responsible. With regard to cleanup by personnel, caution must be exercised in determining the
items that may be safely cleaned up by employees and those that must be cleaned up by the more
specialized and better equipped HAZMAT team. If employees other than those assigned to the
HAZMAT team are permitted to cleanup the material, the items permitted to be cleaned up and
exact procedures of techniques should be clearly defined. Unless circumstances dictate
otherwise, the supervisor should have maximum flexibility to use employees in cleaning up
materials that, on the basis of guidelines and professional judgment, do not warrant deployment
of the HAZMAT team. Examples of materials that may be safely cleaned up by employees
include low risk materials such as lubricating oils, antifreeze, or household cleaning materials.
Employees may also be trained and equipped to routinely cleanup certain corrosives, and to shut
off leaks from certain compressed gas cylinders under the conditions outlined in, Storage and
Handling of Compressed Gases and Liquids in Cylinders (DLAR 4145.25/AR-700-
68/NAVSUPINST 4440.128C/MCO 10330.2C/AFR 67-12). Criteria for cleanup by warehouse
personnel may also be established on the basis of DOT transportation labels and hazard
characteristic codes (HCCs).
6. Released materials may be recovered (e.g., sodium hydroxide flakes), may become
hazardous wastes (e.g., pesticides), or waste hazardous substances (e.g., 1-1-1- trichloroethane),
or may be insignificant (e.g., nitrogen released from a leaking cylinder). Materials to be
recovered (repackaged) or to be disposed of must be properly labeled, packaged or overpacked,
and stored while awaiting final disposition.
7. Material that can be reclaimed or recycled will be forwarded to the recoupment facility for
processing in accordance with the procedures outlined in Section IV, Chapter 4 of this
publication.
F. Packaging of Spilled Material. Packagings, packs, or salvage drums used by personnel in
connection with cleanup operations will meet or exceed UN specifications for the material being
packaged as required by Title 49 CFR, parts 171 through 178. A person qualified (trained) in
HAZMAT packaging will inspect all packagings to ensure that the package is:
1. Compatible with the material being packaged.
2. Of UN approved/tested specification construction for the material being packaged.
3. Marked, labeled, and properly prepared for transportation in accordance with Title 49 CFR,
parts 171 through 178 and MIL-STD-129.
G. Suggested References. The following references are suggested for developing emergency
responses to hazardous materials:
1. Association of American Railroads, 1984, Emergency Action Guides.
2. National Pest Control Association, 1976, Managing Pesticide Spills.
3. Armed Forces Pest Management Board, 1980, Technical Information Memorandum
Number 15: Pesticide Spill Prevention and Management.
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