Chemical Spill Response

First: protect yourself

Never enter a spill area without appropriate PPE. Check the SDS for the spilled chemical — Section 6 covers spill cleanup procedures and Section 8 tells you what PPE is required. If you don't know what spilled or don't have the right PPE, keep others out and call for help.

Small spills you can handle

Small spills of non-volatile, non-toxic chemicals can often be cleaned up by trained workers with the right PPE. Follow the SDS cleanup procedures. Use the correct absorbent material — do not use sawdust on flammable liquid spills. Dispose of cleanup materials as hazardous waste.

When to evacuate and call for help

Evacuate the area and call for help when: the spill is large, the chemical is highly toxic or volatile, you don't have appropriate PPE, the spill reaches a drain, or the chemical is unknown. Do not try to be a hero with a chemical you're not trained to handle.

Never mix these

Bleach plus ammonia produces toxic chloramine gas. Bleach plus acids produces chlorine gas. These combinations occur in workplaces where cleaning products are used without thinking about compatibility. Check the SDS Section 10 — reactivity — before using chemicals near each other.

Discussion question

Where is our spill kit located, and does everyone here know what chemicals it's rated to handle?

Documentation Reminder

Record this meeting: date, topic ("Chemical Spill Response"), names of attendees, and facilitator. A signed attendance sheet filed with your safety records is your training documentation. OSHA treats documented safety meetings as evidence of good faith.