Spill Control and Cleanup

Spills and leaks can occur during the normal liquid transfer process. Transfer should then stop immediately and resume only after the leak is eliminated and the spill cleaned up. Typical sources of leaks and spills are 

When hazardous materials are handled, these sources of leaks should be located in curbed or diked areas to localize spills. If a permanent curb or drain can not be provided around the leak source, a temporary curb should be provided, using barriers or absorbent materials. 

FIGURE 2-17. Standard Dike Arrangement. Height is usually restricted to six feet. When the dike is higher, the distance between a tank and the toe of the interior of the dike wall must be at least five 

FIGURE 2-18. Use of Remote Impoundment The impounding area must be large enough to hold the contents of the largest tank that can drain into it A15% slope is usually adequate for drainage 

FIGURE 2-19. Secondary Containment Units, (a) Secondary containment pallet used to transport leaking drums, (b) Single drum secondary containment 

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Have appropriate equipment and materials available in advance for spill control and cleanup. Consult the MSDS for each chemical to determine what is required. Replace these materials when they become outdated. 

The HCF has not previously experienced any major accidents or hazardous situations (e.g., fires, explosions . Minor contamination events of personnel and equipment have occurred in Zone 2 that were satisfactorilv resolved bv removal of the contamination. Some spills in the shielded hot cell laboratory steel confinement boxes during isotope production process verification and development tests did not result in large releases and were mitigated using established spill control and cleanup equipment and procedures. ... 

Emergency equipment appropriate to the facility (including sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, fire blankets, safety showers and eye washes, emergency respirators, protective clothing, spill control and cleanup material, chemical release computer modeling, etc.) is installed or available. 

M. Vacca-Torelli, A. L. Geraci, and A. Risitano. Dispersant application by hydrofoil high speed control and cleanup of large oil spills. In Proceedings Volume, pages 75-79.10th Bien API et al Oil Spill (Prev, Behav, Contr, Cleanup) Conf (Baltimore, MD, 4/6-4/9), 1987. 

Spills, Preparedness, Prevention Control, and Cleanup of Releases, St. Louis, MO, May 5-8, 1986. Rockville, MD Government Institute Inc., 93-97. 

Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) 1974 Encourages pollution prevention and cleanup of waters by requiring plans from onshore facilities that can potentially discharge oil and other pollutants in harmful quantities into or on U.S. navigable waters... 

All petroleum shipping agencies are covered by some form of insurance that allows spill operations to be conducted under cost recovery. Insurance firms, sometimes also called indemnity clubs, have experts who monitor spill control operations to ensure that cleanup is conducted cost-effectively. International agreements are in place to ensure that tanker owners are covered by insurance and that certain minimum standards for oil spill cleanup are maintained. 

Controlling Spills and Releases The HAZMAT Technician s Role Basic procedures for responding to and controlling small releases of liquids, solids, and gases. Hazard identification, emergency equipment, control, containment, cleanup, decontamination, disposal, and close-out procedures. 

Most chemical spills can and should be cleaned up by laboratory workers themselves. In general, these are spills of known composition that do not involve injury, do not represent a fire or personal hazard, and are less than 1 gallon (or less for very toxic materials). Regulations allow laboratory workers to clean up such spills, although it is advisable that they have training to handle spills and adequate equipment to carry out the cleanup safely. Outside help, properly trained, should be requested if there is any doubt about the ability of the laboratory personnel to clean up the spill safely. But once help is requested from outside the immediate spill area, specific personnel training requirements and other regulatory control may apply. 

Locate a spill control kit or other appropriate absorbent and cleanup supplies. 

If the spilled material is an acid or a base, use a neutralizing material sodium bicarbonate is commonly used for acids, and sodium bisulfate for bases. Spill control kits are commercially available for the cleanup of many kinds of chemical spills. (Chapter 6, section 6.F.2.1, has further information on spill control kits and spill absorbents.)... 

Small-scale spills of hazardous chemicals can occur in laboratories in educational institutions, quality control and testing laboratories, hospitals, greenhouses, and wherever small quantities of hazardous chemicals are handled. Such spills have less potential to cause widespread problems than spills on an industrial scale. However, they pose a risk to the health of workers in the laboratory or at the site of the spill from the inhalation of fumes, from the potential hazards of reactive chemicals, and, in the case of liquids, from slipping on wet floors. It is recognized that small spills should be cleaned up as quickly, responsibly, and efficiently as possible. Workplaces must have a protocol for handling spills and provide spill kits in appropriate locations. It is important that such kits be readily available in locations where they are easily accessed when needed. Furthermore, a plan needs to be in place to guide what is to be done with the residues from cleanup of the spills (National Research Council, 1995). 

Bellier, R, Massart, G., The Amoco Cadiz Oil Spill cleanup operations An overview of the organization, control and evaluation of the cleanup techniques employed. Proceedings of the Oil Spill Conference, 1979, pp. 141-146. 

Its use should minimize personal contact with the spilled matter and/or the spill-control substance (i.e., cleanup should not require mechanical mixing) and its use should itself not create a hazardous situation. 

Spills of chemicals that do not pose a serious hazard, e.g., that are not flammable, nor particularly volatile, corrosive, or toxic, can be cleaned up by absorbing with spill-control pillows, paper towels, or specific chemicals that can inactivate or absorb spills of weak acids or bases, oils, aqueous salt solutions, etc. Use a dustpan and brush for cleanup. Wear gloves and eye protection. Dispose of waste with chemical wastes, rather than throwing it in the general waste. Clean area with soap and water after the waste has been removed. 

Use spill-control pillows to contain the spill. Wear coveralls, rubber apron, gloves, face protection, rubber boots, and, if necessary, respiratory protection (especially for spills of hydrochloric and nitric acids). Materials left after cleanup is completed should be handled as hazardous chemical wastes. Complete cleanup by washing the area of the spill with a detergent solution, and have any damage repaired. 

Another pathway by which targeted pollutants enter the wastewater stream is through the disposal of spent batch process solutions into the sewer system. Spent solutions consist of aqueous wastes and may contain accumulated solids as well. Spent solutions are typically bled at a controlled rate into the wastewater stream. Other sources of pollutants in wastewater streams include cleanup of spills and washdown of fugitive aerosols from spray operations. 

The Oil Pollution Act of 1924 was the first federal statute prohibiting pollution of waters strictly by oil. As indicated earlier, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) of 1972 provided a comprehensive plan for the cleanup of waters polluted by oil spills and intentional or accidental release of oil into the water. The subsequent laws, including the Clean Water Act of 1977 and with its later amendments, provide for regulation of pollution of waters by oil spills and other forms of discharges. These legislations also incorporate certain provisions of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, which was intended to prevent any obstruction to the use of navigable waters for interstate commerce. 

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