Page 24 - BOSS Today Issue 44

BOSS Today #44 DOWN TO BUSINESS – CLEANING UP

CLEANING UP

One litre of diesel can pollute one million litres of water*

n sufficient volume, something as Cleaning Up Aid, Firefighting, Accidental
Iinnocuous as milk will kill fish in a Spills must be cleaned up safely Release Measures, Personal
watercourse. So, imagine the impact and as soon as possible, without Protective Equipment (PPE),
to the environment if a 1,000 litre putting responders in danger. The Ecological Information, Disposal
IBC containing solvent should spill first steps are critical for a safe Considerations.
and enter the watercourse from your outcome and should be proportionate 3. Assess the danger to people and
drains. This could lead to a major to the incident’s nature and scale. the environment.
environmental issue, hefty fines The magnitude of risk will depend 4. Exclude unnecessary personnel
from the Environmental Agency, on the hazards the spill presents from the area.
and unwanted publicity that could to those exposed. It is important 5. Clean up the spill using
lead to loss of major contracts. to know where site drains lead recommended PPE and spill kits.
Smaller spills can also have to. There are two main types: 5. Investigate the cause of the spillage
serious consequences on the natural in order to prevent recurrence.
environment near the workplace. 1. Surface water to take away the
Liquids can soak through the ground rainfall Spill Kits
to reach ground water, ditches and 2. Foul sewers that take the domestic A typical spill kit will include a
watercourses. Spillages can travel waste to treatment works. mobile bin with a lid containing oil
far in running water before detection or chemical absorbent pads, an inert
and cause severe damage to wildlife. It is also important to build an absorbent such as granules, and
Health hazards could manifest inventory of all substances that are plastic bin bags to store the spill. It
in the form of harm to skin, eyes categorised as hazardous under should be strategically located so
and respiratory system. Many the Classification, Labelling and that a spillage can be cleaned up or
chemicals can penetrate unbroken Packaging Regulations. Suppliers contained immediately. Drain covers
skin, causing ill effects in other are legally required to provide a should be placed in yard areas to
parts of the body. Breathing in compliant Safety Data Sheet (SDS), prevent the spillage entering the
fine dust or vapour from powder where the most important sections drains.
or liquid spills can cause short or are listed in the Spill Response
long-term ill health. Chemicals may Sequence: For more information about spillages,
enter the lungs and could affect the please contact BPIF Specialist Services
kidneys, liver or heart. Vapour may 1. Is it classified as harmful? Does on 01924 203335 or Phil Ashcroft, Health,
lead to narcotic effects, sleepiness it have danger pictograms on the Safety & Environmental Adviser, at phil.
or even unconsciousness. The original container? ashcroft@bpif.org.uk or on 07801 981 340
effects of chemical spillage are 2. Check the product safety data
even more pronounced in enclosed sheet, follow the advice in the *Pollution Prevention
spaces with poor ventilation. following specific sections: First Guidelines PPG 17

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