EMERGENCY RESPONSE

 

Planning for emergencies is key to minimizing injuries to employees and property loss. The employer must first determine what possible emergencies could occur, and then develop plans to address each type of emergency.

 

Click on any of the following links for detailed information.

 

·    EMERGENCY PLAN

·    CHEMICAL SPILL

Ø   Hazardous substance inventory

Ø   Spill cleanup

Ø   Training

Ø   Notification

·    EVACUATION

Ø   Exits

Ø   Emergency drills

Ø   Emergency lighting

·    FIRE

·    MEDICAL (click on the Injury/Illness title in the menu bar on the left)

 

EMERGENCY PLAN

If you store more than 2000 kg or 2000 liters of dangerous goods, or quantities of waste dangerous goods that exceed the values listed in Schedule A below, you must have a contingency plan that addresses fires, other emergencies, discharges, emissions, leaks and spills.

 

Schedule “A”

Designated Dangerous Goods

 

 

 

Column I  Classification and Division of Dangerous Goods

Column II Quantity — Waste

Dangerous Goods

1

Explosive

50 kg or 50 L

2.1

Compressed gas (flammable)

5,000* L

2.2

Compressed gas (non-corrosive,

 non-toxic, non-flammable)

10,000* L

2.3

Compressed gas (toxic)

500* L

2.4

Compressed gas (corrosive)

500* L

2

Compressed gas (total)

10,000 L

3

Flammable liquid

5,000 L

4.1

Flammable solid                         

10,000 kg

4.2

Substance liable to spontaneous combustion  

1,000 kg

4.3

Substance which reacts violently with water  

1,000 kg

5.1

Oxidizing substance                      

1,000 kg or 1,000 L

5.2

Organic peroxide                         

50 kg or 50 L

6.1

Poisonous (toxic) substance

1,000 kg or 1,000 L

6.2

Infectious substance                      

1,000 kg or 1,000 L

7

Radioactive material                      

any amount

8

Corrosive substance                      

1,000 kg or 1,000 L

9.1

Miscellaneous dangerous goods            

5,000 kg

9.2

Environmentally hazardous substance       

50 kg

9.3

Leachable toxic waste

10,000 kg or 10,000 L

 

* Total liquid volume capacity of container

 

(Dangerous Goods Management Regulations 56/95, 10)

 

CHEMICAL SPILL

Hazardous substance inventory

Upon request, provide fire and emergency personnel with a full and complete inventory of all dangerous goods or waste dangerous goods stored in your facility. (Dangerous Goods Management Regulations 56/95, 11)

 

Spill cleanup

When the quantity of a hazardous substance used in a workplace is such that a spill cold affect worker health and safety, provide a written spill response procedure. (Occupational Safety General Guidelines 44/99, 41)

 

Neutralize and clean up immediately any spill of electrolyte from rechargeable storage batteries. (Occupational Safety General Guidelines 44/99, 42)

 

Training

Train employees to respond to spills of dangerous goods. (Dangerous Goods Management Regulations 56/95, 8)

 

Notification

Report to the Department of the Environment, any unauthorized release (into the environment) of a contaminant listed below that exceeds the amount specified. Make the report verbally at (902) 426-6030 or (800) 565-1633.

 

Schedule A — Spill Report Requirements

 

TDGA

Class

Description of Contaminant

Amount spilled

1

Compressed gas (flammable)

any amount

2.1

Compressed gas (noncorrosive, nonflammable)

100 L

2.2

Compressed gas (toxic)

100 L

2.3

Compressed gas (corrosive)

any amount

2.4

Flammable liquids

any amount

3

Flammable solids

100 L

4.1

Spontaneously combustible solids

25 kg

4.2

Oxidizing substances

25 kg

4.3

Organic peroxides

25 kg

5.1

Poisonous substances

50 L or 50 kg

5.2

Infectious substances

1 L or 1 kg

6.1

Radioactive substances

5 L or 5 kg

6.2

Compressed gas (flammable)

any amount

7

Compressed gas (noncorrosive, nonflammable)

any amount

8

Corrosive substances

5 L or 5 kg

9.1 (in part)

Miscellaneous products or substances, excluding PCB mixtures

50 L or 50 kg

9.2

PCB mixtures of 50 or more parts per million

0.5 L or 0.5 kg

9.3

Environmentally hazardous substances

1 L or 1 kg

none

Dangerous wastes

5 L or 5 kg

none

Asbestos waste as defined in the Asbestos Waste Management Regulations

50 kg

none

Used oil as defined in the Used Oil Regulations

100 L

none

Contaminated used oil as defined in the Used Oil Regulations

5 L

none

A pesticide in concentrated form

5 L or 5 kg

none

A pesticide [in] diluted form

70 L

none

Unauthorized sewage discharger into fresh water or sensitive marine water

100 L

none

Ozone depleting substances as defined the Ozone Layer Protection Regulations

25 kg

 

(Emergency Spill Regulations 59/95, 6)

 

Spills to the sanitary sewer system should be reported to your local municipality.  

 

EVACUATION

Exits

Do not lock, bolt or bar an emergency exit while a person is present in the workplace. (Occupational Safety General Regulations 44/99, 25)

  

Provide a safe means of access to and exit from all work areas. (Occupational Safety General Regulations 44/99, 140)

 

All exit doors must be hinged to open outwards, and be maintained so that they open freely from the inside of the building. (Egress From Building Regulations 170/79, 4)

 

Emergency drills

Provide workers with the information they need to be able to exit the workplace safely in an emergency. (Occupational Safety General Regulations 44/99, 140)

 

Emergency lighting

Provide emergency lighting where failure of the normal lighting could cause a risk to worker health and safety. (Occupational Safety General Regulations 44/99, 17)

 

FIRE

The employer must ensure that adequate fire protection equipment is provided in the workplace. The fire protection equipment must be maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. (Occupational Safety General Regulations 44/99, 25)

 

 

 

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