007 - Spill Station Australia Pty Ltd

Office Use Only Individual/Organisational name: 007 Spill Station Australia Pty Ltd What state/ territory are you from?

Model Work Health and Safety Codes of Practice - Public Comment Response Form

1) First Aid in the Workplace Comments due by Friday, 18 November 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

Impacts: Do you anticipate any potential costs or safety benefits of complying with this code that are different to current requirements in your jurisdiction? If so what are they?

2) Managing Risks in Construction Work Comments due by Friday, 18 November 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

3) Preventing Falls in Housing Construction Comments due by Friday, 18 November 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

4) Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace Comments due by Friday, 18 November 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

5) Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals Comments due by Friday, 18 November 2011 Comments: Page 34, Emergency Equipment. It is potentially dangerous to include , “neutralising agents such as lime and soda ash” as emergency response equipment.

In order for the response using such materials to be appropriate it has to be first determined that the spilled material is a base or acid.

The next step is to determine the concentration.

It then has to be determined if the proposed neutralising agent is suitable for the spilled liquid and if so what quantity should be used.

Neutralisation of Class 8 liquids is a chemical process and as such toxic gasses and heat may be liberated during the chemical reaction. If there are several Class 8 substances on site an intimate understanding of the chemical properties of each is required to respond safely using lime or soda ash.

This chemical reaction may create a hazardous substance that may not be controlled using the PPE that that was used to offset the risks posed by the original spilled substance.

In order to determine the correct course of action it will take time. In this time the spill is spreading and Office Use Only Individual/Organisational name: 007 Spill Station Australia Pty Ltd What state/ territory are you from?

potentially causing damage to people, property and the environment.

The other easier and more effective option is to contain, absorb and dispose.

If staff are handling corrosive substances then they should have the appropriate PPE to safely undertake the task. This same PPE would be used to clean up the spill.

Once the correct PPE is worn and the area isolated, the next step is to contain the spill. If the spill occurs outside of a bunded area there are several methods that can be used to contain the spill including creating dams with absorbent material or using containment booms.

The next step in responding is to turn the liquids into a managable solid by applying the appropriate absorbent. Sand or dirt is a method of last resort as they do not absorb the liquid. They only provide a surface are for the liquid to coat. Large amounts of soil and sand are required and ultimately if they are used the waste will still need to be disposed of as a liquid waste as the liquid will drain out.

Once the spill has been contained and absorbed, it can be placed in an appropriate receptacle and disposed of in the correct waste stream.

This method is far safer as there is significantly less chance that something will go wrong in this process and the delay in response is minimised.

Using neutralising absorbents does not change the PPE required when responding or change the requirement for the waste to be disposed of in the correct waste stream. This is important as some responders may believe that once a neutralising absorbent is applied the risk to personal safety is instantly reduced and the “neutralised” waste can be disposed of in the correct waste stream.

As such there is little benefit to using “neutralising agents such as lime and soda ash” but considerable opportunities to create a hazardous and damaging outcome.

Impacts: Do you anticipate any potential costs or safety benefits of complying with this code that are different to current requirements in your jurisdiction? If so what are they? No

6) Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Comments due by Friday, 18 November 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

Impacts: Do you anticipate any potential costs or safety benefits of complying with this code that are different to current requirements in your jurisdiction? If so what are they? Office Use Only Individual/Organisational name: 007 Spill Station Australia Pty Ltd What state/ territory are you from?

7) Safe Design Of Building and Structures Comments due by Friday, 16 December 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

8) Excavation Work Comments due by Friday, 16 December 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

9) Demolition Work Comments due by Friday, 16 December 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

10) Spray Painting and Powder Coating Comments due by Friday, 16 December 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

11) Abrasive Blasting Comments due by Friday, 16 December 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

12) Welding and Allied Processes Comments due by Friday, 16 December 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

13) Safe Access in Tree Trimming and Arboriculture Comments due by Friday, 16 December 2011 Office Use Only Individual/Organisational name: 007 Spill Station Australia Pty Ltd What state/ territory are you from?

Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

14) Preventing and Managing Fatigue in the Workplace Comments due by Friday, 16 December 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

15) Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying Comments due by Friday, 16 December 2011 Comments: (Please include section/page numbers).

Other Comments