Chemical Emergency response | Chemical or Oil Spills or leakage response | Chemical Spill Prevention and Response Procedure

 Chemical Emergency response | Chemical or Oil Spills or leakage response | Chemical Spill Prevention and Response Procedure

Chemical or oil emergency

Emergency response | Spills or leakage response | Spill Prevention and Response Procedure

Spills or Leakage of Hazardous Materials (Oil, Chemical) 

It needs to be ensured that the appropriate storage facility is available for oil, chemical, and lubricant storage. An appropriate arrangement will be in place that includes the drip tray, secondary containment area, and concrete leans / liner beneath the storage containment. The spillage collection kits will be in place in case of oil spillage in the area. The storage facility for oil and lubricant must have fire suppression equipment that are fire extinguishers, sand buckets, fire blankets, and appropriate PPE, s, etc. as detailed in the Waste Management Plan.  Trained workers will be authorized to handle the spill situation. 

In Case of Major Spills:

·         Follow the instructions describe in a poster for emergencies;

·         Do not panic;

·         Do not attempt to clean up the spill without knowledge;

·         Call on the Emergency Task Force numbers (ETF).

·         Inform the immediate supervisor.

·         Do not touch any harmful substance. Take precautions to protect yourself if necessary. Raise the alarm – evacuate persons not involved in contamination from the area. Isolate contaminated individuals and treat them as per the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Isolate affected persons and keep them on site. If required, summon a first aid officer.

·         Close doors to prevent further contamination. Secure the area to keep non-emergency response personnel away from danger.

·         Contact EPC Contractor’s Project Manager or HSE Manager or nearest fire warden. Advise security to notify the emergency services in the event of uncontrolled spills.

·         If the spill presents an immediate danger, evacuate all users.

·         Assist the emergency response personnel and follow the MSDS if the chemical is known.

·         Remove contaminated clothing. Flush with water for at least 15 to 30 minutes.

·         Emergency should consider the immediate danger to persons and ensure effective containment and clean up appropriate disposal of waste material, and notification to all relevant authorities;

·         In conjunction with expert assistance, minimize the spread of contamination and commence decontamination/clean-up procedures.

In Case of Minor Spills:

·         Call for assistance if you are not sure what to do.

·         Alert those in the area.

·         Use protective equipment, use a spills kit to contain the spilled materials.

·         Containment – spills must be cleaned up promptly and thoroughly.

·         Approach with care – many harmful chemicals lack color or offensive odors. Never assume that they are harmless.

·         Identify the chemical(s) and hazards involved – check MSDS

·         Use the information on the physical and chemical properties of the material to judge response and/or evacuation procedures.

·         Decontaminate equipment, clothing, and personnel, including any victims, on-site if necessary.

·         Dispose of contaminated equipment and materials only after receiving specialist advice;

·         Ensure emergency procedures are in place and practiced.

A separate Spill Prevention and Response Procedure have been prepared accordingly to address the requirements of mitigation measures. It will describe how contractors will minimize the risk of spills during the handling, storage, oil, fuel, and other hazardous and nonhazardous materials throughout the construction Project. The Plan also will ensure that emergency response procedures are in place to safely and promptly clean up any spills that occur.

The chain of Command to address the above-mentioned emergency will be as under:

Observer (the Foreman / Worker)          Supervisor             HSE Representative            HSE Manager

Emergency Response Procedures to address any emergency that arises due to a spill of hazardous materials such as fuels, chemicals, oil, paint, etc. will be adopted following the aforesaid Spill prevention procedure. The Emergency Response Team (ERT) will be properly trained in Emergency spill response to ensure that they understand what to do in the event of an emergency spill/release. The ERT will decide the project’s environmental worst-case scenario.

Environmental Emergency Response drills will be an excellent way to improve emergency planning and communication. The emergency drill will be conducted quarterly at places where flammable materials will be used/stored, including explosives magazine, fuel storage, and workshop, and more frequently for foundation workers and workers who work at height of the tower.