Spill Response

All Spills, Accidental Releases and Fires must be reported in the UBC Centralized Accident Incident Reporting System (CAIRS)

It is essential that every lab is equipped with a spill kit that is intended for the chemicals listed in the chemical inventory. The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to do a spill clean-up is dependent on the chemical and the hazards it poses. Having an up to date chemical inventory can ensure that the correct spill kit and PPE is in place. Below is a general spill clean-up procedure:

Ensure personal safety
You may respond to the spill if ALL the conditions below are satisfied:
1. The spill is small (<1L)
2. You are trained in spill clean-up
3. You know the identity of the spill
4. You have the appropriate PPE
5. You have the appropriate spill kit
6. You feel confident
Report the incident in the UBC Centralized Accident Incident Reporting System (CAIRS)

Note: If any of the conditions listed in step 2 are not satisfied or there is any doubt about safety responding to a spill, do not attempt to clean up the spill. Call 911 and Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services will notify the Hazmat Team.

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Spill reporting forms and procedures

UBC Spill Response

As required by law, Environmental Services alerts the appropriate authority to external releases of dangerous goods to air, water and/or land. Completing the UBC Spill Reporting Form ensures that all hazardous material spills are reported as required.
Workers may be able to respond to a small, contained spill; however, one should never put oneself at risk. If there is any doubt about safely responding to a spill, immediately call 911. Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) will notify the Hazmat Team. You must also notify Safety & Risk Services by phoning the Main Office at 604-822-2029.

In the event of a spill or release of hazardous material, persons in the immediate area should act to ensure their personal safety.

Follow your work area’s spill response procedures.
Act quickly to stop, contain and minimize the effects of the spill, and to clean up the affected area, where possible and safe.
Identify the material and the quantity spilled.
Contact the Building Operations Service Centre at 604-822-2173 to arrange for quick spill response for vehicular oil leaks/spills on campus (e.g. roads and parking areas).
Immediately report the spill to Safety & Risk Services and complete the Spill Reporting Form as soon as possible

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Spill prevention

Taking a few simple precautions to prevent a spill will eliminate the headaches that come with cleaning up after one!

Remain in attendance when tanks and open containers are being filled
Use a funnel when transferring liquids from one container to another
Place trays under open containers and the spouts of liquid storage containers
Use secondary containers whenever carrying materials from one location to another. Keeping staff trained and updated on emergency response procedures and conducting periodic review sessions for all work areas ensures everybody is well prepared.

Be prepared

Keep a copy of your department’s spill procedure in your work area (include contacts, evacuation route, and location of spill response materials)
Include brief emergency response procedures inside hazardous materials storage rooms and waste accumulation areas
Train employees in advance on when and how to use spill response materials properly
Test and clean-up equipment periodically and maintain hazardous materials inventory
Keep rubber mats, temporary drain plugs, or berms in the storage area so drains can be blocked immediately
For small spills, use chemical spill pillows or appropriate adsorbent materials
For non-hazardous materials, use absorbents that can be swept or picked up such as sawdust, vermiculite, kitty litter, oil-dry, or activated charcoal (avoid the use of too much absorbent, as it increases waste volume)

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Spill prevention best practices

Choose Safe Storage Containers

Selecting proper storage containers is the first step in preventing spills and leaks.

Keep products in their original containers, or clearly label containers and cover the labels with transparent tape to keep them from falling off or weathering
Ensure containers are in good condition and lined with a material that won’t deteriorate
Ensure outdoor storage containers are water-tight, rodent-proof and protected from tampering
Construct covered outdoor storage areas with impermeable basins designed to contain leaks and spills
Place primary containers within a larger, leak-proof, secondary containers or use spill pallets.

Design Appropriate Storage Areas

A few design features dramatically reduce the chance that spills or leaks will get out of control. Secondary containment is the key method to contain a spill or leak should the original container fail.

Use secondary containers that are able to hold at least as much as the original volume. For hazardous materials, the law requires that the secondary container be 10% larger than the original container (110% of total container volume)
Place an appropriately sized containment platform (spill pallet) under large containers, barrels or drums
Use buckets, pans or trays as secondary containers for small quantities of hazardous materials. (Continue this practice at home by placing pesticides, household cleaners, automotive fluids, etc.)
Close floor drains or provide drain covers to prevent spills and leaks to the sanitary and storm systems
Seal all the cracks in the floor and corners and by covering the floor with a chemical resistant floor sealer to prevent leaking
Convert existing rooms or areas into secondary containment areas to facilitate the storage of several hazardous materials and to minimize the need for duplicate emergency clean-up materials
Construct low walls, curbs or berms at the perimeter of the designated storage area to contain spills
Position door sills high enough to keep any spilled or leaking materials confined to the hazardous materials/ waste storage rooms
Place containers away from the edges to prevent liquids from squirting out of punctured containers and out of the containment areas
Never allow storage areas to drain to any part of the storm water management system by connecting drains to a dead-end holding tank, especially when storing hazardous or petroleum based products. (If a spill occurs, the tank’s contents will need to be pumped-out and disposed by a licensed waste contractor).

Use Appropriate Spill Containment Products

Suitable absorbents and spill containment products (absorbent socks, mats, containment pallets, spill berms, drain covers, etc.) allow you to create proper countermeasures that contain, clean up and mitigate the effects of spills. Note: links below are suggestions and examples only, you may be able to purchase these specialized products from various other vendors.

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