Spill control: Thinking ahead for rapid response - fact sheet 4
Straightforward advice to help vehicle repairers get ahead in today’s business environment
Any spill outdoors can pollute the soil and underground waters, or your nearest stream, river, wetland, lake or beach unless you know what to do and do it immediately.
In order to prevent pollution and minimise your environmental liability you need:
- basic containment and clean-up equipment
- training to make sure your staff know how to use it
- a simple notice like those overleaf reminding them what to do
Good basic spill kits come in wheelie bins that contain:
- kitty litter or absorbents to blot up small spills
- booms to contain bigger liquid spills
- drain covers to stop the spill getting into the stormwater system
- personal protective equipment (PPE) if needed
- brooms and mops
- containers to put the collected spill and clean-up materials into
There are lots of commercially available spill kits suitable for use in the automotive industry – look in the Yellow Pages under ‘Environmental consultants’, ‘Environmental products and supplies’ and ‘Pollution control’.
Look out for the spill kit at your local service station next time you fill up – this basic equipment is most likely all you need.
If a spill occurs that harms or threatens or does harm to the environment, you should tell your regional council as soon as you can.
It’s worth remembering that vehicle repair sites are not a high environmental priority for council inspectors – they will normally only turn up if there is a problem, like a spill of oil or paint in a stream. A properly used spill kit could protect your site from such attention.
If you have a spill that gets into soil or water respond promptly to limit its spread and tell your regional council, as soon as you can.
Spill kit (photo courtesy of BP)
Read on to see some examples of simple spill notices that you could use on your premises.
Before you do . . .
- check that the notices are relevant to your site drainage and local environment
- add the phone numbers of your waste contractor and spill kit provider to Steps 6 and 7
- if you have a large site or are part of a bigger site, put a site map next to the spill plan, showing the location of all stormwater grates, drains and chemical storage areas, to help you act fast in the event of a spill
Find out more from
- your local, district or regional council
- the Yellow Pages under ‘Environmental consultants’, ‘Environmental products and supplies’ and ‘Pollution control’
Acknowledgements
IAG NZ gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ministry for the Environment and the use of information from the Auckland Regional Council and Environment Canterbury in tailoring this fact sheet for use in New Zealand.
Thinking ahead
In order to prevent pollution and minimise your environmental liability you need to think ahead about what you need and what to do when a spill occurs on your site.
You may not need a formal, written spill procedure that is specific to your premises, but the steps below will help you plan ahead so that your staff can follow the simple notices overleaf.
1. Be safe
- identify the spilt material. You should hold material safety data sheets (MSDS) for all hazardous materials you use on site
- wear PPE if you need to, or if you don’t know what the material is
2. Stop the source
- for example, turn off the tap or valve, plug the leak, or roll the drum so the hole is on top
3. Protect stormwater
- block access to stormwater grates or unpaved ground using drain covers, sandbags, booms or materials appropriate for the spill
- contain liquid spills with suitable material so they can't spread
- cover powder spills to stop them blowing around, or dampen them where it is safe to do so
4. Notify
- contact your supervisor and inform other agencies such as the Fire Service or your regional council’s Pollution Hotline if the spill escapes your control
5. Clean up
- pump liquid spills into a safe container, absorb them with appropriate materials or mix with a compatible solid so you can sweep them up for disposal
- if the spill needs to be neutralised get a properly qualified staff member, or phone the Fire Service, a reputable waste contractor, or your regional council’s Pollution Hotline and tell them what the material is
- sweep or vacuum up powder spills and put them in a safe container
- don’t walk through the spill if you can avoid it and keep the contaminated area as small as possible
- clean up the area and any contaminated equipment or clothing. Remember to prevent wash water or sweepings from reaching stormwater grates or uncovered ground
6. Dispose responsibly
- reuse uncontaminated material
- dispose of contaminated materials, clean-up equipment or clothing as a waste or ask your waste disposal contractor to dispose of it for you
7. Restock and review
- replace any containment equipment or PPE immediately and complete a spill report to find out how and why the spill occurred
- see what lessons can be learnt to prevent similar incidents in the future
- check your spill procedure – can you improve or update it following the incident?
Staff training
All staff who work with or around hazardous materials should be familiar with the spill procedure. Train your new staff as soon as they start work so they know what to do.
Repeat training regularly and practise your procedures – get everyone to have a go at getting the spill materials out of the kit and using them.
Two basic spill response procedures are shown overleaf. Copy the one you like best, add the necessary phone numbers to Steps 6 and 7, and put it on or near your spill kit for staff to follow if there is a spill.
Rapid response
An effective spill response procedure could look something like this . . .
| SPILLS – WHAT TO DO |
|---|
1. BE SAFE
2. STOP THE SOURCE
3. PROTECT STORMWATER
4. NOTIFY
5. CLEAN UP
6. DISPOSE RESPONSIBILY
7. RESTOCK AND REVIEW
|
Source: Environment Canterbury. Go to www.ecan.govt.nz and look for the industry training resources under ‘Protection and education’.
or this . . .
| IN CASE OF A SPILL OR LEAK | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 BE SAFE |
|
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| 2 STOP THE SOURCE |
|
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| 3 PROTECT STORMWATER |
|
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| 4 NOTIFY |
|
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| 5 CLEAN UP |
|
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| 6 DISPOSE RESPONSIBILY |
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| 7 RESTOCK AND REVIEW | • immediately replace all used clean-up material • asses the cause of the spill and take any steps necessary to prevent recurrence |
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Source: Auckland Regional Council. Go to www.arc.govt.nz and look for the pollution fact sheets under ‘Environment’.
