HYDROCARBON SPILLS PROCEDURE SIG-ENV-PR003

Transcription

1 Page: 1 of 6 PROCEDURE SIG-ENV-PR003 Revision Approved Date Description 1 AV 01/04/99 New EP 2 AV 07/06/00 Revision of EP 3 AV 04/04/03 Revision of EP 4 Stuart Roseby DRAFT 5 Stuart Roseby 25/07/2005 Approved as Current 6 Stuart Roseby 23/08/2006 Revised 7 Peter Bayliss 11/12/2008

2 Page: 2 of 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS PROCEDURE PURPOSE DEFINTIONS ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS IDENTIFICATION OF SPILL CONTROL CONTAIN CLEAN-UP REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL REPORTING PROCESS RESTOCKING THE SPILL KIT RELATED DOCUMENTS... 6

3 Page: 3 of 6 1 PURPOSE This procedure outlines the identification, control, and containment and approved methods of clean up for hydrocarbon spills within all areas of SIGM. Hydrocarbons can impact on the environment therefore it is essential spills are managed quickly, effectively and safely. All SIGM employees and contractors should aim to minimise spills whenever possible without exposing themselves to undue risks to personal safety, in the outset through the use of controls (such as bunding and routine maintenance) as they can be costly and difficult to remediate. This procedure covers the management of hydrocarbon spills in all areas of the SIGM operations. This procedure covers hydrocarbon spills only and does not cover the requirements for the clean up of other chemicals (hazardous or otherwise). 2 DEFINTIONS Hydrocarbon an organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen including diesel, oil, petrol, grease, solvent-based degreasers, hydraulic fluids and transformer oils. Polypropylene Spill Products these are white coloured booms, mats, pads and pillows in the spill kits around site. They are hydrophobic (they repel water), and are useful in workshop as well as outside situations. Bund an embankment or wall which may form part or the entire perimeter of a compound. Usually made of concrete, bunds are placed around storage tanks to contain spills. Hazard spill of less than 20 litres Level 1 Incident spill of greater than 20 litres but less than 250 litres Level 2 Incident spill of greater than 250 litres but less than 1000 litres Level 3 Incident spill of greater than 1000 litres 3 ACCOUNTABILITY It is the responsibility of ALL employees and contractors to manage hydrocarbon spills as they occur. Area Supervisors are accountable if their immediate areas are found to have poor hydrocarbon management practices (this includes the clean-up of minor spills). 4 PROCESS 4.1 Identification of Spill A hydrocarbon spill is any uncontrolled release of hydrocarbon products. Hydrocarbon spills can occur anywhere hydrocarbons are used, stored and transported. Through established audit and inspection protocols spills may also occur as a requirement of maintenance where the release of the product is planned and the appropriate control measure implemented to reduce the impact of the spill. Spills can occur inside and

4 Page: 4 of 6 outside of bunded areas. Bunds are designed to contain spills and are therefore easy to clean up. Spills outside of bunds are more serious and will often require more effort in clean up. All spills outside of bunded areas should be reported. Where a spill is of an unknown substance or you consider it potentially unsafe where it could pose serious threat to either people or property, with risk of explosion, fire or toxic fumes, call 45 to initiate Emergency Response. Refer to the SIGM Emergency and Crisis Management Plan. 4.2 CONTROL The source of the spill must be controlled first to ensure the flow of hydrocarbon is stopped. In order to achieve this, isolate any machinery and pumps, or if the spill has resulted from a container that has been damaged, place the container in a position to reduce the flow. 4.3 CONTAIN Most spills will occur on previously cleared areas associated with mining or workshop areas and as such pose no immediate risk to the surrounding environment. However, incorrect management of the spill may result in contamination of subsoils and groundwater. A more immediate threat is posed from the spilled material entering dewatering sumps within a pit or spreading to previously undisturbed areas adjacent to the spill site. All efforts should be made to bund off the area affected by the spill to prevent its movement to undisturbed areas or to dewatering sumps which may result in the hydrocarbon being discharged onto the lake surface. Take note of the drainage in the areas and place appropriate clean up material down stream. Should the hydrocarbon reach a dewatering sump, the pump should be stopped immediately, spill response oil booms placed within the sump to capture the spilled hydrocarbon with the material completely removed from the sump before the pumps are re-started. Spill response kits should be available at each site with pit or workshop personnel aware of there availability and location. Construct a bund from the chosen product to stop product flow. This can be achieved with booms, or with an earthen bund if the spill is of a large quantity. Booms should be overlapped at their ends to ensure product doesn t flow through the spaces between the booms. Figure 1 Hydrocarbon Spill Kit

5 Page: 5 of CLEAN-UP All hydrocarbon spills must be cleaned up where safe and practicable to do so. Remove any remaining hydrocarbon liquids to waste oil tank. If the hydrocarbon has mixed with water or other chemicals, utilise the services of an approved waste contractor, as mixed product cannot be placed in the site waste oil storage tanks. On rocks/dirt utilise the most appropriate earthmoving machinery available to excavate contaminated materials and transport them to a bioremediation facility (see SIG-ENV- PR039). On concrete use pillows, mats, pads and absorbent floorsweeps to remove spill from floor. On water use hydrophobic hydrocarbon mats. If the hydrocarbons have been mixed with other chemicals such a solvent based degreasers the contaminated water may need to be removed by an approved waste removal contractor. Oily water may be transported to a site based bioremediation facility, in compliance with SIG-ENV-PR039. Dewatering sumps use booms to stop the spill entering the pump, and place absorbent mats over surface of spill to allow the mats to soak up the hydrocarbons. Underground use polypropylene pads where practicable. Table 1: Suggested Spill Equipment Type of Spill Spill on rocks/dirt Spill on concrete/hardstand area eg workshop Spill in containment bund Spill occurs when raining or on a water body 4.5 REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL Recommended Spill Equipment Use earthen bunds or booms to contain spill if necessary. Polypropylene pads to mop up excess oil at the outset. Global Peat or Enretec to treat contaminated soil in-situ. Polypropylene pads (easiest and quickest) Floorsorb/kitty litter if pads not available (this must be swept up and disposed of in hydrocarbon bins immediately, as these products are not hydrophobic and will not contain the spill if they become wet). Polypropylene pads or pillows Bund can be drained or sucked out to waste oil receptacle if the spill is large. Polypropylene pads Hydrocarbon contaminated soil is to be placed on a hydrocarbon bioremediation facility as soon as practicable, according to SIG-ENV-PR039. Large rocks, concrete footing, scrap steel etc are NOT SUITABLE for the bioremediation facility and should be disposed of to the Inert Storage Area for later disposal under waste rock dumps or an area of the waste dump approved for that use by the Manager Environment.

6 Page: 6 of 6 Workshop areas All servicing and maintenance should be conducted on concreted areas. Any non-concreted areas where hydrocarbon residue has collected shall be scraped on a regular basis and contaminated materials removed and placed on the bioremediation facility. Spill equipment If spill kit equipment was used during clean up, place the contaminated materials in the general hydrocarbon waste bin (black with red stripe). No materials contaminated with hydrocarbons may be placed in general rubbish bins. Oily Water Oily water should be removed by an approved waste contractor for disposal at an approved waste facility, or transported to an onsite bioremediation facility, in accordance with SIG- ENV-PR REPORTING PROCESS ALL spills must be reported in the Incident Reporting System (SiteSafe) before the end of shift either as a Hazard or an Incident. Examples of reporting include: ongoing dripping and leaking of oil from a piece of machinery or within a bund may be reported in SiteSafe as a hazard and a spill outside of a bund or on the lake is an incident. Major spills (250 litres or greater) must be reported to the SIGM Environment Department immediately to ensure necessary government reporting can be completed AND the spill entered into SiteSafe prior to the end of shift. Should a spill greater than 250 litres occur out of business hours, the SIGM Manager Environment should be contacted via mobile phone. This number is available on the mobile phone list on the Intranet (locator). 4.7 RESTOCKING THE SPILL KIT Ensure any spill materials used from spill response kits are replaced immediately. It is the responsibility of each area to restock the spill kits. 5 Related Documents Reference Title Source Location AS1940 : 2004 Storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids Australian Standards SIG-ENV-PR008 Hydrocarbon Management Plan SIGM SIG-ENV-STD006 SIG-ENV-[insert] SIGM Environmental Performance Standard - Hydrocarbon Management SIGM Environmental License to Operate 4570/10 SIGM Department of Environment and Conservation Internet Intranet Controled Documents Intranet Controled Documents Intranet Controlled Documents