According to OSHA, more than 43 million American workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals each year. Because there are so many people working with and around dangerous chemicals, it is critical for those workers to have the requisite training to safely perform their tasks. One part of that training requirement focuses on exposure response, hazmat cleanup and decontamination.
The most important best practice is to have a chemical-response plan in place prior to performing any work involving hazardous chemicals. It shouldn’t be surprising to learn that poor planning and response lead to the worst hazmat incident outcomes. And while no person has a crystal ball to see the exact nature of a future incident, having a plan will decrease the chance for severe injury and can limit the negative consequences to our environment. Through this lens, an executable response plan can save lives and save your company thousands, if not millions, of dollars in post-incident damages.