Emergency Spill Control Procedures
There are five basic steps to follow for the proper handling of a pesticide spill. Good
judgment and common sense must be used in determining which steps are taken first. The
technician must asses the situation an determine what hazards poses the greatest threat.
The technician should rectify the most serious situation immediately.
The five basic steps is spill control are as follows:
1. Shut down of Equipment and Operations- the technician should stop what he is
doing and turn off any equipment he/she is operating. If the spilled pesticide is
flammable, all sources of ignition (i.e. pilot lines, gasoline engines, etc.) should be shut
off to prevent fire or explosion. If the equipment involved does not belong to Rose Pest
Solutions, the owner and /or operator of the equipment may be enlisted to help shut off
the equipment.
2. Containing and Controlling the Spill- Attempts should be made to stop further
leakage from the pesticide container or tank. Next, the applicator should contain the size
of the present spill to prevent it from spreading to adjacent areas, especially storm drains,
wells, water systems, and waterways. Pesticide spills should never be hosed down with
water-this will only spread the contamination. Technicians should use the materials in
their spill control kits to contain the spill by encircling the area with spill control pillows,
a dike of sand, absorbent materials, sand snakes, or as a last resort soil or rags.
3. Provide First Aid Assistance to Affected Individuals- There may be an occasion
when the public is exposed to pesticides due to a chemical spill. Follow the pesticide
label in providing the first aid assistance. The local poison control center may be
contacted for additional information. (see the attached list for phone numbers). Medical
assistance should be sought when needed. Facts concerning the toxicity of the material
and the extent to which the individual has being exposed will aid in determining the
threat to health.
The health needs of the technician must be addressed as well. First aid should be
administered when necessary and the proper protective clothing should be worn by Rose
Pest Solutions personnel when working around the pesticide spill.
People present at the scene of the accident should be advised to stay clear of the pesticide
spill. Roping off the area and posting warning signs is one method of notifying
bystanders of the hazards associated with the spill. In a structure where only a few
individuals are present, verbal communication with the occupants is probably the best
method of notification. In either case, it is important to protect the public from possible
pesticide exposure.
4. Notification of the Owner/Operator or Manager- The technician or another
individual present at the scene of the spill should notify a Rose Pest Solutions manager.
The caller should be ready to supply the following information: (1) location of incident,
(2) name of material involved and the approximate quantity of the material spilled, (3)
whether there is any contamination involving people or any injuries, (4) whether there is
a fire, (5) whether there is a threat of contaminating water or water supplies.
If the spill warrants notification of any regulatory agencies, Rose Pest Solutions
managers will do the reporting. It is also the responsibility of the office to send the
required support personnel to the scene of the accident.
Rose Pest Solutions – (847) 441-8300
Technicians should never discuss the facts surrounding the incident with the media
representatives. Discussion with the regulatory officials must be limited to the procedures
followed by the technician in containing and controlling the spill and identifying the
contents of the spill. Requests for any additional information must be handled by a Rose
Pest Solutions manager.
5. Clean-Up and Decontamination- The manufacturer should be consulted for clean-up
and decontamination procedures of pesticide spills. . The office will make the necessary
contacts.
Chemtrec (1-800-424-9300) can also be consulted for information. Chemtrec provides
information on clean-up of large chemical spills due to transportation accidents or
warehouse fires.
All absorbent use for liquid spill clean-up must be collected and placed in a leak-proof
container. Plastic bags have being included in the spill control kits for this purpose. The
container should then be properly labeled and returned to Rose Pest Solutions office for
disposal or recycling. Soil or other materials used for diking spills must be also collected
and placed in heavy duty plastic bags and drums. Again, containers must be marked and
returned to the office for disposal.
Once the bulk of the chemical spill has being removed, the surfaces affected by the spill
must be decontaminated per the manufacturers’ directions. Decontamination procedures
may vary depending on the type of surface involved. If an affected material or surface
cannot be decontaminated adequately, it must be collected and disposed in a sealed, leakproof drum. All drums must be labeled and disposed of in a hazardous waste disposal
facility.
Poison Control Centers 1-800-222-1222
State Police 1-217-7827762
Hazardous Materials Management Response Team 1-217-782-7860