Waste & spills
Minor or major spill? The 5-litre rule and the E.A.R.S. response
The first decision after a spill is whether your team can safely handle it. Getting that call wrong is how a small spill turns into an emergency.
Classify first
| Minor spill | Major spill | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Less than 5 L of a low-hazard chemical that trained staff can control with the site spill kit and normal PPE | More than 5 L, or any amount of a highly toxic, reactive, explosive, flammable-gas or oxidising chemical, or any spill with a significant fire, explosion or environmental risk |
| Who responds | Trained site personnel | External help (police, fire brigade, medical teams, specialist contractors), coordinated by the site HSE supervisor |
| Principle | Contain, clean up, report | E.A.R.S. |
When in doubt, treat it as major. Five litres is a guide, not a target. A litre of concentrated acid in a confined room may need a major-spill response.
Minor spill: the response
- Alert colleagues and the supervisor. Evacuate the immediate area if needed.
- Isolate the area and increase ventilation.
- Read SDS Section 6 and put on the PPE it specifies.
- Protect floor drains.
- Confine the spill with absorbent, working from the outside inward.
- Collect the residue into a labelled waste container.
- Decontaminate the area, and dispose of the absorbent and used PPE as hazardous waste.
- Restock the spill kit and complete a spill report.
Major spill: E.A.R.S.
- Evacuate: clear and secure the area by cordoning it off or closing doors. Only trained responders go back in.
- Alert: raise the alarm and call the police, fire brigade or nearest hospital.
- Remain: stay by the phone, if asked, until emergency responders make contact.
- Stand-by: be ready to give the chemical name, quantity, hazards and SDS, and help responders when they arrive.
Emergency teams then assess the spill, isolate the area, rescue injured people and contain the release. The site HSE supervisor coordinates with them, notifies the authorities and arranges specialist clean-up.
What to do
- Post the minor-spill steps and the E.A.R.S. card next to every spill kit.
- In drills, practise the classification decision, not only the clean-up.
- Make sure every supervisor knows they may escalate a spill to major without seeking approval first.
How INRC can help
INRC prepares emergency preparedness and spill response plans as part of our occupational health and safety services, and runs practical drills through our training. Contact us to discuss your site.
This article is general guidance, not legal advice. Check current legislation and regulations for your specific project.