In 2019, the hazardous material crisis in Pasir Gudang, Johor as a result of illegal dumping of toxic waste into Sungai Kim Kim had given rise to 3,555 victims and closed 111 schools in the vicinity. When a hazmat incident happens even if it is unintentional spillage or leakage in the workplace, the stakes are often high as it not only closes down the workplace but also affects the surrounding community and environment. Regular hazmat response drills should be conducted at workplaces that work with chemicals to meet several objectives.
Ensure that all staff are familiar with the hazmat incident response plan
A hazmat incident escalates quickly if large quantities, of volatile chemicals are involved. Even though an emergency response team (ERT) is established to handle the incidents defensively or offensively depending on the Emergency Response Plan (ERP), staff familiar with the hazmat incident response plan can evacuate swiftly and safely if required.
Some elements of the hazmat incident response plan they should know are:
- The alarm and announcement
- Safe evacuation routes that avoid all potentially hazardous areas
- Designated assembly points that might change based on wind direction
Unlike fire drills, hazmat incidents can happen in various ways depending on the nature of the chemicals involved and the environmental conditions. Staff should be mentally prepared to respond to different situations; hence, being familiar with dealing with uncertainty during a hazmat incident is crucial.
Educate all staff on basic knowledge and skills to identify hazards and self-help if exposed to chemicals.
Chemical spillage and leakage can seem harmless because some hazardous chemicals are colorless or even odorless. Anyone in the workplace can encounter an unsuspicious leakage or spillage, leading to fainting or even death within minutes. All staff should be educated on:
- Understanding the hazards and nature of specific chemicals used in the workplace.
- Staying alert at all times when working within the workplace vicinity.
- Identifying a chemical leakage or spillage.
- Isolating the vicinity and notifying the right person.
Besides that, they should learn self-help skills in case of accidental chemical exposure. Knowing which method to use is important because using the wrong method, such as rinsing dry lime with water, can cause further harm. Staff need to know the right method to deal with the specific chemical exposure.
Assess the efficiency of the hazmat incident ERP in place
A hazmat incident ERP on paper approved by the Head of the Safety Department does not guarantee a working ERP. The only way to test the efficiency of the hazmat incident ERP is to carry out unscripted drills with various scenarios. The scenarios can vary according to the chemicals involved, wind direction, location of spillage or leakage, or even surrounding hazards.
To assess the efficiency of the hazmat incident ERP, the persons in charge should have a checklist that evaluates:
- Right actions taken by the right people (ERT and staff)
- Time taken to handle the incident and evacuation
- Number of staff gathered at the right designated assembly points
This is the opportunity to collect feedback from the ERT members and staff as they directly participate in the mock incidents. They might have valuable insights to improve the plan and processes. Based on this feedback, you can fine-tune the ERP and arrange necessary training if there are knowledge and skills that the staff needs strengthening.
Ensure that all hazmat response equipment is in good working conditions
Hazmat response equipment is often stored or left untouched if no incident ever happens. However, equipment maintenance is crucial to make sure that they work when they are needed. Hazmat response drills are good opportunities to check their working conditions.
Some elements that the persons in charge should evaluate are:
- Decontamination equipment is in good condition and stored in the designated place.
- Eyewash and shower stations work well with good water pressure.
- Personal protective equipment (PPEs) quantity is sufficient.
——
Even if your workplace does not use, process, or store chemicals, you should be mindful of the surrounding workplaces that might. It is important to exchange information with safety departments of neighboring workplaces so that your ERPs factor in external incidents that might affect your workplace. It often takes a community to stop a hazmat incident from escalating further. If these workplaces conduct hazmat response drills, getting your workplace involved helps prepare for the unexpected.
