Standard Operating Procedure for Managing Waste During Emergency Shutdowns

1) Purpose

The purpose of this SOP is to provide a structured approach for safely managing waste during emergency shutdowns to prevent environmental contamination, ensure regulatory compliance, and mitigate risks associated with unplanned disruptions in operations.

2) Scope

This SOP applies to all personnel handling waste during emergency shutdowns in manufacturing units, laboratories, storage facilities, and waste disposal areas. It includes guidelines for handling hazardous, biomedical, chemical, and general waste.

3) Responsibilities

• Emergency Response Team (ERT): Coordinate waste management activities during shutdowns.
• Supervisors: Ensure proper implementation of waste handling procedures in their respective areas.
• Waste Management Personnel: Segregate, secure, and monitor waste until normal operations resume.
• Safety Officers: Conduct risk assessments and oversee compliance with waste management protocols.

4) Procedure

4.1 Pre-Shutdown Preparations

1. Inventory Assessment:
   • Identify all types of waste currently stored on-site, including hazardous and perishable materials.
   • Prepare an inventory log with details of waste type, quantity, and storage location (Annexure 1).

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2. Secure Storage Areas:
   • Inspect storage areas to ensure they are secure and equipped to handle waste during shutdowns.
   • Verify that secondary containment systems are functional and adequate.
3. Emergency Supplies:
   • Stock spill containment kits, absorbents, PPE, and fire extinguishers in easily accessible locations.

4.2 Waste Handling During Shutdown

1. Segregation of Waste:
   • Ensure waste is segregated into categories such as hazardous, biomedical, chemical, and general waste.
   • Use color-coded bins and containers for segregation and labeling.

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2. Securing Hazardous Waste:
   • Transfer hazardous waste to approved secondary containment systems.
   • Seal all hazardous waste containers and label them with appropriate hazard symbols.
3. Minimizing Waste Generation:
   • Pause all non-essential activities that generate waste.
   • Encourage reuse of materials where feasible to reduce waste accumulation.
4. Monitoring Waste Storage Areas:
   • Conduct regular inspections of waste storage areas for leaks, spills, or breaches.
   • Record findings in the Waste Monitoring Log (Annexure 2).

4.3 Emergency Waste Disposal

1. Engage Authorized Vendors:
   • Contact authorized waste disposal vendors for expedited removal of critical waste types (e.g., biomedical and hazardous waste).

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2. Temporary On-Site Disposal:
   • For non-hazardous waste, use temporary on-site disposal methods, such as incineration or burial, if permitted by regulations.
   • Maintain records of all on-site disposal activities for compliance audits.

4.4 Spill and Incident Management

1. Containment:
   • Immediately isolate the area in case of a spill or leak.
   • Use spill kits and absorbents to contain and clean up the waste.

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2. Disposal of Cleanup Materials:
   • Dispose of contaminated cleanup materials as hazardous waste.
3. Incident Reporting:
   • Document all incidents in the Waste Incident Log (Annexure 3) and notify the Safety Officer.

4.5 Post-Shutdown Activities

1. Waste Inventory Reconciliation:
   • Reconcile waste inventory records with actual quantities to identify any discrepancies.

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2. Waste Removal:
   • Resume normal waste disposal operations and prioritize the removal of accumulated waste.
3. Review and Update Procedures:
   • Conduct a review meeting to evaluate the effectiveness of waste management during the shutdown.
   • Update this SOP to incorporate lessons learned.

5) Abbreviations, if any

• ERT: Emergency Response Team
• PPE: Personal Protective Equipment

6) Documents, if any

• Waste Inventory Log
• Waste Monitoring Log
• Waste Incident Log

7) Reference, if any

• OSHA Hazard Communication Standards
• Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016
• EPA Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Guidelines

8) SOP Version

Version: 1.0

Annexure

Template 1: Waste Inventory Log

Date	Waste Type	Quantity	Storage Location	Inspected By
DD/MM/YYYY	Hazardous Chemical Waste	50 Liters	Storage Area 3	John Doe

Template 2: Waste Monitoring Log

Date	Time	Inspection Findings	Action Taken	Inspected By
DD/MM/YYYY	10:00 AM	No leaks observed	None	Jane Smith

Template 3: Waste Incident Log

Date	Location	Incident Description	Corrective Action	Reported By
DD/MM/YYYY	Storage Area 2	Spill of chemical waste	Cleaned and secured container	John Doe