This document provides a guide for responding to spills and preventing pollution. It outlines company responsibilities under environmental legislation and an ISO14001 environmental management system. It describes drainage systems, spill prevention products, and how to use absorbents and spill kits to deal with spills. Proper waste disposal routes and reporting procedures for spills or leaks are also covered.

1. A SIMPLE GUIDE FOR RESPONDERS.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION/ISO14001.
COMPANY/ESTABLISHMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS.
POLLUTION PREVENTION AND PRODUCTS AVAILABLE
ON SITE.
 DRAIN COVERS, LOOSE & SYNTHETIC ABSORBENTS.
SPILL KITS.
DEALING WITH SPILLS THEORY.
WASTE STREAM MANAGEMENT (CORRECT DISPOSAL ROUTES).
SALES & TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
PRACTICAL EXERCISE (SPILL RESPONSE).
Q & A DEBRIEF AND SUMMARY OF TRAINING.

3. •THE SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
CONTINUES TO WIDEN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AS
TO DOES THE MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT
OF THIS LEGISLATION.
•THE LEGISLATION IN ITS MOST BASIC TERM HAS
ONE GUIDING PRINCIPLE AND THIS IS: NO
MATTER WHAT THE PROCESS IS UNDERTAKEN
WITHIN A COMPANY OR ESTABLISHMENT, ITS
DAY TO DAY PROCESS MUST NOT HAVE AN
ADVERSE IMPACT (IT MUST NOT POLLUTE), A
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT.

4. A LOCAL ENVIRONMENT CAN MEAN A
RIVER, STREAM/BURN OF SOAKAWAY.

5. TO ENSURE CONFORMITY TO THE LEGISLATION
COMPANIES OR ESTABLISHMENTS WILL INSTALL A
PERSON TO HEAD UP ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL.
 SUCH A PERSON TODAY CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED TO
MANAGE THE OVERALL HEALTH, SAFETY, QUALITY &
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE COMPANY AND THEY
WILL THEREFORE BE KNOWN AS THE HSQE MANAGER.
IN LARGE COMPANIES OR ESTABLISHMENTS THIS
MANAGER WILL APPOINT HSQE
ADVISORS/CHAMPIONS/TEAM LEADS, TO HELP THEM
MANAGE THIS REQUIREMENT.

6. MAINTAIN THE COMPANY ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.
MANAGE THE COMPANY ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS).
MANAGE THE COMPANY ISO 14001 ACCREDITATION.
MAINTAIN ACCURATE DETAILS OF ALL SYSTEMS WHICH
DEMONSTRATE “CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT”

7. THE MOST SENSITIVE TARGET ON ANY SITE IS
ITS DRAINS.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE ANY SPILAGE OF A
CONTAMINATE TO A DRAIN WILL HAVE
CONSEQUENCES DUE TO WHERE A DRAIN WILL
TERMINATE:
SURFACE WATER DRAINS – RIVER, STREAM,
BURN OR SOAKAWAY.
FOUL & EFFLUENT DRAINS- A TREATMENT
DEPOT (NORMALLY MANAGED BY THE LOCAL
WATER AUTHORITIES).

8. LEGISLATIVE CONSENT TO DISCHARGE LEVELS ARE
PUT IN PLACE AND MONITORED BY THE EA/SEPA
AND WATER AUTHORITIES TO ENSURE COMPANIES
DO NOT DISCHARGE CONTAMINATES VIA HIGHLY
SENSITIVE DRAINS TO RIVERS ETC OR TO EFFLUENT
PLANTS WHERE THEY COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS
WITH ONGOING TREATMENT PROCESSES.
COMPANY HSQE MANAGERS WILL HAVE SYSTEMS
IN PLACE (EITHER WITH ONSITE PERSONNEL OR
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WITH LOCAL WASTE
COMPANIES), TO MANAGE THEIR CONSENT TO
DISCHARGE LEVELS.

9. SURFACE WATER DRAINS WILL BE COLOUR
CODED BLUE
FOUL DRAINS WILL BE COLOUR CODED RED
EFFLUENT DRAINS WILL BE COLOUR CODED
GREEN

10. ANY PRODUCT WITH A HYDROCARBON BASE
POSES A CONTAMINATION RISK TO SURFACE
WATER DRAINS THEREFORE INTERCEPTORS ARE
REQUIRED TO BE INSTALLED ON SITES:

11. FOR PROCESS AREAS EMPLOYING CHEMICALS
OR DETERGENTS INTERCEPTORS MAY BE USED
BUT AS THEY ARE PRIMARILY EMPLOYED FOR
HYDROCARBON PRODUCTS…………….
THE INTERCEPTOR MUST BE OF THE ISOLATING
DESIGN AND VALVES MUST BE SHUT TO PREVENT
CHEMICALS OR DETERGENTS BEING RELEASED
WITHOUT TREATMENT OR CONTROL IN
POTENTIAL BREECH OF THE CONSENT TO
DISCHARGE LIMITS IMPOSSED ON THE SITE.

12. IN COMPLIENCE WITH THE SITE ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICY & IN SUPPORTING THIS POLICY THROUGH ITS
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS):
HSQE WILL INSTALL SITE WIDE PROCEEDURES FOR
HOW YOU WORK ON A DAILY BASIS, HOW TO
PREVENT SPILLS AND IF THEY HAPPEN, HOW TO
SAFETLY RESPOND TO MINOR LEAKS AND WEEPS
THROUGH TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO LARGER
SPILLS.
DAILY USE EQUIPMENT WILL BE PROVIDED FOR
MINOR INCIDENTS. EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT WILL
BE PROVIDED FOR LARGER INCIDENTS.

13. STORE DRUMS AND IBCS ON CONTAINMENT
PALLETS OR WITHIN BUNDED FACILITIES.
MAKE SURE THAT CLOSURES ON DRUMS ARE
SECURE AND VALVES ARE CLOSED OFF.
 REPORT ANY LEAKS WEEPS OR SPILLS.
ONLY ALLOW ACCESSS TO SUCH FACILITIES TO
PERSONELL DEEMED COMPETENT IN TEIR
HANDLING AND OPERATION.

14. • IT IS ADVISABLE THAT ROAD FUEL OR WASTE
TANKERS ARE LOADED/UNLOADED UNDER
SUPERVISION OF A SITE EMPLOYEE AND THAT
HE/SHE IS DEEMED TO BE COMPTETENT.
• IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, ENSURE THE ROAD
TANKER DRIVER/OPERATOR IS AWARE OF WHO
TO CALL IN AN EMERGENCY.

15. THERE ARE TWO MAIN TYPES:
REUSABLE.
SINGLE (ONE OFF USE).

16. LOOSE ABSORBENTS COME IN THE FORM OF
CLAY GRANULES.
THESE ARE EMPLOYED FOR HYDROCARBON
SPILLS AND CAN ALSO BE PACKAGED FOR
EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT THESE ARE
EMPLOYED UNDER CONTROL TO AVOID THE
GRANULES BEING DISTRIBUTED AROUND THE
WORK PLACE ON THE WHEELS OF FORKLIFTS OR
ON THE FOOT WEAR OF EMPLOYEES.

17. OIL ABSORBENT PADS : WHITE IN
COLOUR (HYDROPHOBIC: REPEL WATER)
USED FOR OIL SPILLS.
MAINTENANCE ABSORBENT PADS: GREY
IN COLOUR. USED FOR RECOVERY OF
EMULSIFIED HYDROCARBON SPILLS, HYDROCARBONS,
PAINTS & SOLVENTS.
HAZARDOUS ABSORBENT PADS: LIGHT GREEN IN COLOUR.
USED AS A UNIVERSAL PAD: WATER THROUGH
TO HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS RECOVERY.

18. ABSORBENT SOCKS (AGAIN THREE
TYPES AND VARIOUS SIZES).
ABSORBENT PILLOWS (THREE TYPES
AND VARIOUS SIZES).
ABSORBENT BOOMS (THREE TYPES)
THE WHITE BOOM IS USED FOR RIVER
OR SEA CONTAINMENT THE MAINTENANCE AND
HAZARDOUS ABSORBENT BOOMS
ARE EMPLOYED ON LAND.

19. THE SPILL RESPONSE KITS COME IN VARIOUS
SIZES AS DICTATED BY THE RISK ASSESSMENT.
THEY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE THREE TYPES
AND AGAIN THE TYPE IS DETERMINED BY THE
SPILL PRODUCT RISK. THE SPILL KITS ARE
LABELLED TO SHOW BY TYPE!

20. THE REUSABLE DRAIN COVERS WILL EITHER BE
FITTED TO THE WALL AT A RISK PROCESS OR HELD
WITHIN THE SPILL KIT.
PRIOR TO UNDER TAKING A LOAD/UNLOAD
PROCESS, REMOVE THE DRAIN COVER FROM ITS
POLYTHENE WRAPPING AND LAY IT OVER THE “AT
RISK DRAIN”.

21. CARRY OUT THE LOAD/UNLOAD PROCESS UNTIL
COMPLETION.
ONLY ONCE THE PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLETED ARE
YOU TO REMOVE THE DRAIN COVER FROM THE DRAIN.
RE-ROLL THE DRAIN COVER IN THE POLYTHENE WRAP TO
PREVENT IT STICKING TO ITSELF.
IF THE DRAIN COVER HAS BECOME CONTAMINATED WIPE
WITH AN ABSORBENT OR WASH IN SOAPY WATER, DRY IT
OFF AND RE-ROLL IN THE POLYTHENE WRAP.
REPLACE ON WALL OR BACK IN THE SPILL RESPONSE KIT.

22. DAILY USE TO PREVENT OR RECOVER MINOR
LEAKS & WEEPS (WORK PLACE CLEANLINESS).

23.  THINK SAFETY ALWAYS (IS THERE ANY RISK TO
YOU OR ANYONE ELSE THROUGH WHAT YOU ARE
ABOUT TO DO)?
WILL YOU NEED HELP (IF YOU SEND SOMONE
AWAY FOR HELP OR CONTACT BY RADIO OR
PHONE, MAKE SURE YOU ASK THEM TO LET YOU
KNOW WHEN HELP IS ON THE WAY)!
 CAN YOU IDENTIFY WHAT HAS BEEN SPILT (ARE
THERE ANY IDENTIFYING LABELS OR MARKINGS).

24. MAKE SURE YOU ARE WEARING THE CORRECT
.PPE
CAN YOU ISOLATE THE SOURCE OF THE SPILL
(STAND A CONTAINER UP, TURN OFF A PUMP OR
VALVE ETC)?
DO YOU NEED TO PROTECT ANY AT RISK DRAINS
BEFORE YOU DEAL WITH THE SPILL?
WHAT DO YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO CONTAIN
THE SPILL

25.  BREAK THE SECURITY TAG ON YOUR SPILL KIT.
THINK SAFETY: NEVER WALK THROUGH THE
SPILT LIQUID!
OPEN THE SPILL KIT AND USE THE SOCKS TO
CONTAIN THE SPILL (ENCIRCLE IT).
USE THE PADS OR PILLOWS TO ABSORB WHAT
HAS BEEN CONTAINED.
LIFT THE ABSORBENTS ONLY ONCE YOU ARE
HAPPY EVERYTHING HAS BEEN RECOVERED.
REPORT YOUR ACTIONS (SO THAT IT CAN BE
LOGGED AND THE ABSORBENTS REPLACES).

26.  ITS IMPORTANT TO REPORT NEAR MISS OR
ONGOING MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS WITH
LEAKS OR WEEPS.
IF A SPILL HAS ENTERED A DRAIN YOUR
COMPANY WILL HAVE A PROCEEDURE WHICH
TELLS YOU WHO NEEDS TO BE TOLD:
HSQE,WATER AUTHORITIES OR EA, SEPA, EPA.
TELEPHONE NUMBERS OR WHO TO INFORM
INFORMATION SHOULD BE ON DISPLAY IN WORK
AREAS!
FINALLY: CORRECT DISPOSAL OF
CONTAMINATED ABSORBENTS……..

27. CONTAMINATED ABSORBENTS SHOULD NEVER BE MIXED WITH
GENERAL WASTE.
THEY NEED TO SEGREGATED IN
HAZARDOUS/SPECIAL WASTE BINS/SKIPS.
ONLY LICENSED WASTE COMPANIES
SHOULD BE EMPLOYED FOR WASTE
REMOVAL.
WASTE TRANSFER NOTE RECORDS MUST BE
KEPT AND RETAINED FOR AUDIT.
PERIODICALLY: HSQE SHOULD AUDIT
WASTE COMPANY SITES TO ENSURE
CRADLE TO GRAVE CORRECT DISPOSAL.

29.  LEGISLATION & COMPANY RESPONSIBILITIES.
ISO14001.
PREVENTION MEASURES DAILY USE PRODUCTS.
DRAINS: TYPES AND COLOUR CODES INCLUSIVE OF
DRAIN PROTECTION COVERS.
ABSORBENTS: TYPES AND USES.
WASTE STREAM MANAGEMENT (CORRECT DISPOSAL
ROUTES).
REPORTING SPILLS AND NEAR MISS INCIDENTS.
DEALING WITH SPILLS (THEORY & PRACTICAL).
ORDERING & TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
ANY FINAL QUESTIONS?