Spill Control: NFPA Standards

Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code in NFPA 30, Spill Control:

NFPA 30 outlines requirements for the safe storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids. Key spill control in NFPA Standards measures include:

• Secondary Containment: Facilities must have containment systems capable of holding at least 110% of the largest container’s volume to prevent environmental contamination.
• Drainage Systems: Designs should direct spills away from ignition sources and occupied areas, minimizing fire risks.
• Overfill Protection: Storage tanks require alarms at 90% capacity and automatic shutoffs at 95% to prevent overfilling incidents.

Hazardous Materials Code in NFPA 400:

safety measures for the storage and handling of various hazardous materials in NFPA 400. It mandates:

• Spill Control: Implementation of systems to manage accidental releases effectively.
• Secondary Containment: design of any Structure should has ability to contain spills, preventing the spread of hazardous substances.

Fire Code in NFPA 1:

General fire safety requirements in NFPA 1, including:

Spill Control for Battery Systems:

Facilities with stationary lead-acid batteries must have approved methods to control and neutralize electrolyte spills, maintaining pH levels between 7 and 9.

Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program in NFPA 1500:

NFPA 1500 emphasizes the importance of:

• Hazardous Materials Training: Firefighters and emergency responders must be trained in handling hazardous materials, including spill prevention and control techniques.

Spill Control Methods

NFPA identifies several methods for effective spill control:

• Impounding: Creating barriers to contain spills within a designated area.
• Diking: Constructing embankments around storage areas to prevent the spread of liquids.
• Secondary Containment: design of any Structure/tank should has ability to contain spills/ leaks from primary storage units.

Compliance and Best Practices

To ensure adherence to NFPA standards:

• Regular Inspections: Conduct routine checks of storage and containment systems.
• Employee Training: Educate staff on spill response procedures and the proper use of containment equipment.
• Emergency Planning: Develop and maintain spill response plans, including clear communication protocols and access to necessary resources

 

Spill Control at Site: Standard Operating Procedure

Purpose

This Procedure provides guidelines for handling chemical spills on Site.

Scope

• This Procedure applies to all chemicals, liquid and solid, that can spilt on the Site, and also from site to other nearby areas.

Definitions

Spill

• Any unplanned liquid chemical spill which is greater than one liters or a solid chemical spill which is greater than one kilograms.

Planned Spill

• Any Spill that plan as part of a normal activity e.g. shutdown preparation.

Requirements

Emergency Planning for Spills on Site.

• Nominated person shall ensure that all Plants are subjected to Process Hazard Review Studies as per guidelines to minimise the potential for loss of containment.
• Managers, (Plant, Laboratory, Maintenance, and  Services) shall identify all the different types of spills with quantities that may occur in their areas and have procedures in place for dealing with any spill that might arise. All Procedures shall be specified for each chemical that may be spill/spilt. They shall also examine what physically is in place to contain spills, its adequacy and whether any improvements are necessary to adopt.
• The managers ensure use the information contained in the Material Safety Data Sheets for each chemical for the recommended methods of handling spills.
• The managers shall ensure that they have established the physical means to handle all spills in their area by purchase of appropriate neutralising chemicals and other equipment, kit or tool, and that they have sufficient personnel available to carry out the operation.
• The managers shall communicate with the HSE Manager and agree the role of the Emergency Response Team with respect to handling spills in their areas (e.g. water sprays).

As a first priority, spills should be dealt with by resident personnel as they are more familiar with the hazards and risks of their own chemicals.

•  The managers shall carry out emergency drills twice in a year in handling spills in their areas.
• The managers shall communicate with the Plant/Lab/Medical Managers and inform them of the type of spills that could occur from their areas.
• Plant Plant/Lab/Medical Managers shall issue guideline procedures detailing actions to be taken in the event of various types of spill. In particular they shall define the actions to be taken in the event of the storm water system being contaminated either by direct spillage or by overflow from the Chemical Plant effluent pits.

Dealing with spills on the Site

• Persons finding a spill shall immediately report it to their Shift Manager or equivalent.
• Shift Manager or equivalent shall deal with the spill as per their own local procedures.
• The Shift Manager shall check with the local personnel to see what additional assistance
• If the spill is significant it may come into the category of a Toxic Release emergency in which case the Toxic Release Alarm will  initiate.
• The Shift Manager shall inform medical representative of the nature and quantity of any spill.
• The medical representative shall  evaluate the effects of the spill on the Deep Shaft and take appropriate action.
• The Shift Manager shall be responsible for informing Senior management depending upon the severity of the spill.
• The Shift Manager shall ensure that the spill incident has reported as per procedure.
• The HSE Manager shall be responsible for reporting breaches of consents to the Authorities as per procedure.

Emergency Planning for Spills during transportation

• The Advisory Manager shall ensure that the Plant is subjected to a Process Hazard Review Study as per guidelines to minimise the potential for loss of containment.
• The Area Manager shall identify all the different types of spills (with quantities) that may occur at the Plant and have procedures to deal with any spill that may arise. Procedures shall be specified for each chemical that may be spill/spilt. He shall also examine what physically is in place to contain spills, its adequacy and whether any improvements are necessary. He shall also define actions take in the event of the storm water drains being contaminated.
• The area Manager shall use the information contained in the Material Safety Data Sheets for each chemical for the recommended methods of handling spills.
• The area Manager shall ensure that he has established the physical means to handle all spills in the area by purchase of appropriate neutralising chemicals and other equipment, kit or tool to control, and that he has sufficient personnel to carry out the operation.
• The HSE Manager shall carry out emergency drills once per year in handling spills on this Plant.
• The area Manager shall ensure that there are personnel (including Security Guards) and a vehicle available to respond to emergencies.