Follow these steps. Stay calm. Protect people first, environment second, property third.
This guide covers what to do in the first 15 minutes after discovering a spill at your facility. These steps apply to oil, chemical, and hazardous material spills. Print this page and post it in your operations area.
Evacuate the immediate area if there is any risk of fire, explosion, or toxic fumes. Move upwind and uphill from the spill. Account for all personnel. If anyone has been exposed, move them to fresh air and call 911.
Check container labels, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), shipping papers, or placards. Knowing the material determines everything: PPE requirements, containment methods, cleanup procedures, and whether you need to report.
If you can't identify the material, treat it as hazardous until proven otherwise. Do not touch, smell, or taste unknown substances.
If it's safe to approach: close valves, upright tipped containers, plug visible leaks, or shut down equipment. Only do this if you can without entering the spill area and without PPE beyond what you're wearing.
Grab your nearest spill kit. Deploy absorbent booms or socks around the perimeter of the spill to stop it from spreading. If the spill is moving toward a storm drain, block the drain first. That storm drain likely leads directly to a waterway.
Containment priorities: storm drains first, then waterways, then soil, then hard surfaces.
Small spill of a known material on a hard surface with a spill kit available? You can probably handle it internally. Anything else? Call a professional.
If you don't have one on contract, call one of the national providers below. Tell them: what spilled, how much, where it's going, and whether anyone is hurt. They'll mobilize a crew.
Do NOT wait to call until you've "assessed the situation." Call early. You can always cancel a response team. You can't un-contaminate a creek.
Federal law requires you to report spills that reach navigable waters, exceed reportable quantities, or pose a threat to human health. State requirements vary and are often stricter.
When in doubt, report. Failing to report a reportable spill is a separate violation on top of the spill itself.
Take photos. Write down the time, location, material, estimated quantity, cause, and actions taken. Note weather conditions and who was present. This documentation protects you during regulatory follow-up and insurance claims.
Save these numbers in your phone now. Don't wait until you need them.
Required for oil spills to navigable waters and hazardous substance releases exceeding reportable quantities. Available 24/7/365.
24/7 chemical emergency information. They can identify materials and provide safety guidance. Available to first responders and facility personnel.
For human exposure to chemicals. Available 24/7. Have the SDS or product label ready when you call.
24/7 emergency response. Nationwide coverage. One of the largest environmental response companies in North America.
24/7 emergency spill response and hazardous waste management. Nationwide coverage.
Same as National Response Center. EPA-operated. For reporting oil and chemical spills to federal authorities.
Federal reporting is required under CERCLA and the Clean Water Act. State requirements may be stricter. When in doubt, report.
| Situation | Report To | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Oil sheen on any waterway (any quantity) | National Response Center | Immediately |
| Hazardous substance exceeding reportable quantity | National Response Center + State | Immediately |
| Any spill reaching a storm drain | Local authority + State EPA | Within 2-24 hours (varies by state) |
| Petroleum spill >25 gallons (typical state threshold) | State EPA/environmental agency | Within 2-24 hours (varies by state) |
| Any injury from chemical exposure | OSHA + 911 | Immediately / within 8 hours |
| Release to air above threshold | National Response Center + State | Immediately |
The penalty for not reporting a reportable spill is a separate violation. You can be fined for the spill AND for failing to report it. The NRC phone call takes 10 minutes. The fine for not making it can be $25,000+ per day.
