incident.

4.2 Immediate Response to Exposure Incidents

1. Skin Contact:
   • Remove contaminated clothing immediately.
   • Rinse the affected area with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes.
   • Use soap to remove chemical residues, if safe to do so.

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2. Eye Contact:
   • Flush eyes with water using an eyewash station for at least 15 minutes.
   • Keep eyelids open to ensure thorough rinsing.
   • Seek immediate medical attention after rinsing.
3. Inhalation:
   • Move the affected individual to fresh air immediately.
   • Loosen tight clothing and ensure the airway is clear.
   • Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult and personnel are trained to do so.
4. Ingestion:
   • Do not induce vomiting unless instructed by a medical professional or the material’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
   • Rinse the mouth with water and provide small sips of water to the individual.
5. Injection:
   • Immediately clean the injection site with soap and water.
   • Cover the area with a sterile dressing and seek medical attention.

4.3 Medical Intervention

1. First Aid:
   • Provide basic first aid as per the SDS guidelines for the material involved.
   • Ensure the individual remains calm and stationary while awaiting medical assistance.

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2. Emergency Services:
   • Contact local emergency medical services if the exposure is severe or life-threatening.
   • Provide the SDS or chemical identification details to the medical responders.
3. Follow-Up Care:
   • Ensure the affected individual undergoes a medical evaluation, even for minor exposures.
   • Monitor for delayed symptoms and document the treatment provided.

4.4 Incident Management

1. Spill Containment:
   • Isolate the area to prevent further exposure.
   • ERT members must wear appropriate PPE to contain and clean up the spill.
   • Dispose of contaminated materials as per hazardous waste disposal guidelines.

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2. Incident Reporting:
   • Document the incident in the Hazardous Material Exposure Incident Log (Annexure 1).
   • Include details such as the material involved, location, exposure type, and response actions.
3. Root Cause Analysis:
   • Conduct a root cause analysis to determine the circumstances leading to the incident.
   • Implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

4.5 Training and Preparedness

1. Training Programs:
   • Train employees on hazard identification, use of SDS, and first aid procedures for material exposure.

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2. Drills:
   • Conduct hazardous material exposure response drills biannually.
3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
   • Ensure all personnel have access to appropriate PPE and are trained in its proper use.

5) Abbreviations, if any

• ERT: Emergency Response Team
• PPE: Personal Protective Equipment
• SDS: Safety Data Sheet

6) Documents, if any

• Hazardous Material Exposure Incident Log
• SDS for Materials Involved
• Training Records

7) Reference, if any

• OSHA Hazard Communication Standards
• NIOSH Guidelines for Chemical Exposure
• WHO Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines

8) SOP Version

Version: 1.0

Annexure

Template 1: Hazardous Material Exposure Incident Log

 
 
 
Date
 
Material Involved
 
Exposure Type
 
Location
 
Response Actions
 
Reported By
 
 
 
DD/MM/YYYY
 
Sodium Hydroxide
 
Skin Contact
 
Lab 2
 
Area rinsed, medical care provided
 
Jane Smith
 
 
 

Template 2: SDS Reference Log

 
 
 
Material Name
 
SDS Available (Yes/No)
 
Last Reviewed Date
 
 
 
Ammonia Solution
 
Yes
 
DD/MM/YYYY