Spill response

Federal Regulations. Federal regulations tend not to be aimed at spill and tank-bottom leak prevention but rather on spill response. These therefore address issues such as containment of spills, financial habihty and responsibihty, discharge of contaminated stormwater, reporting, and response requirements. 

As discussed in Chapter 2, The Toller Selection Process, evaluating the site s safe work practice procedures should have been a part of the review during the toller selection process. Still, new materials may indicate a need to revise or develop special procedures to address unique chemical and physical hazards. New hazards such as vacuum, ciyogenics, ultra-high pressure, or new rotating equipment could be introduced. Medical monitoring requirements or special handling and spill response procedures for the toll s raw materials and products may indicate a need to write or revise safe work practices. 

Are the hazards associated with handling hazardous wastes disclosed to the disposal facility If yes, does the disclosure include information on proper spill response measures and is it protective of employees, transporters and waste handlers. 

These designations serve as useful guides in storage, transport, and spill response. However, they do have limitations. Since these designations are somewhat arbitrary, it is useful to understand the basic concepts of flammability. 

CAS and DOT numben, properties, exposure limits, EPA waste information, and spill response infonnalion. Quarterly updates. 

Facility spill response, tracking of releases, materials inventory, and training. 

For example, for a eaustie spill response performed by employees on site, the log indieated that one worker experieneed heat exhaustion during the eleanup and was absent from work the next day, likely due to heat exhaustion from the eaustie spill. No other entries in the log dis-eussed the use of heat stress monitoring or prevention praetiees, suggesting that sueh praetiees were not always implemented on the site. 

Exhibits 2-5 and 2-6 are modified sample lists of programs and elements for an actual company (here called Xmple, Inc.) drawn from the files of Arthur D. Little. These are in addition to the PSM requirements shown in Exhibit 2-4. You should develop similar lists for your company. These can usually be obtained from PSM and ESH manuals or the specialist staff who support the programs and elements. Be careful to make sure you understand the scope of each program, as the titles can sometimes be a little misleading. For example, spill response may cover only measures to be taken to stop further spillage, while containment and clean-up are covered under emergency response. 

Even a quick examination of Exhibits 2-5 and 2-6 points out the considerable duplication that exists within Xmple, Inc. Not only are there separate management systems delivering their three programs (PSM, occupational safety and industrial hygiene, and environment) there are also several duplicate programs. For example, storage of hazardous chemicals and spill response are covered by all three systems. The lists are also incomplete undoubtedly Xmple, Inc. implements all requirements of Responsible Care , but it is listed only under occupational safety and industrial hygiene. 

Improvements in safety and environmental performance will come only slowly. Major accidents are rare, even with poorly managed programs, and any reduction in these will be evident only after several years. Areas where early improvements might be expected are spill response and occupational injuries where improved processes should be effective soon after installation. Work place exposure and environmental emissions may improve over a period of several months. 

If necessary, evacuate the area of untrained spill-response personnel. 

A decision concerning the use of a certain dispersant involves several components, including considerations of operational feasibility and regulatory policy and environmental concerns. Eleven examples of major published procedures for making oil spill-response decisions, including decisions for or against the use of chemical dispersants, have been summarized and compared in a study [635]. 

P. J. Brandvik, O. O. Knudsen, M. O. Moldestad, and P. S. Daling. Laboratory testing of dispersants under arctic conditions. In Proceedings Volume, pages 191-206. 2nd ASTM Use of Chem in Oil Spill Response Symp (Victoria, Canada, 10/10-10/11), 1994. 

R. Geyer, R. Fay, G. Denoux, C. Giammona, K. Binkley, and R. Jamail. Aerial dispersant application Assessment of sampling methods and operational altitudes. Mar Spill Response Corp Tech Rep Ser 93-0091,... 

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials). (1988). Standard guide for conducting 10-day static sediment toxicity tests with marine and estuarine amphipods. In Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Pesticides, Resource Recovery, Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Responses, Waste Disposal, Biological Effects, 11.04, ASTM E 1367. Ed. by ASTM, Philadelphia, USA, pp. 732-757. 

Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (CHEMTREC) — In the United States, the Manufacturing Chemists Association operates CHEMTREC 24 hours a day. By calling the appropriate toll-free number listed below, one can consult experts on chemicals and spill response. 

On Scene Commander (OSC) The overall coordinator of an oil spill response team, usually a representative of an oil company, a government official, or an independent oil spill cleanup contractor responsible for on-site strategical decisions and actions throughout each phase of a cleanup operation and who maintains close liaison with the appropriate government agencies to obtain support and provide progress reports on each phase of the emergency response. 

Spills are most likely to occur during loading/unloading operations and in-plant transfer activities. For this reason, written procedures should be kept current and made easily accessible to all employees. In addition, a spill response plan should be formulated, and employees should be trained both in the current operating procedures and in the correct implementation of emergency spill measures. A policy of taking disciplinary action on violation, if strictly enforced, can ensure employee adherence to procedure. 

In addition to drifting and evaporation, wind and wave energy advection and turbulence can cause an O/W emulsion to be formed which helps disperse oil into the water column and away from sensitive shorelines [562,563]. These droplets typically become weathered, accumulate suspended fine solids, and settle out [564—567]. For this reason oil-spill response teams may actually promote the formation of O/W emulsions from oil in the slick. 

Fingas, M.F. Kyle, D.A. Wang, Z. Handheld, D. Lanuzzi, D. Ackerman, F. Laboratory Testing of Oil Spill Dispersants in The Use of Chemicals in Oil Spill Response, Lane, P.,... 

Fire Brigade Team Leader —Oil Spill Response Team Leader —HazMat Spill Response Team Leader —Public Affairs Coordinator/Press Officer —Legal Counsel —Security Coordinator —Insurance and Claims Coordinator —Emergency Communications System Coordinator —Coordinator of Personnel Services... 

Generated during single-substance spill response clean-up... 

The scientific advisor for an oil spill response unit assesses a spill and determines the appropriate clean-up methods. She or he acts as part of a team of advisors. Most advisors have an M.Sc. or Ph.D. in an area of expertise such as organic chemistry, physical chemistry, environmental chemistry, biology, oceanography, computer modelling, or chemical engineering. 

Oil spill response is handled by private and public organizations. All these organizations look for people with a background in chemistry. In fact, much of what you are learning about hydrocarbons can be related to oil spill response. Flydrocarbon chemistry can lead you directly to an important career, helping to protect the environment. 

In addition to CHEMTREC, other emergency aids are finding wide use. The U. S. Coast Guard CHRIS (Chemical Hazard Response Information System) is available through the Coast Guard Headquarters, and regional officers, and its published material is of value in water-borne spill responses. (8)... 

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