WHERE THERES A SPILL,

THERES A WAY
YOUR GUIDE TO
SPILL RESPONSE
Presented By New Pig UK

WHERE THERES A SPILL, THERES A WAY

facebook.com/newpiguk www.newpig.co.uk Freephone 0800 919 900

THIS PRESENTATION IS LIKELY TO BE OF

SPECIAL INTEREST IF YOU HOLD ANY OF
THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:
Maintenance Manager
Technical Specialist
Operations or Production Manager
Engineer
Purchasing Officer
Each year, slips and falls in the
workplace cost employees
their wellbeing and
businesses, their productivity,
profitability and reputation.
This presentation includes
information on the risks to your
employees and business,
preparing for spill incidents, how
to respond to spill incidents and
tips on training responders and
employees.

Environmental Health and Safety Manager

Stores Manager
Administrator
Company Executive or Director
Warehouse Manager
Laboratory Technician

WHERE THERES A SPILL, THERES A WAY

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HAZARDS YOU CANT AFFORD TO

FALL DOWN ON
Many workplace
operations require
liquids to be stored,
moved and
dispensed on site.

Statistics show that

Such processes
involve the risk of
spillages reaching
floors and walkways
turning clean dry
surfaces, that
normally provide
sound footing into
slippery hazards
that can provoke
injurious, even
deadly falls.

95% of major slips result in broken bones.1

Slips and falls are the single most common cause of major injury in
the UK workplace.1

Nearly 11,000 major slip or fall incidents are recorded each year.2
Slip and fall accidents cost employers more than 512 million per
year.1

WHERE THERES A SPILL, THERES A WAY

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YOUR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS

For more information on the regulations you need to comply with, refer to:

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974

THE MANAGEMENT OF H&S AT WORK REGS 1999

THE WORKPLACE (HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE)

REGS 1992

WHERE THERES A SPILL, THERES A WAY

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ITS WORTH
NOTING
Slips and falls on
spilt liquids can
prompt legal
action against you
for noncompliance with
health and safety
legislation.

A SUREFOOTED STRATEGY

More severe spill incidents do happen, even at well-run facilities. To mitigate the
worst dangers such events pose to your employees, your business and the
environment its essential you develop a comprehensive spill response strategy.
This strategy should comprise:
Advance Risk Assessment and Preparation
An incident Response Plan for immediate implementation when a spill occurs
On-going training for managers, incidents responders and other employees.
Seven Steps to Smart Spill Response:
Asses the risk decide the type and amount of liquid that has been spilled and the risk it
poses to spill responders and the environment
Equip the responders if appropriate, ensure responders have protective clothing and
equipment
Confine the spill use Absorbent Socks and non-absorbent Spill Barriers to keep the spill
from spreading into walkways, water sources and drains
Stop the spill at its source this may be as simple as turning a displaced container upright
or closing a valve
Clean up Absorbent Pillows and Mat Pads may be used in conjunction with vacuuming and
pluming equipment to complete clean up after a spill
Decontaminate With initial clean up complete, all those exposed to potentially hazardous
materials will need to be thoroughly decontaminated
Report complete all reporting procedures in accordance with local and national guidelines
for spill incidents

WHERE THERES A SPILL, THERES A WAY

facebook.com/newpiguk www.newpig.co.uk Freephone 0800 919 900

DID YOU KNOW:

Decades of
development,
driven by the
dangers of
slippery surfaces
and by the need
for legal
compliance, have
created highly
effective
containment
products and
technologies to
help you prevent
spilt liquids.

KILL THE SPILL

REMEMBER:
Different PPE types
and styles have
been developed to
protect all parts of
the body from a
myriad of hazards.

ASSESS THE RISK

When a spill happens the first response of all at the scene bust be to STOP,
LOOK and LISTEN.

STOP
Never walk through, taste or touch spilt liquids, or rush into a
spill areas to help a worker who is unconscious or otherwise
injured.

LOOK
See if you can tell how big the spill is and check the container
label or Material Safety Data Sheet to establish the liquid
involved. Look to locate the source of the discharge and control
the equipment available in the area.

LISTEN
Open your ears for any unusual sounds. If you can hear burst
lines or released pressure valves hissing, this will help you
identify the spills source. At this point informing others and
isolating the spill site will help reduce the risk of slip and fall
accidents.
WHERE THERES A SPILL, THERES A WAY
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KILL THE SPILL

TIP:
A PPE suite thats
too small will
stretch, making it
vulnerable to tearing
or bursting. One
thats too large
could billow or drape
to produce an
additional hazard.

EQUIP THE RESPONDERS

In spill situations, its essential that responders are provided with
appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). Some PPE items
commonly include:
Suites these protect responders bodies and you should obtain the
right types for the liquid hazards present in your workplace.
Type 1 or 2 equipment for use when a spilt liquid is
unknown
Type 3 equipment for when spilt liquid demands high
levels of respiratory protection but skin protection is less of a
concern
Type 4 equipment for when the spilt liquid presents
minimal skin hazards and permits the deployment of air
purifying respirators
Type 5 or 6 equipment for use when there is no potential
for splashes, immersion or unexpected inhalation of spilt
liquids.
Gloves these shield hands from corrosive, irritant or excessively hot or
cold liquids.
Goggles these safeguard eyes and faces from chemical splashes, flying
particles and dust
Boot covers correctly sized, these buffer feet from exposure to
chemicals
Respirators these isolate wearers from harmful levels of airborne
contaminants

WHERE THERES A SPILL, THERES A WAY

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KILL THE SPILL

CONFINE THE SPILL

With the risk assessed and enabled by the right PPE, your responders can
move to confine the spill and reduce the hazard it poses.
Establish isolation or work zone to protect all those in the affected area,
especially if the spill presents the danger of an explosion or respiratory hazard.
Utilise your Spill Kits these contain all the supplies you need to confine, control
and clean up an emergency spill. Make sure the Kits and especially the included
Absorbents, are suitable for the liquid hazards in your facility:
Universal Absorbents soak up non-aggressive liquids such as oils,
water, coolants and solvents.
Oil-Only Absorbents take up petroleum based liquids such as motor oil,
hydraulic oil, gasoline, diesel and kerosene.
Haz-Mat or Chemical Absorbents are meant for aggressive liquids
such as acids and caustics, and for unknown liquids.

WHERE THERES A SPILL, THERES A WAY

facebook.com/newpiguk www.newpig.co.uk Freephone 0800 919 900

DID YOU KNOW:

Spill Kits contain
all the supplies
you need to
confine, control
and clean up an
emergency spill.

KILL THE SPILL

STOP THE SPILL AT THE SOURCE

DID YOU KNOW:

Once a spill is contained, youve minimised the risks of slips and falls, waterway
pollution and equipment damage. But to stop the flow of liquid you still need to
eliminate the spills source. This may mean:

At all times, avoid

stepping into
spilled liquid. If
you do, you could
slip and fall,
causing serious
injury; and unless
you clean any
residue form your
footwear, you will
track it round the
workplace,
causing more slip
and fall hazards
for your coworkers.

Righting an upturned container

Placing a leaking vessel in a secondary containment or over pack
Closing a leaky or faulty valve
Plugging a punctured container or hose.

CLEAN UP
With the flow of liquid halted, you can move to assess and conduct the clean up
At all times avoid stepping into spilled liquid. You could slip and fall, causing serious injury.
Unless plant or other items within the affected area require removal or protection from
damage, its best to start from the outside of the spill and work towards the center.
Use the buddy system and make sure youre not responding alone.
Use Absorbent Pillows, Mats and Socks to soak up spilled liquids.
If purity of material is not an issue, you can vacuum certain slips to recover liquid for re-use.
For small spills, such as those common in laboratories, another option is to neutralise the
liquid in question.
Ensure you collect all spent materials used to combat the spill.

WHERE THERES A SPILL, THERES A WAY

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KILL THE SPILL

DECONTAMINATION
Thoroughly cleansing the spill area, all tools and equipment used and the
responders themselves is the final physical stage of your spill response.
Effective decontamination lines are essential to protecting the health and
safety of employees and emergency responders:
People in the spill area whove slipped and fallen, or otherwise injured should be
decontaminated first so they can receive medical treatment.
Practice drills should incorporate wet and dry decontamination procedures so everyone
is familiar with the process and possible scenarios.
Hazardous materials accumulated should be removed or neutralised.

REPORT

Once the liquid spill at your facility is fully cleaned up, you must complete all
notifications required under local and national regulations.

WHERE THERES A SPILL, THERES A WAY

facebook.com/newpiguk www.newpig.co.uk Freephone 0800 919 900

DID YOU KNOW:

At all times, avoid
stepping into
spilled liquid. If
you do, you could
slip and fall,
causing serious
injury; and unless
you clean any
residue form your
footwear, you will
track it round the
workplace,
causing more slip
and fall hazards
for your coworkers.

ABSORB THE LESSONS

Slip, trip and fall incidents in the UK workplace cost 40

workers their lives in 2009 with liquids spilt onto floors and
walkways among the commonest of causes. Best practice
recommends that you:

Assess in advance of any spill event, the exact risks posed by the liquids at your
facility.
Develop a comprehensive 7-step Incident Response Plan.
Ensure all employees are trained, in accordance with their roles and locations, so they
know precisely how to react in a spill event.

WHERE THERES A SPILL, THERES A WAY

facebook.com/newpiguk www.newpig.co.uk Freephone 0800 919 900

DID YOU KNOW:

Sourcing
sufficient reserves
of suitable
Personal
Protection
Equipment, Spill
Kits and other key
suppliers will help
ensure the plans
success should it
ever need to be
implemented.

THANK YOU

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