The Eight-Litre Corrosive Spill at the Receiving Door
At 14:10, a delivery driver is unloading 16 x 20 L pails of UN3264, CORROSIVE LIQUID, ACIDIC, INORGANIC, N.O.S., Class 8, PG II, at a retail store. One pail slips off a hand truck, the lid pops off, and about 8 L spills onto the asphalt loading area. A store employee receives a splash on the forearm and rinses it at a nearby tap. The spill is flowing toward a curb, but no storm drain is within 15 m. The driver has a spill kit with absorbent, a shovel, and PPE in the truck. The shipping document lists the emergency number of the shipper's 24-hour service. The store manager says, 'It's only a small amount; we don't need to call anyone.' The driver's TDG training certificate is in the truck; the store has no TDG-trained employee on shift.
1. List the immediate actions the driver and store should take, in priority order.
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First, protect people. Keep customers away, put on PPE, and make sure the injured employee gets first aid and medical follow-up if needed. Second, stop the source if it is safe: upright the pail, close or contain it, and do not walk through the liquid. Third, contain the spill with absorbent or a berm and protect the curb so the acid does not reach a drain or soil. Fourth, call the 24-hour emergency number on the shipping document for technical advice. Fifth, clean up with the spill kit, place used absorbent in a compatible container, and arrange proper disposal. Sixth, report internally and preserve the shipping document and package details.
The store manager's view is not the deciding factor. Even a small corrosive spill can injure people and damage surfaces, and the driver should not let the load move until the spill is controlled.
2. Is this a reportable release under the TDG Regulations? Explain the factors and what the driver should do if unsure.
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Part 8 requires an immediate report when dangerous goods are released from a means of containment and the release is likely to be an emergency, meaning it endangers or is likely to endanger public safety, health, property, or the environment. Factors here: 8 L of Class 8 PG II corrosive; asphalt surface; no storm drain within 15 m; one minor splash injury; a spill kit available; and the spill can be contained. If the spill is quickly contained and cleaned up, it may not meet the emergency threshold for a TDG report. However, the driver must still call the 24-hour number, and the shipper's emergency response plan may set a lower reportable quantity. Provincial spill reporting may also apply.
If unsure, the driver should report rather than let the store manager waive it. The driver should document the decision, who was notified, and the cleanup. A small quantity does not automatically mean no reporting.
3. What follow-up records and corrective actions should the carrier and store complete?
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The carrier should complete an incident report with time, location, product, UN number, quantity spilled, cause, response, injuries, disposal method, and notifications. It should preserve the shipping document, package label, and photos, notify the consignor, and investigate why the lid popped off: closure torque, damaged pail, hand-truck practice, or loading method. The carrier should retrain the driver if handling was unsafe and review the spill-kit inventory.
The store should record the first-aid incident, review receiving procedures, and ensure a trained employee is available for dangerous goods deliveries. The store should also restock any borrowed spill supplies and confirm that the loading area is not used as a drain path. Records should be kept according to company and TDG requirements so the carrier can show that it investigated and corrected the cause, not just cleaned up.