Spills

Safe work practices must be followed at all times to prevent leaks and spills. This includes:

1. Good housekeeping;
2. Using appropriate storage facilities, including bunding or other secondary containment systems;
3. Carrying out regular inspection of packages and containers;
4. Using appropriate equipment and methods for the transport of chemicals.

Spills should be dealt with as soon as they occur.

Major Spills

1. Alert those in the area and evacuate;
2. Dial 4444;
3. Inform the warden and follow the areas emergency procedure;
4. Keep personnel away from the area;
5. Report the incident on the on-line reporting system.

Minor Spills of Acids

1. Do not take unnecessary risks;
2. Alert those in the area;
3. Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment;
4. Contain the spill by covering drains and/ or surrounding the spill with earth or sand;
5. Carefully neutralize the acid with soda ash or sodium bicarbonate;
6. Scoop the material into a sealable plastic container;
7. Repeat steps 5 & 6;
8. Wash the area with excess water;
9. Clean up and leave area dry;
10. Report the incident on the on-line reporting system.

Minor Spills of Alkalis

1. Do not take unnecessary risks;
2. Alert those in the area;
3. Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment;
4. Contain the spill by covering drains and/ or surrounding the spill with earth or sand;
5. The alkali may be carefully neutralized with citric acid;
6. Scoop the material into a sealable container;
7. Repeat steps 5 & 6;
8. Wash the area with excess water;
9. Clean up and leave area dry;
10. Report the incident on the on-line reporting system.

Minor Spills of Organic Solvents

1. Do not attempt to clean up if there is an ignition source present;
2. Do not take unnecessary risks;
3. Alert those in the area;
4. Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment;
5. Absorb the spill using a solvent absorbent moving from the perimeter inward;
6. Mix thoroughly with plastic scoops and transfer to an appropriate disposal container (check with the Safety Data Sheet(SDS));
7. Repeat steps 5 & 6;
8. Clean up and leave area dry;
9. Report the incident on the on-line reporting system.