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Spill Kits

industrialsafety — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:44:12 CST

If there are any hazardous chemicals in the workplace, Chemical Spill Handling and Cleanup Procedures must be in place. All employees must receive training before they are placed in a situation where there is a reasonable expectation that they might be exposed to a spill while on the job.

An effective Spill Response Plan should consider:

The physical characteristics and volume of each chemical that is handled
Their toxicity and potential for release to the environment.
Determination must be made as to what constitutes a ‘small spill’ that can be cleaned up on site by trained personnel.
What steps will be taken for cleanup of a ‘small spill’?
What is the extent and type of spill that would be designated as a ‘large spill’?
What triggers a call to 911 or an entity designated for the clean up of hazardous spills?

Developing an effective Spill Response Plan involves the following steps:

Review the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all chemicals on site
Place MSDS in manual or notebook that is readily accessible to employees
List recommended spill cleanup method for each
Determine what personal protective equipment (PPE), gloves, respirator, protective clothing, etc. is needed.
Acquire an adequate amount of spill control materials (spill kits that are complete)
Acquire an adequate amount of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Be sure all chemical containers are clearly labeled with the name and hazard warning
Flammable solvents are stored in an approved, vented, solvent storage cabinet
Train all personnel in the use of the spill kits and the PPE.
Place spill control materials and PPE in a readily accessible area.

Develop a Spill Response Plan that includes:

Names and phone numbers of individuals to be contacted in the event of a spill
Evacuation plans for the room, building, work site, if necessary
Instructions for containing the spilled material, including potential release into the environment (for instance, floor drains should be protected)
Inventory of spill control materials and personal protective equipment
Methods of proper disposal of cleanup materials and hazardous waste, contaminated tools and clothing
Train all employees on the use of PPE and methods of chemical spill containment and cleanup.
Completion of all medical and incident reports as required by the organization, local, state and Federal requirements

Despite the best efforts of everyone, chemical spills do happen. Planning ahead is important for a safe response and the avoidance of a serious incident. A well prepared and well trained employee will be able to deal effectively with a chemical spill.

There are many types of spill kits. Visit spill911.com for a large selection of mobile spill kits , mounted spill kits , small spill kits

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industrialsafety — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:16:07 CST

Workplace safety is concerned with the prevention of injury or the creation of illness to its most important asset: its employees. Over the past few decades, laws have been passed to ensure that workers are protected from hazards in the workplace. Employers are responsible for safeguarding the health and safety of their employees. By protecting its employees, a business reduces the amount paid out in health benefits, worker’s compensation benefits and the cost of wages for temporary replacement help.

To just get a dollars and cents appreciation of the financial impact of on–the-job injuries or illness, total the cost of:

The lost number of employee work days
Cost of continuing wages to injured or ill employees
The time spent orienting temporary or replacement employees
The programs and services that are not up to par because the regular employees are not there
The additional strain on the employees who may be required to pick up the absent employee’s load
Reduced morale among employees with possible decrease in efficiency
Possibly increased workers’ compensation premiums
Time and cost involved in completion of paperwork generated by the incident
The possibility of having to suspend or discontinue a program due to the absence of vital employees
Time and cost of repair or replacement of equipment damaged by workplace accident

To make the workplace safer, the business organization must recognize and acknowledge the potential health and safety hazards that are present in the environment. Determine where and how a worker could be injured or become ill. What could cause harm? Individual programs and work sites should be evaluated and problems identified.
Look at the work environment and ask:

Where are the hazards?
What is the harm potential?
Is there an electrical danger? This could be as small as a frayed electrical cord.
Are there toxic chemicals?
Is there mold or lead based paint?
Is the lifting of heavy objects necessary?
Is repetitive motion necessary?

OSHA describes a ‘hazard analysis’ of the job dangers as a technique that focuses on the various tasks required by the job to identify problems before they develop. The Nonprofit Risk Management Center describes this process as ‘evaluating the parts to strengthen the whole’. A successful analysis examines the worker, the job to be done and the tools to be used.

Once the specific hazards are identified, it is up to management and the employees to work together for solutions. Their task is to develop cooperative methods to address the specific hazards of the job and to implement ways to get the work done safely.

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