AKU SPILL MANAGEMENT

Prevention, Assessment, Reporting and Cleanup

Hazard Tags

Wards Area Spill Kit

Wards Area Spill Kit Contents

SPILL MANAGMENT
COMMON KINDS OF SPILL CHEMICAL SPILLS:
and drugs. These include all chemicals i.e Cidex, spirit, acids, bases

BIOLOGICAL SPILLS: These include blood & body fluids and other potentially
infectious materials.

CYTOTOXIC SPILLS: These include cytotoxic drugs. Likelihood: Wards /

pharmacies such as D2, C1 and wards near to them.

MERCURY SPILLS: These include spills of mercury from B.P apparatus &
thermometers.

Chemical Spill Response

Chemical Spill Response

Wear appropriate personal protective equipment like Gloves, Goggles, Vapor Masks, and Respirators etc. Check with pH paper see if it is acidic or basic nature spill ( if the substance spilled is unknown). If the spill is acidic or basic then apply appropriate neutralizer to the perimeter of the spill Mix thoroughly until neutralization is complete. Check the mixture with pH paper to ensure neutralizalization is complete ( for Hypochlorite, Cidex & Spirit neutralization is not needed, just wash with water). After neutralization is done, put absorbent materials on the spill, scoop up the material & transfer mixture into red polyethylene bag and tie shut & send for incineration. Wash and clean the area with water.

Precautions
Alert people in immediate area of spill. Wear appropriate protective gloves, goggles, long sleeve lab coat. Avoid breathing vapors from the spill Confine spill to small area & absorb on absorbent pads. Clean spill area with soap & water. Collect all contaminated absorbent, gloves & residues in plastic bag lined garbage can. Label and dispose of properly.

How do hazardous chemicals affect the body?

The effect a certain chemical has on the body depends on several factors:
The physical form of the chemical How the chemical enters the body The amount of chemical that actually enters the body - the dose How toxic (poisonous) the chemical is

How Chemicals Enter the Body

There Are Three Routes of Entry:
Ingestion swallowing the chemical

Inhalation breathing in the chemical

Absorption the chemical soaks through the skin

How Chemicals Enter the Body

Ingestion (Swallowing)
Chemicals that are swallowed are absorbed in the digestive tract. Chemicals can rub off dirty hands and contaminate food, drinks or tobacco products.

Chemicals in the air can settle on food or drink and be swallowed.

How Chemicals Enter the Body

Inhalation (Breathing)
Airborne chemicals are breathed in through the mouth or nose. The size of particles or droplets can affect where the chemical settles in the respiratory tract.
Where the chemical settles in the respiratory tract determines what symptoms or diseases will develop.

How Chemicals Enter the Body

Skin Absorption
Some chemicals can pass through the skin and be taken into the bodys systems.

Solvents and pesticides are examples of compounds that can be absorbed through the skin.

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Chemical Toxicity
Chronic Toxicity and Acute Toxicity
Some chemicals will only make you sick if you get an acute or high dose all at once. Example - ammonia
Some chemicals are mainly known for their chronic or long-term effects. Example - asbestos Most chemicals have both acute and chronic effects. Example carbon monoxide 17

Chemical Toxicity
Chemical Exposure Limits
Many chemicals have exposure limits, or allowable amounts of a chemical in the air.
These limits are often called PELs or TLVs. They are based on 8-hour average exposure or ceiling or peak levels.

Levels must be kept below these limits for safety.

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Material Safety Data Sheets

Material Safety Data Sheets

Identity name, address, and telephone number of the manufacturer date MSDS was prepared hazardous components & exposure limits physical and chemical characteristics physical hazards health hazards precautions for safe handling and use control measures emergency and firstaid procedures primary route(s) of exposure listed as a known or suspected carcinogen

BIOLOGICAL SPILLS

Put on 3M Face masks due to dissipation of aerosols in air then enter the area. Use specific decontaminant like Sodium Hypochlorate / Sodium Thio Sulphate [ cyto spills] let it stand for 20 min. Put absorbent materials, collect and Transfer all contaminated material into a red bag Wash area with soap / detergent, water and collect with paper towels and discard in red bag with disposable gloves and send for incineration Wash hand and the effected person thoroughly, take shower and change clothes.

HIGH EFFICIENCY FILTERS

Filter that is at least 99.97% efficient in removing monodisperse particles of 0.3 micrometers in diameter. (HEPA filter per NIOSH 30 CFR 11)
Equivalent NIOSH 42 CFR 84 particulate filters are the N100, R100, and P100 filters.

RED BINS FOR BIOLOGICAL SPILL

Must be rigid, puncture-proof, leak-proof & covered Not acceptable

Labels have to be affixed on all 4 sides of the container.

CYTOTOXIC DRUG SPILLS

1 ampoule or less than 100 ml Wear disposable chemotherapy gowns and a double layer of surgical latex gloves. Use chemical splash goggles if necessary. Clean up liquids with absorbent pads or ether absorbent materials; clean up solids by washing area twice with detergent solution decontaminant like Sodium Hypochlotate / Sodium Thio Sulphate. Follow with a clean water rinse. Place all waste items, including any broken glass, used absorbent pads, gown, gloves and any non-cleanable contaminated items in a puncture resistant chemotherapy waste container. Wash any contaminated reusable items in a sink with detergent, followed by a clean water rinse. Wear double gloves.

SMALL SPILLS:

Greater than 1 ampule or 100 ml Limit spread of spill by covering liquid with absorbent pads spill control pillows, or other absorbent materials. Cover solids with a damp cloth or towel. Care must be taken not to create aerosols. Restrict access to the spill area. Fill incident report:

LARGE SPILLS:

Mercury is a Hazardous Material

Mercury

(Hg) is a hazardous material as defined by:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources U.S. Dept. of Transportation

Mercury is a Toxic Substance

Mercury

poisoning can result in severe health problems affecting the nervous system and other organs.
Tremors Changes in vision or hearing Sleeplessness Weakness Difficulty with memory Headaches Anger Shyness and nervousness

Mercury Exposure & Prevention

Routes

of exposure

Inhalation
Main

hazard Evaporates releasing hazardous vapors

Skin absorption
Personal

Protective Equipment Required

Nitrile gloves Safety glasses Closed-toed shoes Lab coat

MERCURY SPILLS

Evacuate the spill area, after people leave make sure that their shoes clothing and other articles are not splashed with mercury. Secure the area & restrict admission.

Lower the temperature, cooler the temperature, the less mercury vapors that will be released into the air.
Turn off ventilating / air circulating system that could circulate air from the spill area to other areas

MERCURY SPILLS

Close interior doors, leading to inside areas and open exterior doors & windows for force ventilation outside. Contain the spill, surround or block off mercury to keep it from spreading onto sloped or porous surface divert all the mercury from floor drains and cracks or crevices. Assemble clean up supplies, Hg absorb powder, or powdered sulfur, zinc, paper tissues, plastic container with lid, plastic dust pan, plastic sponge, masking tape, syringe. Gloves, Flashlight, Floor sign, Plastic box, Red Bags.

MERCURY SPILLS

Dress appropriately; remove all the jewellery from hands & wrists so that mercury does not combine with precious metals (mercury amalgamates with precious metals). Pick all the visible droplets, clean up the mercury beads using plastic squeegee / rubber sponge, index card, plastic dust pan, masking tape. Transfer mercury into unbreakable plastic container tighten the lid so that vapors do not escape. Remove dispose off contaminated carpet/ clothes and other articles that come in contact.

Sprinkle fine powder sulfur / zinc on spill site; bind any remaining mercury with these powders. Droplets may also be detected by a sodium sulfide solution; this solution may also be sprayed on an affected person (but not the eyes, mucous membranes, or the mouth). Any mercury present will show up as dark, reddish brown stains. Put in land fill site do not dispose in trash Wash hands using sulfur soaps, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide solution and the area with hypochlorite solution. Continue ventilation of the area for 2 days.

MERCURY SPILLS