cleaned up properly can become an emergency.
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