Emergency coordinators, information, and response

• The emergency coordinator must respond to any emergencies that arise.

At all times there must be at least one employee either on the premises or on call (available to respond to an emergency within a short time) with the responsibility for coordinating emergency response measures. This employee is the emergency coordinator.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) emergency procedures in 262 Subpart M require the emergency coordinator to put the facility’s emergency plan into action, including activating the alarm system and notifying facility personnel. This includes characterizing the emergency — and if it is determined to be hazardous to surrounding neighborhoods, notifying local and state emergency response teams and/or the National Response Center.

The emergency coordinator must ensure that, in the affected area(s) of the facility:

• No waste that may be incompatible with the released material is treated, stored, or disposed of until cleanup procedures are completed; and
• All emergency equipment listed in the contingency plan is cleaned and fit for its intended use before operations are resumed.

The owner or operator must note in the operating record the time, date, and details of any incident that requires implementing the contingency plan. Within 15 days after the incident, the owner or operator must submit a written report on the incident to the Regional Administrator.

Post the following information next to the telephone:

• The name and telephone number of the emergency coordinator;
• Location of fire extinguishers and spill control material, and, if present, fire alarm; and
• The telephone number of the fire department unless the facility has a direct alarm.

Emergency response

The emergency coordinator must respond to any emergencies that arise. The applicable responses are as follows:

• In the event of a fire, call the fire department or attempt to extinguish it using a fire extinguisher;
• In the event of a spill, contain the flow of hazardous waste to the extent possible, and as soon as is practicable, clean up the hazardous waste and any contaminated materials or soil;
• In the event of a fire, explosion, or other release which could threaten human health outside the facility or when the generator has knowledge that a spill has reached surface water, the generator must immediately notify the National Response Center (using their 24-hour toll free number: (800) 424-8802). The report must include the following information:
  • The name, address, and U.S. EPA Identification Number of the generator;
  • Date, time, and type of incident (e.g., spill or fire);
  • Quantity and type of hazardous waste involved in the incident;
  • Extent of injuries, if any; and
  • Estimated quantity and disposition of recovered materials, if any.