Spring Fire Department Fluid Spill Management - Limited Size and Hazard PDF

Manual Name: S rin Fire De artment Policies & Procedures Document Title: Fluid Spill Management - Limited Size and Hazard Chiefs Signature: Document Number: SFD.032 Date: 12/06/17 Revision Number: 00 PURPOSE Define for Spring Fire Department (SFD) personnel the operational procedures for limited...

Manual Name: S rin Fire De artment Policies & Procedures Document Title: Fluid Spill Management - Limited Size and Hazard Chiefs Signature: Document Number: SFD.032 Date: 12/06/17 Revision Number: 00 PURPOSE Define for Spring Fire Department (SFD) personnel the operational procedures for limited size fluid spills involving motorized vehicles and other hazards. SCOPE This guideline is for handling fluids from motor vehicles, such as diesel, gasoline, coolant, motor oil, transmission fluid etc. If the spill is beyond the capability of a properly stocked single apparatus, or has the potential to cause adverse environmental impacts, they will not be addressed in this guideline. Incidents of this scope shall be addressed by the appropriate Hazardous Materials guidelines and/or authorities. RESPONSIBILITY All Spring Fire Department personnel are responsible for knowing and complying with this guideline. REVIEW The Fire Chief or designee is responsible for reviewing this guideline annually and ensuring its accuracy. GUIDELINE Upon arrival at the incident, personnel must establish a safe work area. Apparatus and personnel shall be positioned away from the immediate spill area and out of any potential flammable or hazardous zone. The spill must initially have the product(s) identified and the impacUvolume of the spill determined. Additionally, the need for supplemental resources (i.e. Harris County HazMat Team, etc.) must be determined and, if necessary, added to the response. It may be necessary to eliminate any potential ignition sources in the immediate area of the spill. Size up and hazard control will be initiated upon arrival; consider use of initial and ongoing monitoring and the establishment of incremental hazard zones. Appropriate level of protection shall be worn by personnel. Spills on roadways or driving surfaces will be mitigated utilizing absorbent providing that it is compatible with the spilled materials involved. Absorbent materials such as oil-dry, pads, and booms may be used when necessary; however, these materials must be disposed of properly by the party responsible for the spill (RP) or an approved and licensed clean up contractor. Page 1 of 2 Manual Name: Document Number: Spring Fire Department Policies & Procedures SFD.032 Document Title: Date: Fluid Spill Management - Limited Size and Hazard 12/06/17 Chiefs Signature: Revision Number: 00 Contaminated materials will be placed in the care of a damaged vehicle's tow truck operator, or left on scene with an informed responsible representative of the vehicle or transporter, whose obligation it will be to provide for proper mitigation, remediation, and disposal. At no time will the contaminated materials be taken into the possession of SFD, nor transported to any SFD fire station or facility by another entity. The following is additional information regarding Stardust Absorbent. • Use of Stardust to absorb fluid spills other than biohazard/bloodborne pathogen material: • • • • • Stardust should be only moderately applied. It does not take very much to absorb most liquids. The thicker the substance to be absorbed the more absorbent will be needed. Apply Stardust from the edge of the spill inward. o Start at the edge with a small pile and use the proper broom head to stir/agitate the absorbent towards the center of the spill. Do not use any broom not approved for use with Stardust. o Apply additional Stardust only as necessary to maintain the absorbing process. o On a large spill where the absorbent becomes saturated, scoop the spent absorbent into the trash bags or other containment sources. Disposal - Follow all guidelines that are in agreement with the standard disposal and handling protocols of the material absorbed. They should be transported away from the spill location with the vehicle or towing entity that transports the initiating vehicle. Advisory - While Stardust is a very benign material, caution should be taken to avoid contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.), as it will absorb any moisture it comes in contact with and dry out these membranes rapidly. If there is contact with the eyes, flush with water until the effects of dryness are eliminated and do not recur. It can also dry out your skin as it will absorb your surface skin oils. Wearing of medical type shielding gloves is recommended. Use of Stardust to absorb fluid spills that contain biohazard/bloodborne pathogen material: o The absorbance process is the same as above except for the following two aspects: • All persons participating in any form of the cleanup process must wear the appropriate protective clothing/Universal Precautions until they are no longer involved in the process. • The disposal of the collected materials, as well as any contaminated PPE that cannot be decontaminated, must be disposed of in a manner that is consistent with appropriate practices within the laws governing biohazard disposal (use of red biohazard bags, transported by an agency authorized to do so, disposed of at an approved disposal site, etc.). Page 2 of 2