Mastering Chemical Spill Response: Supplies to Gather to Evacuate From Emergency Situations

A surprising variety of toxic chemicals are stored in the home and workplace. While these compounds have entirely benign uses, they present the potential for significant injury and even death if improperly stored or spilled. 

Your home and workplace emergency planning should take into account hazardous substances and what to do to control the spill in an emergency. 

We'll cover:

• How to make an emergency plan for chemical spills

• Hazards of the chemicals stored in your home

• Potential industrial and transportation hazards 

• When and how to evacuate 

If you wait until there is a containment incident, it's already too late to have a thorough response. Stocking your home or workplace with appropriate PPE and a safety plan is the key. 

Source:  Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Immediate Steps to Take When a Chemical Spill Occurs

Chemical spills require emergency response tactics. If you work routinely with harsh chemicals in the workplace, OSHA guidelines mandate training for storing and cleaning the area properly.

But what about chemical spills in the home? 

Here are common threats and steps to take in the event of a spill.

Important note: if there is a spill of flammable chemicals or other immediately dangerous substances (like carbon monoxide), immediately evacuate others from the area and call 911. Do not try to "rescue" personal possession or property. A professional response team may be needed from emergency services. 

If you think someone is exhibiting poisoning symptoms (difficulty breathing, skin burns/rashes, dizziness, stomach pain, headache, blurred vision), immediately call the national poison control center at 800-222-1222.

Quick Response Steps 

Moving quickly is essential to neutralize potential threats. Here are the immediate steps you should take in the event of a chemical spill:

Step 1: Assess the situation. Determine what kind of spilled chemical you are dealing with. Identify key hazardous like volatility, flammability, and toxicity. Depending on the compound and volume, you may have to evacuate and call emergency services, or you may be able to clean the area yourself. 

Step 2: Ensure personal safety. Wear PPE to mitigate personal risk. This includes gas masks to filter our dust and fumes, chemical-resistant gloves, and protective suits and footwear. 

Step 3: Contain the spill. Limit the spill area as much as possible. Use absorbent material, spill pillows, or barriers to prevent spills from spreading. Plug any drains to prevent chemical runoff into the local water supply and ground water 

Step 4: Alert others. Issue a notification to everyone in the area. Evacuate anyone not necessary to help clean up. Steps should be taken to notify emergency services and possible the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of extremely serious spills. 

Step 5: Follow cleaning protocols. Safely clean the affected area by following all documented protocols for the particular spill. 

Source: Brandon Griggs on Unsplash

Contamination in the Home: Garage and Cleaning Chemicals

"Chemical" doesn't necessarily mean dangerous - after all, sugar is a chemical.

That said, even a small spill of certain harsh chemicals can have disastrous effects in the home, garage, or work shop. Common harsh chemicals stored in residential areas include:

• Ammonia

• Chlorine

• Bleach

• Acetone

• Hydrogen peroxide

• Drain cleaners

• Antifreeze

• Formaldehyde

• Rat poison

• Acetone

• Ethanal

• Ammonium quaternary compounds

This is not an exhaustive list. Not all of these chemicals are particularly harmful on their own, but when mixed together can create poisonous fumes. 

 Children are commonly seen in emergency rooms across the country for inadvertently drinking cleaning liquids or car fluids. It's particularly vital to keep chemicals stored and locked properly if there are children or pets in the home. 

Beside the threats posed by common household chemicals, industrial and transportation accidents are more common than you might think. If you live near a railroad, factory, or major highway, you may want to consider preparing for a major chemical accident at any time.

READ NOW: Protecting Lives and Assets: Understanding Chlorine Gas Leaks in Industrial and Local Areas

Gather the Right Supplies: Build a Chemical Spill Kit

Proper personal protective equipment must be worn when dealing with any hazardous chemicals. 

Source:  CDC on Unsplash

Here are key elements to have on hand any time you attempt to clean chemical spills.

Splash goggles: Many chemicals can damage your eyesight. Wear tight-fitting safety goggles to ensure that you don't splash any chemicals into your eyes or damage them with toxic vapor. 

Chemically resistant gloves: Latex gloves for medical use are usually not sufficient for chemical cleanup. Look for gloves that provide a secure grip and are safe to use for harsh substances, like the MIRA Safety NC-11 Protective CBRN Gloves 

Heavy duty plastic bag: Look for sealed disposal bags that provide secure double bag disposal of hazardous waste. 

Protective suit: Contaminated clothing can spread dangerous compounds throughout your home. Protect your clothing with a chemical-resistant suit, like the MIRA Safety HAZ-Suit, which is available in six different sizes. 

Air purifying respirator: The lungs are incredible sensitive. Use appropriate full-face respirators to protect against harsh fumes and dust that a spill may cause.

We highly recommend the MIRA Safety CM-I01 Full-Face Respirator for personal use. This provides the same level of protection used in industrial settings and is compatible with any of our 40-mm standard air-purifying filters, to protect against a wide variety of threats and hazards. 

Best Practices for Chemical Spill Containment

State and local agencies govern the proper way to store chemicals and remediate spills. Regulatory compliance is legally mandated for businesses and may be required by your homeowners' or renters' insurance policy.  

Here are some steps to help you quickly decontaminate and clean a spill area without spreading residue. 

Block drains: Always block nearby water sources, floor drains, and any sloped areas to prevent chemical runoff. This can poison local water sources, wildlife, and plans. 

Turn off ignition and heat sources: Some chemicals can produce fumes that present significant fire hazards. Turn off natural gas, electric, and heat sources from a safe distance. Avoid starting a car or anything else that could create a spark.

Use absorbent materials: Different chemicals require different absorbents. For example, oil-based spills need hydrophobic pads, while acidic spills may need neutralizers. Polypropylene-based absorbent pads can be a good solution for cleaning oil spills.

Source: Absorbents Online 

Consider evacuation: At any point during cleanup, evacuating the area may be necessary. Don't become so committed to "getting the job done" that you risk injury during cleanup. Follow emergency evacuation protocols and call emergency response services if needed. 

Regular safety drills: Just like a fire escape scenario, you should practice your chemical spill response drill periodically. Make sure household members and anyone else using the space know proper response protocols. 

Don't work alone: Ideally, have at least one other competent adult help you clean a chemical spill, no matter how small. If there is a splash in your eyes, or you accidentally breathe in fumes, you may not be able to call emergency services on your own. That could be life threatening. 

How to Notify the EPA of Major Spills

Unfortunately, serious spills can affect more than just your own home.

If you suspect someone else of dumping chemicals in a public area: the EPA has a tip form you can complete here to report serious violations that might harm the public. 

If there's a spill in your home, workshop, or farm: If its a minor spill that does not pose an immediate public health risk, you should notify local authorities if the spill wasn't contained.

For spills that cause an immediate public health risk, you must call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Preventing Chemical Spills Through Proper Storage and Handling

Household chemicals should only be stored in places that children and pets can't access them. Locked cabinets are ideal. 

Here are a few steps to help prevent accidents.

Clearly label storage containers. NEVER store chemicals in unmarked containers. Even if you think you will remember what's in them, other household members might not recognize harsh compounds.

Keep incompatible chemicals separate. Some chemicals react together, creating dangerous substances. For example, bleach and vinegar mixed together create chlorine gas, which is a significant inhalation hazard. Store reaction chemicals in separate areas to minimize the risk of accidental mixture. 

Use secondary containment: Of course, chemicals should be stored in sealed, heavy-duty, clearly marked containers. You can add a second layer of protection by placing these containers on top of spill trays, in locked cabinets. This prevents small leaks from turning into large spills. 

Safety training: Everyone on the site who may use the chemicals or enter the area should know the proper handling procedures around harsh chemicals. Don't assume others know the results of mixing cleaning solutions. 

Regular inspections: Take at least 15 minutes once a month to check for leaks, weakened plastic storage containers, or expired and outdated chemicals.

READ NOW: Protecting Your Family: How to Prepare for CBRN Threats - The Best Children Gas Masks on the Market and Key Emergency Preparedness Tips

Decontaminating after chemical cleanup 

Once you have the spill safely contained, make sure that you don't accidentally spread the chemicals into your home or out into the yard. 

Immediately remove contaminated clothing. If cloth has come into contact with harsh chemicals, it is better to rip or cut it off, rather than pulling it over your head where chemicals dust could fall into your eyes. 

• Place the contaminated clothing in a sealed plastic bag

• Use tongs (or similar implement) to handle contaminated clothing

• Place the tongs in the bag as well

• Double bag the contaminated cloth and implements 

• Wash hands thoroughly

• Use a decontamination shower, if available 

• Contact your local emergency showers to find out the proper place to dispose of your "contamination bag" 

Any rags or absorbent pads you used to clean up the spill should also be placed in decontamination bags. 

Do not place these bags in your regular  trash can. It can easily pollute the ground and water in your local area, causing a public health emergency. If you're not sure of the best way to dispose of potentially contaminated substances, call your local fire department or sheriff's office. 

Emergency response procedures

You don't want to waste precious minutes searching the internet for what to do if chemicals splash in your eyes or you think you may have breathed in fumes. 

Here are a few steps you can take if you think you have been affected by the chemical spill. 

Clean your skin: If harsh chemicals have come into contact with your skin, immediately brush off solids, then rinse the area with water thoroughly. Follow up by scrubbing with soap and water. 

Use emergency showers and eyewashes: Some workplaces, shops, or even private homes that regularly use harsh chemicals keep special decontamination showers and eye rinses nearby work areas. These are specially designed to prevent the spread of contaminants while getting you clean very quickly. 

Ingestion: If you think you've inhaled or ingested a hazardous chemical, call poison control or 911 immediately. 

Source: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt J.A. Lee II., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons