Hazardous materials spill, which includes chemical, biological, and radiological materials, are a severe threat if there is no proper handling. Environmental management agencies provide guidelines on how institutions ought to handle hazardous material spills that could have negative ecological impacts. In the same way, different agencies are involved in the handling and transportation of hazardous materials to ensure the mitigation of adverse effects. These agencies follow through a general procedure that rescues, confine, report, secure, and cleanup, although it may vary depending on the nature of the spill. Handling of hazardous material spills is a tasking process, which means that much training must go into the whole process. The analysis of hazardous material spills establishes the agencies involved and their roles as well as the nature of the training required.
Agencies that are Involved in the Handling of Hazardous Material Spills
Hazardous material spills pose a risk to the environment, and the population necessitating the need for multi-agency collaboration to minimize or reduce the risk. The handling of hazardous material spills (hazmat) through transportation and disposal falls within four federal agencies authorized by US Congress legislative action. The four agencies are the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (Muralikrishna & Manickam, 2017). Each of these agencies plays a specific role to ensure that Americans are safe from hazardous chemicals. Each entity has a particular role to play in ensuring the safety of Americans when it comes to potentially hazardous chemicals.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
This federal agency is tasked with the responsibility of protecting the environment from being contaminated with chemical spills, industrial pollution, and illegal dumping. EPA plays a crucial role in enforcing the implementation of environmentally conscious federal laws such as the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Air Act. This federal agency has developed frameworks for hazardous waste management by outlining the characteristics of hazardous wastes. Vallero (2019) notes that EPA establishes that hazardous wastes are those that pose a sufficient threat if they are flammable, toxic, corrosive, and is prone to mutation. The categorization of waste into its constituents, identity, and hazards are crucial since it enhances its handling and management. In the event of an oil spill or hazardous materials release, EPA, through its regional offices and in collaboration with local, states, and federal governments, engages in emergency response actions.
The first emergency response action that EPA engages in is the investigation of the site to determine the events surrounding the spill, substances involved, and nature of the damage. Examination of the site allows the responders to come up with safety measures and response alternatives to mitigate the spill or hazardous material release. On gathering this information, the response team goes ahead to consider ecological and health hazards as well as the possible exposure pathways of the substance (Bearden & Ramseur, 2017). From here, the response team adopts various strategies to contain the spread of the substance and mitigate its adverse effects. The team may remove the materials from containers or the soils, burn or treat the hazardous waste, drain waste ponds, move residents, or install fences. These response measures are critical since they ensure that hazardous materials do not damage the environment or pose a serious health risk to residents.
The Department of Transportation (DOT)
This federal agency plays a pivotal role in the handling and management of hazardous material spills across the US. DOT collaborates with EPA and other agencies to reduce the vulnerability of chemical spills during transportation. The Department of Transportation requires all transporters, generators, and handlers of hazardous wastes to follow the rules on storage and containerization of toxic waste. In this case, these stakeholders must use legible DOT labels that establish the nature of the waste, be it flammable, corrosive, or any other category. Yilmaz et al. (2016) note that DOT requires the hazardous waste handlers to mark the containers by indicating that the containers have hazardous wastes and include document number and other essential details. The DOT oversees the transportation of high-risk and hazardous goods and chemicals in collaboration with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). PHMSA is an agency with the Department of Transport and which oversees the transportation of hazardous materials across the US. PHMSA sets standards for handling hazardous chemicals to reduce the chances of spills and, at the same time, mitigate the effects in case of a spill (Yilmz et al., 2016). In the same way, PHMSA investigates accidents involving the spillage of hazardous chemicals and, in turn, provide recommendations. Additionally, PHMSA provides grants that help to improve responses for mitigating the adverse effects of hazardous materials and, in this way, protect the environment.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
This agency plays a crucial role in the handling of hazardous materials waste by protecting workers from the dangers posed by these wastes in their workplace. The agency achieves this objective by setting limits on the scope of exposure that employees have with particular chemicals. In the same way, the agency requires employers to provide employees with personal protective equipment and safety devices to mitigate the effects of chemical spills. Additionally, OSHA has developed educational and training resources that organizations use to train employees about the hazards that are in their workplaces. In line with these objectives, OSHA adopted the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), which is a Hazard Communication Standard requiring the labeling of chemical containers. The GHS standard helps employees to be aware of the hazards posed by various chemicals and, in this way, reduce chances for injuries (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a). OSHA establishes that in case of a hazardous material spills, employers must provide responders with personal protective equipment that is appropriate for the hazard. The provision in 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(ii)) contains the general guidelines following a hazardous materials spill. The responders must assess the risk, inform the occupants, and from here, evacuate the area if need be. On determining the risk, the responders must protect themselves by contacting firefighters and medical personnel to mitigate risks. The responders are supposed to confine the spill by ventilating the area, controlling sources of ignition, and preventing a release into the environment (Federal Emergency Management Authority, 2019). From here, the responders are to attend to others who have been contaminated, decontaminate the area, and finally notify the concerned authorities about the spill and the actions taken.
Training Involved in the Handling and Transportation of Hazardous Materials
Handling and management off hazardous material wastes is a complex undertaking that necessitates requisite training to mitigate adverse effects. The training is highly specialized, and it is targeted at employers, employees, transporters, generators, and handles of hazardous materials. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (b) establishes that training targets all the personnel working directly with chemicals as well as individuals who assist with cleaning up of spills. The nature of training depends on the roles and duties of workers who are involved in the response process. The training is different for shore-side facilities since employers review emergency response plans with every worker once the plan has been developed (Occupational Safety & Health Administration, b). In the same manner, employers should review the plan when workers work in the jobs covered within the plan. More so, the employer should guide the employees through the plan when the workers' responsibilities change or when the plan changes. This kind of training ensures that the employees are aware of the nature of the emergency response plan, something that enhances the effectiveness of response efforts.
Training on hazardous materials is comprehensive as it hopes to ensure that individuals are aware of what comprises of chemicals and the risks they pose. The material's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a resourceful tool that employers and organizations use to train employees on the best practices for handling hazardous materials (Environmental Health Safety, 2020). The datasheet provides information on the physical, toxicological, pathogenicity, of chemicals. Moreover, the sheet helps employees to understand the location and potential for exposure based on their activities, duties, and functions. Additionally, the training allows employees to know how the hazardous materials behave in terms of degradation, permeation, and penetration into PPEs, tools, vehicles, and buildings (Occupational Health & Safety Administration, c). In the same way, this kind of training increases the employees' knowledge of emergency procedures to contain spills by establishing the methods for decontamination. In line with this information, the fact sheet outlines the impact of the decontamination on workers' safety and health. Together this information equips workers with the requisite knowledge and, in turn, reduces the harmful effects of hazardous material spills.
Documentation for Hazardous Materials Shipments
The shipment of hazardous materials is an essential aspect of the handling and management of waste. It is important to note that while the hazardous chemicals pose ecological and health risks, they are a necessary aspect of the US consumer and industrial applications. These chemicals support the economy, but their mishandling could have severe consequences. For this reason, multi-agencies efforts have allowed for the development and implementation of safety guidelines that direct the transportation of hazardous materials. These guidelines outline who can ship hazardous materials, the make of transportation containers, and the roads that vehicles will use to transports the materials. The guidelines revolve on proper documentation that helps in the tracing of the materials in case of a spill. There are various types of documents that shippers file to ensure that the shipment is safe and legal an, in this way, protect the drivers and consumers. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) outlines that the following documents are necessary for shipping hazardous waste.
Hazmat Shipping Flag Forms
Hazmat shipping flag forms are large stickers placed on files related to hazardous materials. This type of documentation ensures that the materials' paperwork stands out, making it hard to ignore and, in this way, allow for more exceptional cautionary measures.
IMO Dangerous Goods Declaration
The IMO Dangerous Goods Declaration is a necessary document that includes details on the hazardous materials classification, point of origin, shipper, destination, and receiver. This document is crucial for tracking a shipment, and in case of an emergency, the concerned agencies can track it establish the events leading to the spill.
Hazmat Shipping Forms Sheets
The document provides information on whether the shipping or the transportation company has complied with the existing regulations. This document is vital as it allows the inspection agencies to streamline the inspection process to eliminate compliance gaps.
Straight Bill of Lading Shipments
Shipping and transportation companies that are transporting both non-dangerous and hazardous cargo fill this document. Straight Bill of lading Shipments is a document that differentiates between the two types of shipments, thus creating transparency and ease of inspection.
Shippers Declaration for Dangerous Goods
This form applies to shippers with dangerous shipments that will require air travel or those that will cross national borders. The Department of Transportation requires these kinds of shipments to be accompanied by Hazmat shipping flag forms for easier identification.
Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest
This document applies to all shipments involving hazardous waste and includes information on the nature of the material, handling instructions, source, and signatures for all people involved in the disposal. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transport enforce this requirement as a way of ensuring that the shipments fulfill the hazards materials guidelines.
Hazardous materials are a crucial aspect of the US industries since they enhance the production of industrial and consumer goods. While hazardous materials are crucial, they pose health and ecological threats especially if the handling process is not correct. The US Congress, through legislation, has created various federal agencies that work with state and local agencies to handle hazardous materials. The agencies include the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transport, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. These agencies collaborate to ensure a proper response to hazardous materials spillage and, in turn, minimize the adverse effects. In line with these objectives, the agencies have formulated guidelines that are to be used by employees, employers, organizations, as well as hazardous materials handlers. Hazardous material handlers and transporters must fill various documents that increase the chances of complying with the safety guidelines and, in turn, protect populations and the environment.
References
Bearden, D. M., & Ramseur, J. L. (2017). Oil and chemical spills: Federal emergency response framework. Congressional Research Service . https://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R43251.pdf
Environmental Health Safety. (2020). Chemical spill procedures. Princeton University. https://ehs.princeton.edu/chemical/spill/procedures
Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2019, August). Hazardous materials incidents: Guidance for state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners. US Department of Homeland Security. https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1566393023589-8134367aaf67f65c7a159453c0b8c27b/Hazardous_Materials_Incidents.pdf
Mularikrishna, I. V., & Manickam, V. (2017). Environmental management science and engineering for industry . Elsevier Inc
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (a). Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER). United States Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/hazwoper/
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (b). Training marine oil spill response workers under OSHA's hazardous waste operations and emergency response standard. United States Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3172/3172.html
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (c). Hazard communication standard: Safety datasheets. United States Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3514.html
The United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2018). Hazardous waste transportation . https://www.epa.gov/hw/hazardous-waste-transportation
Vallero, D. A. (2019). Waste. In Trevor, M Fletcher and Daniel A. Vallero Waste: A handbook for management (pp. 24-35). Elsevier Inc.
Yilmaz, Z., Erol, S., & Aplak, H. S. (2016). Transportation of hazardous materials (hazmat), a literature survey. Pamukkale University Journal of Engineering Sciences , 22(1), 39-53. DOI: 10.5505/pajes.2016.62134.
