6.2 Spills, Fires & Emergency Response
Key Takeaways
Connecticut requires all pesticide spills to be reported immediately to DEEP Emergency Response at 860-424-3338, staffed 24 hours a day.
Pesticide spill response follows the three Cs: control the spill, contain it, and clean it up, after first putting on PPE.
The backbone of an emergency response plan is the written sequence of actions to take in a crisis.
During a pesticide fire, contain contaminated runoff with berms and consult responders about letting the fire burn out.
A spill kit belongs in every pesticide transport vehicle and at every mixing, loading, and storage site.
6.2 Spills, Fires & Emergency Response
"Do not depend on luck. Think ahead." DEEP's operator manual gives this advice about spills, and it tells operators to get spill equipment and instructions from their supervisor before an accident occurs. Chapter 9 of the core manual turns that advice into an emergency response plan, the three Cs of spill response, and fire precautions. Connecticut adds one firm rule: all spills must be reported immediately to the DEEP Emergency Response Unit at 860-424-3338, which operates 24 hours a day.
When Is a Pesticide Most Dangerous?
The operator manual answers: when it is concentrated, just as it comes from the manufacturer. Mixing is when applicators are most likely to inhale fumes or dust or contact concentrate, so be extra careful then, and plan the mixing site. The manual advises not mixing in a customer's house or yard, or near a pond or stream, where a spill could seriously harm people or wildlife.
The Emergency Response Plan
A written emergency response (contingency) plan keeps an emergency from becoming a catastrophe, protects employees and the community, limits environmental damage, and reduces liability. Its backbone is the sequence of actions to take in a crisis: step-by-step procedures for fires, spills, leaks, severe weather, and transportation accidents, from sounding the alarm to working with local responders.
A complete plan includes:
- An emergency coordinator with authority to make decisions and coordinate with fire, police, and paramedics, who also makes the required calls and reports.
- A posted call list (office, shop, and truck) covering agencies that must be notified, the local emergency planning committee, police and fire, paramedics and hospitals, chemical manufacturers and dealers, cleanup contractors, and the company's attorney.
- A fill-in form for reporting: your name; the exact names, quantities, and classifications of the pesticides; precise location; what happened; injuries; and whether pesticides have entered surface water.
- A facility map showing chemical storage and bulk tanks, access roads, utility shutoffs, gates, fuel tanks, fire equipment, protective clothing, drains, wells, and surface water flow, plus an area map. Give updated copies to emergency responders.
- A current product inventory reflecting peak-season storage, and copies of labels and SDSs kept away from the storage area.
- Working emergency equipment, and yearly training for all employees.
Offer the plan to local fire, police, and emergency planning officials and ask what they would add.
Pesticide Fires
Any pesticide in a fire is dangerous to responders because of smoke and fumes, and residues in debris, soil, and runoff can stay hazardous after the fire is out.
Prevention:
- Store combustible pesticides away from heat sources.
- Install a fire-detection system and keep an extinguisher approved for chemical fires.
- Train employees to use extinguishers, and post signs showing that pesticides are stored in the facility.
If a fire occurs, coordinate everything with the fire department:
- Evacuate to a designated rendezvous point and account for everyone.
- Notify the fire department and give responders the SDSs, labels, emergency plan, and site map.
- Follow the onsite incident commander's instructions and set a security perimeter to keep onlookers away.
- Contain contaminated runoff by building berms.
- Consult responders about whether to let the fire burn out, since water can spread contamination.
- Call your insurance agent, and make all required regulatory calls. Cleanup and salvage happen only under expert supervision after everything has cooled.
The NFPA 704 diamond helps responders size up a hazard. Blue (left) is health, red (top) is flammability, and yellow (right) is instability, each rated 0 (minimal) to 4 (severe). The white bottom square marks special hazards such as OX (oxidizer) or W with a strike-through (do not use water), which is common on fumigant storage.
Pesticide Spills: The Three Cs
A spill is an accidental release of any amount of pesticide, large or small. Remember the order: Control, Contain, Clean up.
1. Control the spill
- Always put on the appropriate PPE before responding.
- Stop the source: set a leaking small container inside a larger one; plug a leaking drum and transfer its contents; turn off the pump on a pressurized sprayer.
- Never leave the site unattended. Keep people and animals away.
2. Contain the spill
- Keep it from spreading or reaching water. Use a shovel to berm the area, or use absorbent socks or pillows, so pesticide stays out of drains and waterways.
- A spill contained on the surface is far easier to clean than one that reaches water.
3. Clean up the spill
- Cover liquids with absorbent material — spill pillows, absorbent clay, cat litter, or activated charcoal. The operator manual lists "Speedy Dri, activated charcoal or kitty litter." Sweep or shovel it into a drum or heavy plastic container for proper disposal.
- On concrete or asphalt, neutralize or decontaminate the surface using the SDS instructions or the manufacturer's advice.
- On soil, the regulatory agency directs the cleanup. It may require removing the top 2 to 3 inches of soil and replacing it with clean soil.
- Never wash a spill down a storm drain, into the street, or into a sewer. Connecticut prohibits discarding any pesticide into a public sewage disposal system (RCSA § 22a-65-1).
Spills that reach water
If a spill reaches a stream, pond, or other waterway, notify the state agencies immediately. In Connecticut, call DEEP Emergency Response at 860-424-3338. Authorities need time to warn downstream water users, protect livestock, clear swimmers and anglers, and keep the water off irrigated crops. Call the manufacturer's SDS emergency number for mitigation advice, call 911, and have the label and SDS ready for responders. CHEMTREC (1-800-424-9300) also provides 24-hour chemical emergency information.
Document everything
Keep records of what you did and of conversations with regulators, responders, the media, and the public. Photographs document damage and cleanup steps.
The Spill Kit
Keep a spill kit in every pesticide transport vehicle and at every site where pesticides are mixed, loaded, and stored. Store it in a clean plastic container and keep it in working order. The core manual lists:
- Emergency telephone numbers.
- PPE designed for use with pesticides.
- Absorbent materials: spill pillows, absorbent clay, cat litter.
- A shovel, broom, and dustpan.
- Heavy-duty detergent.
DEEP's operator manual adds waterproof gloves and boots, soap, and water, and asks operators to get spill-cleanup instructions from their supervisor before going out.
Preventing Spills
- Maintain equipment and vehicles. Drips from cracked hoses or loose clamps are warning signs.
- Drive defensively, and don't use a cellphone while driving.
- Mix only as much as you need for the day. The operator manual calls this the best way to avoid leftover mixture.
- Never leave a spray tank unattended while filling, and release tank pressure when you stop.
Personal Contamination Is an Emergency Too
If pesticide gets on a person during a spill, decontamination comes before cleanup. The operator manual's rule: remove any wet clothing immediately, wash the skin with soap and water, and put on clean clothing. Most of a pesticide spilled on skin is absorbed in the first few minutes, and the groin absorbs pesticide nearly as fast as swallowing it. For eye contact, flush with plenty of clean water and then call a doctor. Take the label to the medical provider (see Sections 2.3 and 4.2).
A backpack sprayer tank cracks in a customer's driveway and concentrate-strength mix flows toward a storm drain. Which sequence is correct?
Hose the driveway clean so the residue is diluted, then report it
Put on PPE, stop the leak, berm or absorb to keep it out of the drain, clean up the absorbent for disposal, and report to DEEP
Wait for the fire department before taking any action
Leave to get the shop's spill kit and return within the hour
According to the national core manual, what is the backbone of a pesticide emergency response plan?
An insurance policy covering spill cleanup
A step-by-step description of the sequence of actions to take in a crisis
A list of every pesticide ever purchased
The company attorney's telephone number
Firefighters arrive at a burning pesticide storage shed. Which action fits core manual guidance?
Build berms to contain contaminated runoff and give responders the SDSs, labels, and site map
Begin salvage while the debris is still hot
Enter the shed to remove as many containers as possible
Spray large volumes of water immediately regardless of runoff
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.