chemical spill clean up

Accidents can happen anywhere, no matter the situation or scenery – it can happen on a road, in the air, and even on a train track where many potential issues can commence that can be very dangerous. Did you know that the United States railroad transportation system covers over hundreds of thousands of miles throughout the country? This makes the railroad system an important component to everyday transportation of both people and goods, and sometimes the contents of a boxcar can contain goods that can be potentially dangerous chemicals that are in transport to a specific location for use, testing, etc.

The railroad system is considered to be among the safest method of transportation for large quantities of hazardous materials – as it is placed on these boxcars for quick and efficient transportation to their needed location. However, accidents can happen and sometimes there will be leaks, crashes, or even train derailments that will release these chemicals that were on the train into the environment and lead to a potentially hazardous area as the chemicals release and spread in the environment.

In this article we are going to discuss the dangers of a train derailment that contains hazardous chemicals, the causes of a train derailment, and the hazmat train derailment team’s response to this incident to make the situation safe.

What is Derailment of Train?

A train derailment occurs when the train and its boxcars run off the rails and sometimes even off the tracks. Train derailments are not always severe, and in many cases the derailment will be extremely minor – however, it will depend on the circumstances that will affect the overall severity of the train derailment. If a train derailment occurs with a train that is carrying a large group of people, it can sometimes result in injuries and even times potential death for some individuals. And if there are hazardous chemicals that are being transported on the train than the potential severity could be significantly high and can possibly lead to a threat in the environment to public health.

How Often Does a Train Derail

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, over the past decade there have been about 31 train derailments per year. This is a steady decline from past years where derailment had reached almost 156 derailments a year back in 2000 and 2001. Trains are typically considered a safe mode of transportation, as the most dangerous mode of transportation has been the roadway that made up 94 percent of all transportation fatalities in the United States.

The railroad system has developed and created an extensive response structure that leaves officials prepared to address most emergency situations that are related to a railway incident like a derailment or even a train derailment that involves the release of chemicals.

Train Derailment Causes

With the improvement of safety regulations on railroads it has dramatically decreased the risks of a train derailment, but it can still happen and there are instances of train derailments each and every year in the United States. Typically, a train derailment is caused by a failure of some sort, whether it be track component failure, failure of running gear, unusual track and rail interaction, signal errors, and even potential collisions.

• Track Component Failure, when parts of the track fail in some way such as a broken track rail that if it goes unnoticed it can lead to a train derailment that can be potentially dangerous.
• Running Gear Failure, when a part of the engine, particularly the wheels fail because of lack of lubrication.
• Miscommunication of Signal Errors, when two trains happen to be on the same track accidentally it can result in them crashing which can lead to derailment and collision of the train.

Chemical Train Derailment

Derailments of a train can be caused by any one of the following situations listed above, but when this derailment occurs it can act as a domino effect for other potential issues such as a chemical release or chemical spill from hazardous chemicals that were carried on the boxcar(s) of the train. When it comes to responding to a hazardous train derailment the challenges that first responder officials may face will include a large-scale incident, a hazardous material release, a fire or explosion, and civilian injuries and evacuations.

Trains are known to transport potentially hazardous chemicals across the United States and the chances of these trains becoming derailed and releasing toxic chemicals into the environment is a real potential threat for railroad workers and fire departments that are called to deal with the scene.

Train Rescue Team for Hazmat Train Derailment

The Federal Railroad Administration is an organization that falls within the U.S. Department of Transportation and is responsible for the safe operation of train railroads. However, there are circumstances and accidents that occur that are not within their control and these will be passed along to fire department officials and other first responders to properly handle and settle to maintain a safe environment.

When rescue teams respond to a train derailment it is usually a well-coordinated and executed scene, however, when dangerous chemicals are added to the mix it can be a far worse scene for these officials to deal with to clear the environment.

How to Handle a Train Chemical Spill

When a train derailment leads to the release or spillage of hazardous chemicals into the environment it will be critical to call emergency responders such as hazmat officials to come to the scene and properly contain the chemical and completely decontaminate the hazardous material from the tainted areas – whether it be in the air or on a surface. When handling a chemical spill or release wear protective clothing and gear to shield yourself from potential exposure.

Controlling the spill or chemical release it is important to act quickly and take steps to contain the hazardous material. There are many different decontamination methods that are used today to contain and decontaminate hazardous materials but one method that is becoming more popular is the FAST-ACT patented decontamination technology.

FAST-ACT is a proprietary formulation of non-toxic high-performance specialty materials that are effective at neutralizing a wide range of toxic chemicals with the added capability to destroy chemical warfare agents. FAST-ACT works quickly to significantly reduce hazards that are associated with hazardous chemicals such as acids, acidic/caustic gases, organic compounds, phosphorous, and sulfur compounds.

The FAST-ACT products are offered in pressurized cylinders capable of addressing both liquid and vapor hazards, manually dispersed containers, kits for liquid hazard treatment, and mitts for equipment and small-scale decontamination. FAST-ACT can be safely applied to any liquid or vapor release enabling emergency responders to utilize one technology when faced with a wide variety of known or unknown chemical hazards.

Chemical spills can occur, and they can happen quickly, with little time to act in response to this incident. Depending on the environment, most spaces that contain the use or storing of hazardous chemicals must have a spill kit for chemical decontamination present for easy-to-use deployment. Laboratories, factories, and even schools that utilize potentially dangerous chemicals within their environment typically have in place chemical spill procedures and decontamination solutions at the ready to use, but are these currently used methods that they utilize for chemical decontamination the most efficient and useful solution?

There have been recent reports of many issues within chemical transportation and spills that have occurred from these sources of chemicals. If a spill occurs from this source, it can impact large areas and compromise the environment for those people exposed to the released chemical. When you are left dealing with larger spills such as from a transportation of chemicals, a traditional A-B-C Spill Kit will be hard to implement to decontaminate the chemicals – and thus they must be prepared for a chemical decontamination solution that can quickly assist during this large spill.

In this article we are going to discuss the different types of spill kits that are currently used for chemical decontamination and explore alternative methods of decontamination for chemical spills and releases.

What is a Chemical Spill

Chemicals can be very useful for a broad array of different functions, however, there is also an inherent hazard to these chemicals, particularly when they are not properly controlled, or if an accident occurs such as a release or a spill of these chemicals. The use of chemicals is implemented in many workplaces from industrial plants, laboratories, agriculture, and even sometimes in office environments. When an incident occurs, however, resulting in a spill or release of the chemical into the environment it can lead to significant effects to the environment and to the health of those exposed to this released chemical.

There are two different classified types of chemical spills, minor (simple) spills and major (complicated) spills. A minor spill is one that a person can easily clean-up such as a non-hazardous chemical that is spilled onto the floor. These spills are typically small, confined, and present minimal hazards within the environment. A major chemical spill will usually result in the immediate evacuation of the area, and potentially the whole affected building. This will be the result of a hazardous chemical that is spilled in large quantities in the environment – this will be a high level of danger to those people exposed to this spill or release of chemicals.

What to do When a Chemical Spill Occurs

The release or spill of a chemical into the environment can be something that happens quickly and unexpectantly and will force individuals in the area to respond rapidly and most important, acting effectively to mitigate and decontaminate this chemical spill. If you are in an environment that stores and handles chemicals like a laboratory, there will be a specific list of procedures and guidelines set in place in the event that a chemical spill does occur unexpectantly. These procedures and guidelines will provide a detailed list of what to do during a chemical spill, and these procedures will also be accompanied by a stocked chemical spill kit that can be implemented to decontaminate the released chemical in the environment.

A spill kit is a chemical response kit that includes several different items that are needed to properly contain and clean up a chemical spill or release. There are a variety of different types of spill kits that are available for use in laboratories or other environments with chemicals. Chemical spill kits will contain multiple kinds of absorbents, pads, rolls, and mats to help contain smaller spills. Typically spill kits come in three different types, a universal kit, an oil-only kit, and a HAZMAT kit.

Where Should Spill Kits be Located?

The location in which a spill kit is stored and located is vital when responding to a chemical spill – as many times time is of the essence when the chemical is released. The items in a spill kit should be stored in a container that is large enough for the spill and is protected with the appropriate material. Chemical spill kits are ineffective if they are kept in an area that is not easily accessible such as in a remote area, in a hidden closet, or if the employees in the environment do not know where the kit is located. In reality, the ideal location for a spill kit is near an area where the chemicals are used and stored within the environment.

Methods of Decontamination

When it comes to a chemical spill or release, there are many factors that you must consider before attempting the process of decontamination. There is a wide range of chemicals that are manufactured and used every day, and all of these chemicals will consist of a different chemical structure and will thus need to be identified to properly mitigate and decontaminate from the environment. Therefore, having some knowledge of the different chemicals that are used in your environment and knowing how to decontaminate each will help to efficiently and rapidly decontaminate the chemical. The use of chemical spill kits is among the most popular methods of decontamination, especially for small chemical spills. However, spill kits can provide some issues to the situation as well, as it will not cover all the necessary decontamination needs that are required for larger or more hazardous spills. Spill kits will not provide personal protective equipment (PPE), brooms, drain covers, and spill dikes that can be essential when responding to a chemical spill.

How to Use Spill Kits for Chemicals

Chemical spill kits for unplanned and potentially dangerous chemicals can be used and implemented in certain situations such as a small chemical release of an unhazardous chemical, a small chemical release of a hazardous chemical, and any spill that can be easily cleaned up and decontaminated. If your environment does contain chemicals it is important to take inventory of these chemicals, the amount of them, and where they are located within this space.

After you have identified a chemical spill, you will need to go through the procedures to properly utilize a chemical spill kit. Evaluating the type of chemical that has been released into the environment is first and foremost, identifying the chemical will help to determine the best course of action in mitigating the chemical that was spilled. Arm yourself with the proper protective clothing gear to handle the situation. After you are protected with the right gear you can contain the liquid spill and stop the source of the spill, whether it was a seal drain or leak. Once the source has been stopped you can begin to clean-up the chemical and/or contact hazmat professionals to aid in the removal of the chemical – this will be the case when you are left with a large chemical spill of a classified hazardous chemical.

How to Respond to a Chemical Spill – FAST-ACT

A chemical spill can be in many different forms including gas, liquid, solid, fumes, dust, fibers, or vapors. The type of spill that is released can vary based on the environment and what type of chemical was spilled into the area. It will be hard to find a decontamination solution that can be effective against these different types of chemical spills, as a typical chemical spill kit will prove to be ineffective against a variety of these different chemical forms.

FAST-ACT (First Applied Sorbent Treatment – Against Chemical Threats) is a proprietary formulation of non-toxic nano-materials that are effective for neutralizing a wide range of toxic chemicals with the added capability to destroy chemical warfare agents. The FAST-ACT technology comes in a variety of different deployment mechanisms including pressurized cylinders and powder pails for an effective chemical decontamination of both liquid and vapor chemical threats.

FAST-ACT chemical decontamination products make it simple and effective to rapidly respond to a variety of chemical threats, with no need to identify the chemical before use which can help drastically to minimize the potential effects of the chemical spill in the environment. This is a critical component for hazmat and emergency response officials, as well as those employees who need to quickly respond to an unintentional chemical spill.

There are many different items that we come across every day, either in the stuff that we use or within environments that we are exposed to that possess potentially dangerous components that could be harmful upon exposure to humans. Whether it be the risks you face on a construction site job where you are exposed to dangerous machinery, the risks of being a firefighter coming across unknown chemical substances that could be potentially deadly, or even an unfortunate release and exposure to acid from a leaking car battery.

Car batteries are components of a vehicle that contain an amalgam of potentially hazardous chemicals within its construction that can be dangerous if released into the environment. What can happen when the acid in car batteries begins leaking within an environment and how can you protect human health from these potentially dangerous compounds in car batteries?

Below we are going to discuss the steps to take to neutralize battery acid leaks and learn more about the identifying characteristics of battery acid leaks.

What is Battery Acid?

Battery acid is identified as sulfuric acid that has been diluted with water to reach a concentration level of 37 percent. This specific level of concentration is mainly utilized in sealed lead acid batteries, with slight variations to the level of concentration depending on the brand. A combination of lead plates and an electrolyte – with sulphuric acid used, are combined to convert electrical energy into potential chemical energy and back again. Although this amalgam of compounds allows us to have portable power, the actual acid can be extremely dangerous.

Battery acid, in comparison to other types of batteries, are rather unique – as they carry not only ionic currents, but it also reacts as an active material with both electrodes to produce lead sulfate as a discharge product. When an acid battery is broken down it will produce hydrogen and oxygen gas into the environment that can be explosive under certain specific conditions.

Battery Acid: What Does it Do

The sulfuric acid that is used within battery acid is commonly used in a variety of different applications throughout different branches of the national economy. Battery acid is used to help clean metal surfaces before the coating process, it also is used as a component in the production of synthetic dyes. This acid is very strong, however, and can also be utilized in fertilizer production, the creation of explosives, in the pharmacology industry, and in oil refining.

Sulfuric acid is one of the most important industrial chemicals – that is increasingly made each year and is among the most manufactured chemical made with 40 tons or more produced in the United States. However, the use of this chemical in certain capacities such as in car batteries can potentially be dangerous if a leak occurs in an environment where humans are exposed.

Is Battery Acid Dangerous?

There are many ways in which a battery, particularly an acid battery can be dangerous to human health. When you are handling or dealing with batteries it is important to always stay vigilant during this time. The misuse or misapplication of a battery for anything other than its designed purpose can lead to potentially hazardous results. When batteries are utilized in other capacities aside from its intended purpose it will be more likely to leak or vent dangerous chemicals.

When a battery acid leak occurs, it can result in dangerous effects to both the environment and on those exposed to the chemical leak. Depending on the conditions present in the environment such as poor ventilation or limited space, the fumes that can become produced from a battery acid can taint the air and upon inhalation/ingestion could lead to altering effects on health.

What Does Battery Acid Look Like

When it comes to identifying battery acid, whether from a potential leak or clean-up project, there are certain key characteristics to be on the lookout for in the environment. These indicators of battery acid include the following:

Color

Battery acid usually appears as a prominent oily dark color with translucent properties.

Signs of Corrosion

Battery acid is a very strong chemical compound that can be aggressive when leaked onto surfaces. A sign of battery acid will be appearances of corrosion on a surface – specifically with contact to other metals.

What Does Battery Acid Smell Like

The smell produced from battery acid will occur due to damage to the battery or a potential leak of the battery from improper application. When battery acid produces an odor, it will vary for each person – as each individual will smell different scents produced from battery acid. However, a very commonly identified smell from battery acid is that of sulfur. Sulfur odor is compared to that of ‘rotten egg’ smell.

Health Effects from Battery Acid Burns

The potential risks and health effects of battery acid exposure can vary depending on the length of exposure, how you are exposed to the acid, and the amount of exposure that occurred. Battery acid is a solution of sulfuric acid and water diluted – which means the dilution reduces the strength of the acid. If, however, the sulfuric acid was exposed to human flesh undiluted it would result in immediate burning of human tissues and other organic materials.

Battery acid is still, however, an irritant that can affect both the skin and lungs. If battery acid is left on the skin, it will eventually cause irritation and itching and should be washed off after exposure. Whereas if you inhale the fumes from the acid it can potentially lead to respiratory issues upon inhalation.

How to Neutralize Battery Acid

The frightful experience of dealing with any sort of acid spill will leave firefighters and hazmat officials quickly acting in response to this dangerous situation. Neutralization is the most common method or solution implemented onto this type of hazardous corrosive spill. Typically, during corrosive spills, it will require soda ash to implement onto the large spill. The soda ash needs to be diluted with water and then added to the spill for neutralization. However, depending on the chemical that is in question – whether it is an acid, organic compound, or any type of hazardous chemical agent, it will be necessary to identify the chemical before applying a neutralization solution.

Battery Acid Neutralizer

FAST-ACT is an all-in-one chemical neutralization solution that can be readily applied to a variety of different chemical agents including as a battery acid neutralizer. The FAST-ACT products can be applied in multiple ways for an acid spill or attack. For liquid spills, the FAST-ACT powder can be rapidly applied to the liquid to contain and neutralize the acid. FAST-ACT pressurized cylinders can be dispensed to suppress vapors, contain liquid, and decon responder equipment, interior spaces, contents, and equipment.

Overall, FAST-ACT is essential due to the increased number of acid spills, leaks and attacks, and the variety of chemistries used makes FAST-ACT an essential neutralization solution for rapid response without the need for complex decisions when times for mistakes cannot be made.

Hazardous materials teams are constructed in each state, sometimes in several different cities to provide citizens with an experienced team to handle any sort of hazardous material incident that has taken place within the area. The primary goal of a HazMat team is to provide the local area assistance in an emergency situation involving hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction. The assistance provided by a HazMat team can take several different forms depending on the incident on hand and how severe it is to the environment and public health.

A HazMat team is composed of an organized group of individuals who are trained specifically to handle hazardous materials incidents, with each member contributing different skill-sets to the operation. Included within this organized group are individuals called Hazardous Materials Technicians.

What is a HazMat Tactical Technician

Hazardous Materials Technicians are trained individuals who are taught to respond to a hazardous materials emergency in an offensive fashion. Their primary role is to stop or control a spill or release by approaching the point of the release using specialized PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). When a HazMat team responds to a chemical spill, the Hazmat Technicians are typically members of the responding HazMat team, often times they are referred to as Spill Response Teams or Emergency Response Teams.

These emergency responders are there to respond to both emergency and non-emergency calls. HazMat technicians are technically trained and skilled to respond to, mitigate, prevent, and at times clean-up hazardous materials and/or chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons of mass destruction incidents.

What Does a HazMat Technician Do?

Ultimately, these individuals are there to respond to emergencies that involve dangerous substances that can potentially be life-threatening within an environment. When a technician responds to an incident, they are responsible for identifying the hazardous materials and deciding how best to dispose of them. Some of the commonly handled materials that these technicians handle includes asbestos, lead, mercury, mold, radioactive waste, and nuclear waste.

HazMat Technicians also need to have a basic understanding of chemistry, since they are responsible for identifying substances, they have to know the chemical, physical, and toxic properties of the materials. Without this knowledge they will be unable to determine the safest method to removing, transporting, and disposing of this hazardous materials and waste.

The risks posed to those who work as a HazMat Technician can be significant, thus it is necessary for them to take precautions while working. Wearing appropriate protective clothing is essential, as these dangerous substances can be extremely harmful to human exposure.

What are the Three Levels of Hazardous Response

Hazardous materials response is identified by three different levels; Level 1, Level 2, & Level 3. Response organizations have established a “tiered response plan” to help organize the severity of an incident. Each level is represented by individuals and/or groups of people and their level of training, expertise, capability, and equipment/resources.

Level 1

A level 1 incident is one that involves hazardous materials that can be contained, extinguished, and/or stopped using resources immediately available to public first responders. These incidents are low risk and present little hazard to the environment and/or public health, especially during containment or cleanup.

This level is usually classified as minor situations with the capabilities of first responders that are trained at the operational level to be able to handle the situation. Typically, a level 1 incident involves either the release of a small amount of gas, liquid, or solid of an identified hazardous material. This operational level first responders contain both the expertise and proper equipment to safely mitigate these incidents.

A level 1 is progressed to the next level, level 2, when a release or potential release of an unknown hazardous material or suspected hazardous material occurs.

Level 2

A classified level 2 incident is one that involves hazardous materials that are beyond the capabilities of first responders on the scene of the incident. These types of incidents range from a small incident involving any amount of an unknown substance to a large incident involving multiple agencies and jurisdictions.

Level 2 incidents are declared by the Incident Commander and the Initial Response Team – for instance, if the incident scene contains a sufficient quantity of gas, liquid, or a solid that is a known hazardous substance and/or any quantity of an unknown material that has been released. Control zones should be established and maintained early into the response of the incident, and these zones should be evaluated and monitored throughout the entire incident.

Examples of a level 2 HazMat incident includes a major gas leak due to a puncture of a large tank, a vehicle or train fire involving hazardous waste, chemical releases that pose a moderate threat to the environment, and suspicious packages that contain an unknown material.

Level 3

Lastly, a level 3 incident involves hazardous materials that are beyond the capabilities of a single state or regional response team. This type of classified incident may be quite lengthy in duration and may require large-scale evacuations. When multiple agencies and jurisdictions are involved it is likely to be labeled a level 3 hazardous material response. Many times, during a level 3 incident, resources from private sectors including chemical manufacturers and voluntary organizations are utilized to control the scene.

Examples of a level 3 incident includes a large release from tank cars, incidents involving large-scale evacuations, any incident beyond local capabilities and resources, major leaks, and large-scale or catastrophic releases of hazardous materials.

Hazardous Materials vs Chemicals

In hazardous situations, it is important to recognize that any incident can involve chemicals. Although the regular use of “hazardous materials” throughout the HazMat community, the term “chemical” is a more appropriate term. As a result, the misconception among first responders is that many chemicals that are found in the incident scene are not a problem because they are not a “hazardous material”. However, that is far from the truth, as the potential hazards present to the environment and public health from the results of chemicals can be significant and sometimes even deadly.

All chemical products have some dangerous characteristics that first responders must be prepared to investigate further. In some cases, chemicals can be the original source of the incident, either through an accidental release, mishandling, or a planned chemical attack.

HazMat Response to Chemical Incidents

When HazMat personnel come across an incident involving chemicals, there will be a few tell-tale signs such as a detectable odor, visually observable characteristics, and reactions from those individuals exposed to the chemical in the air. In the process of containing and decontaminating a chemical release or incident, Technical decon is established by the HazMat team exiting the hot zone. Technical decontamination involves the use of a “corridor” with a gross contaminant reduction section followed by a series of wash-and-rinse stations. Once the HazMat tactical technicians have secured the area, they will need to perform an effective decontamination of the chemical(s) present.

FAST-ACT (First Applied Sorbent Treatment – Against Chemical Threats) is a proprietary formulation of non-toxic nano-materials effective for neutralizing a wide range of toxic chemicals with the added capability to destroy chemical warfare agents. Chemical spills can be in the form of a gas, liquid, solid, fumes, dust, fibers, or vapors. Depending on the type of chemical spill present, HazMat and first responders must choose the correct method to apply to decontaminate the spill. FAST-ACT, however, is able to decontaminate a broad spectrum of chemical spills, from liquid to vapor releases through a wide range of product offerings.

The FAST-ACT technology is effective against a wide range of toxic chemicals including:

• Acids
• Halogenated Compounds
• Phosphorous Compounds
• Acidic and Caustic Gases
• Organic Compounds
• Chemical Warfare Agents

Therefore, FAST-ACT will be the desired decontamination solution for chemical spill clean-ups, as it can be safely applied to any liquid spill or vapor release enabling Emergency Responders to utilize one technology when faced with a variety of known or unknown chemical hazards.

The chemical compound Refrigerant is used in several methods in the industrial manufacturing business – and is something commonly found in most environments including your home and businesses. This compound is typically found in either a fluid or gaseous state and it readily absorbs heat from the environment providing functions such as refrigeration or air conditioning when used in correlation with a compressor or evaporator.

The term “Refrigerant” is a brand name that incorporates a range of chemical elements referred to as ‘chlorofluorocarbons’ which includes the chemicals hydrogen, carbon, fluorine, and chlorine in its composition. The use of this chemical amalgam, however, has presented potential health risks and environment hazards for humans and even first-responders who are called upon to respond to accidents or leaks involving refrigerants. Refrigerant leaks or ammonia compressor leaks can be significantly hazardous as the characteristics of this type of leak can be extremely hard to distinguish upon contact.

We are going to discuss the potential dangers of a refrigerant leak to first responders and overall human exposure and how you can prepare in defense to a possible refrigerant leak.

How Do Refrigerators & A/C Units Work

Air conditioners, refrigerators, or heat pumps contain a sealed refrigerant system that contains this chemical in quantities that should never runout. An air conditioning system uses refrigerant inside the copper coils and as this chemical absorbs heat from indoor air it will begin a transition from a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure liquid. The air conditioning unit sends the refrigerant outside where the fan is blowing out hot air over the coils and exhausts it to the exterior. This process is used in both a/c units and refrigerators as they take heat energy out and transfer it from one place to another. During this process, however, incidents can occur such as leaks that can leave a potentially dangerous situation for first-responders and hazmat personnel.

How to Address a Catastrophic Refrigerant Leak

The actions that need to take place during a refrigerant leak, particularly a catastrophic leak, need to be executed swiftly and effectively. First-responders and hazmat personnel will conduct response actions when called upon the scene. The building or space affected by the refrigerant leak needs to be evacuated, no matter the severity of the chemical leak. The undistinguishable characteristics of the refrigerant leak such as the amount of refrigerant that has been released from the leak, the location of the leak, and who has been exposed to these hazardous chemicals are typically unknown to emergency responders and thus protocol must be taken to secure the safety of all occupants of the incident area. First-responders that respond to a potential refrigerant leak are required to wear Level A chemical protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to protect themselves during the performed rescue. Once the compressor is turned off and the leaking has subsided, the next course of action is neutralizing the area of the chemical leak.

Dangers of a Slow Refrigerant Leak

Slow refrigerant leaks usually occur most of the time and are just not called upon to emergency responders, as people are unable to identify this present leak. First-responders will, however, receive calls about slow refrigerant leaks when the system is in a small, un-vented room that has been experiencing a leak for quite a long period of time. The result of this is that the leak pushes all the oxygen out of the room and can lead to an individual that is exposed to this small area to feel sick or pass out upon entry of this area. When a slow leak occurs like this overtime it can leave significant health risks to any individual exposed as the chemicals will continue to build-up inside the environment making the environment have a high level of chemicals in its air.

Emergency Response Procedures for a Slow Refrigerant Leak

After identification of a small refrigerant leak occurs, the individual will contact 9-1-1 and have emergency responders dispatched out into the area. When emergency responders enter the incident scene, they will take several factors into consideration before deciding how to respond to the refrigerant leak such as the chemical that is at play in the environment, the concentration of the chemical, and what the current situation is inside the contaminated area. It is important for most first-responders to carry a O2 sensor with them in situations like this where you are trying to identify the current condition of the environment before entering the area.

Once emergency responders are prepped with PPE and ready to enter the refrigerant leak area, they will need to evaluate the machinery that is causing the leak to determine what the best course of action is for the situation. Depending on the case itself, first-responders may ventilate the room to help maintain safe levels while keeping the machinery on – whether that be an a/c unit, refrigerator, etc. They may also decide to shut down the unit but that will vary based on the environment and the intrinsic cost that it could impact. Ultimately, it may be better to leave the system running but the emergency team will evaluate that as they gather information about the refrigerant leak.

Neutralizing the Chemical Threat

The refrigerant chemical that has been exposed in the environment will need to be removed from the area properly before occupants can re-enter the space. The process of removing the chemical properties included in a refrigerant can be difficult as the multiple chemistries may require different solutions for decontamination and neutralization. Instead of having to utilize multiple decontamination methods to completely remove the chemical contaminant in the environment (which can be a timely and inefficient process), first-responders should use an all-in-one decontamination solution that works against multiple chemicals.

FAST-ACT® is a proprietary formulation of non-toxic high-performance specialty materials effective at neutralizing a wide range of toxic chemicals with the added capability to destroy chemical warfare agents. The FAST-ACT formulation is non-flammable, non-corrosive, and significantly reduces both liquid and vapor hazards. Since the dry powder neutralizes threats upon contact, on-site incident management and clean up times are reduced. The chemical decontamination solution works quickly to significantly reduce hazards associated with common industrial chemicals. The broad range of utility makes FAST-ACT a valuable tool for a variety of environments that can help aid police, fire and other emergency responders to successfully and quickly decontaminate a hazardous chemical threat.

Signs of Refrigerant Poisoning

Refrigerant poisoning happens when someone is exposed to the chemicals ‘refrigerant’ that are used to cool appliances. Around these chemicals an individual will want to limit exposure, as exposure to these toxic chemicals can be severely hazardous to public health. Inhaling the fumes caused from a refrigerant leak can lead to several symptoms that will be easily to identify. These symptoms include the following:

• Breathing problems
• Fluid buildup in the lungs
• Irritation of the eyes, ears, and throat
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Cough
• Chemical burn
• Dizziness

Gaining information and awareness of the potential risks that refrigerant leaks pose to an environment is critical, particularly for first responders. When you are responding to an incident involving refrigerant chemicals preparing with protective equipment and decontamination solutions is necessary to properly respond and remediate the situation.

There are many chemicals that are used, tested, and sometimes even spilled in a day. If you do not work in a lab or in an environment where different chemicals are present that you may not consider the potential risks these chemicals can place on a group of people or even an area if they are mishandled or spilled accidentally. Every chemical has different risks and dangers – some more significant than others, and thus being prepared in the event that a dangerous chemical is released into the environment is a necessity for overall protection. Who do we turn to when chemicals are accidentally or purposefully released into the environment, and worse when a hazardous chemical like Mercury is the released chemical?

Mercury is a shiny, silvery liquid chemical that can cause some serious health problems. When liquid mercury vaporizes at room temperature it will cause an elevation of mercury levels in your indoor air. This chemical is quite hazardous when it becomes a vapor, as it is not irritating, and it has no odor, so people are not even aware that they are breathing it in their body. Even the smallest trace amount of mercury present in the environment can cause harm.

What is Mercury Used for

The chemical mercury is present in more things than you may have known. It can be used to make thermometers, barometers, and other scientific instruments like blood pressure units and gas pressure regulators. One of the main industrial uses for mercury is in fluorescent lights, where a mercury vapor discharge produces ultraviolet light that then makes the tube coating fluorescent in visible lighting. Mercury is used in very small amounts with a pound of mercury being smaller than a golf ball.

Another popular use for mercury today is in dental fillings. All silver-colored fillings are dental amalgam fillings, and each of these fillings is approximately 50% mercury. Although there are many countries that have banned or limited the use of these fillings, there are many countries still using mercury fillings including the USA.

Is Mercury Dangerous

Mercury can potentially be a very dangerous chemical, especially when human exposure occurs. The liquid form of mercury is highly hazardous because as it vaporizes at room temperature the air will become filled with tiny, invisible mercury atoms that are both scentless and soluble in fats and oils.

When mercury vapor is inhaled into the body, it will easily become absorbed by the body, where it will first get into the lungs and then travel into the blood and brain. The poison released from this nerve chemical can cause sleep disorders, agitation, and paralysis. And scary enough, high dosage of exposure to this chemical can result in a neurological disorder called erethism mercurialis. According to Thomas Gebel, a toxicologist at Germany’s Federal Institute for Occupational Health and Safety in Dortmun, “There are historically documented cases that describe how people’s handwriting changed after being exposed to high levels of mercury”.

How to Clean Up Mercury Spill

When or if mercury spills inside an area you will want to be sure that the cleanup process is left to a professional or HAZMAT team to properly clean and decontaminate the chemical from the environment. There are several different steps you should take to clean up after a mercury spill. These steps include the following:

Step 1: Isolate and Ventilate

The first thing you will want to do is to close doors and block off the contaminated area from human exposure. Avoid walking through this area – the less time you spend within the area the less exposure you will have to this hazardous chemical. It’s also important to turn off your HVAC system after a spill occurs. Once the spill takes place it will vaporize into the air and if your air handling system is running it can spread this vapor throughout the whole environment, which is very dangerous. If you find that the mercury vapors are traveling quickly throughout the area you may decide to open windows to help ventilate the affected area.

Step 2: Be Ready to Respond

You never know when exactly mercury will become present in your environment but preparing for this potential situation can be extremely beneficial. To prepare you may consider using an air monitoring equipment to help to detect the presence of mercury fumes. Having safety supplies on hand like gloves, goggles, and other appropriate clothing during a mercury response is also crucial to protecting yourself from mercury exposure.

Step 3: Cleanup Process 

There are several important cleaning tips to be aware of before performing a mercury cleanup. Firstly, do not use a regular vacuum to remove the mercury – this will result in the spreading of the chemical throughout the environment. Use a vacuum rated for mercury only, during a response and cleanup process. Also, be on high alert for small droplets of mercury that could have ended up on the surface of the spill.

The process of containing and neutralizing the chemical spill is important, especially ensuring that all traces of the chemical are completely removed from the area. Applying a decontamination solution like FAST-ACT will help to contain the presence of mercury in the area. FAST-ACT is a chemical decontamination solution that is both rapidly effective and easy to use to contain a chemical spill or release. The technology is composed of a patented earth mineral formula that is highly reactive against a broad spectrum of chemical agents including CWAs (Chemical Warfare Agents). FAST-ACT can be applied to both liquid and vapor releases – and will help to absorb the mercury chemical from the environment.

Step 4: Contain the Chemical Release

After the mercury release occurs, it is important to remove any contaminated clothing from your body. Place clothing, shoes, and any other items that were tainted by the mercury in a marked and sealed bag.

Step 5: Decontaminate Skin

If your skin came into contact with the mercury you will want to use warm water and anti-dandruff shampoo to remove the chemical from your skin. Anti-dandruff shampoo contains at least 1 percent selenium sulfide which helps to decontaminate mercury.