Practical Hazardous Material Spill Response Strategies for the Aerospace Firm

Few problems present a greater need for fast, certain responses than the spill of hazardous materials onto the factory floor. The instant that a plating, finishing, or other processing chemical is “released,” a myriad of problems present themselves. Included are environmental employee health and safety, and regulatory issues. This paper outlines a coordinated plan for spill responses. Beginning with the formation of a spill response team, it enumerates those employees of the factory who should be team members. Next, it focuses on issues of the containment of spills. After containment, spill cleanup is addressed. Regulatory reporting and notification are reviewed briefly. Finally, it addresses what will hopefully be useful actions for typical scenarios.