Chemical Spill and Environmental Incident Response Procedure

Purpose. This procedure sets the actions to take when a chemical, black liquor, oil or effluent spill occurs or when a licence limit is exceeded.

1.Immediate actions

The person who discovers a spill must raise the alarm, keep people clear and, if safe and trained, stop the source by closing a valve or stopping a pump. The area operator must notify the shift supervisor by radio and state the material, location and estimated quantity. Nobody will enter a spill of chlorine dioxide, sodium hydroxide, sulphuric acid or black liquor without the protective equipment listed on the chemical register.

2.Containment

Bunded areas must have their drain valves confirmed closed. Spills outside bunds must be contained with the spill kit booms and absorbents before they reach a stormwater drain. Where a spill is heading to stormwater, the supervisor must order the stormwater isolation valve closed and the diversion to the effluent plant opened.

• Confirm bund drain valves closed
• Deploy booms and absorbents from the nearest spill kit
• Close the stormwater isolation valve if the spill is moving
• Divert to effluent treatment where the material is compatible

3.Licence exceedances

Where a continuous monitor shows a licence limit exceeded, the operator must reduce or stop the source, notify the supervisor and record the reading and time in the Environmental Discharge and Emissions Log. The supervisor will notify the HSE Manager, who must notify the regulator within the time set in the licence. The plant will not return to normal operation until the cause is understood and controlled.

4.Notification

The HSE Manager must be notified of every spill outside a bund and every licence exceedance regardless of the time of day. The regulator must be notified of any spill to water or land and any exceedance, and the notification must be recorded. Where there is any risk to neighbours, the General Manager will inform the community using the agreed contact list.

5.Clean-up and disposal

Used absorbents and contaminated material must be placed in labelled drums and stored in the hazardous waste bund pending disposal through an approved contractor. Spill kits used must be restocked within the shift. Contaminated soil must be assessed by the HSE team before removal.

6.Recording and investigation

Every spill and exceedance must be recorded in the Incident and Hazard Register before the end of the shift with photographs, quantity, cause where known and actions taken. The HSE team will investigate to root cause and assign corrective actions with owners and dates. Lessons will be communicated at toolbox talks.