HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 620 HS - Storage, Handling And Disposal Of PCB-Containing Material
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PROCEDURE PR.620.HS
TITLE: STORAGE, HANDLING AND DISPOSAL OF PCB-CONTAINING
MATERIAL
Date issued: December 2000
Last revised:
Authorization: Senior Staff: 25 October 2000
1.0 OBJECTIVE
To establish procedures to handle, store, and dispose of PCB-containing material to ensure
the health and safety of staff, and to comply with Ontario Ministry of Environment requirements
with respect to PCB storage.
2.0 Responsibility
2.1 Plant Operations and Occupational Health & Safety/WSIB
3.0 Procedures
3.1 OCDSB PCB storage sites are located at:
a) 275 Chamberlain Avenue; and
b) 3971 Greenback Road.
275 Chamberlain Avenue
Generator Registration Number: ON0375200
PCB Site Number: 402 33 A267
security features: fenced-off and locked area in the basement
3971 Greenbank Road
Generator Registration Number: ON0051000
PCB Site Number: 402 55 A011
security features: fenced-off property, and locked sheds.
3.2 These PCB storage sites will be used solely for the storage of fluorescent lamp ballasts
known, or suspected, to contain PCBs. The PCB ballasts will be handled in accordance
with the process outlined in Attachment 1.
3.3 The ballasts will be stored in 45-gallon drums with a removable steel lid with a gasket of
PCB resistant material secured with a steel locking ring, or 5-gallon plastic pails.
Site Inspection
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3.4 The site will be inspected by assigned Occupational Health and Safety personnel
monthly, and written records will be maintained (Attachment 3). Copies of these
records will be maintained on-site.
Annual Report
3.5 An annual report is to be prepared by January 31 of each year detailing the inventory as
of December 31 of the previous year, and confirming that inspections have been
conducted, and identifying any site problems and corrective action taken. The report will
be submitted to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
Procedures Involving Fire
3.6 PCBs should be stored in isolation from other flammable materials. Although PCBs are
classified as non-flammable liquids, they will burn at elevated temperatures.
3.7 Local fire department personnel should always be kept up-to-date on the location of the
PCB storage site so that they are fully aware of this special hazard.
3.8 In the event of a fire, personnel working in the area of the fire should leave immediately.
3.9 Fires involving PCBs should be reported to local and provincial environmental
authorities as well as to Environment Canada (see Attachment 2). These agencies
should also be kept informed as to the progress of the cleanup.
3.10 Once the fire has been extinguished, the amount of surface contamination from the
PCB soot should be determined and cleanup procedures undertaken (see Section 3.8).
Cleanup Procedures for Spills and Soot
3.11 In the event of leakage from ballasts in a school or administration building, the
procedure outlined in Attachment 1 will be followed.
3.12 In the event of a larger spill at one of the PCB storage sites or clean up after a fire, the
following steps should be taken:
a) notify local and provincial environmental of clean up intentions authorities (see
Attachment 2);
b) ensure the clean-up area is well ventilated to minimize exposure to PCB vapour
and volatile solvents;
c) wear gloves when dealing with any situation where there is known or suspected
PCB-containing liquid. Clean-up personnel should take care to avoid contact
with PCBs and volatile cleaning solvents, so other protective equipment,
appropriate to the degree of hazard of a specific spill, may be required (for
example, disposable coveralls, boots, and chemical resistant goggles);
d) stop the source of the spill, if possible;
e) confine the spillage by immediately plugging any drains, dyking the spill and
removing articles not yet contaminated;
f) soak up the liquid with a sorbent such as vermiculite or sawdust, as these
materials will absorb PCBs and create a “quasi-solid” which can be swept or
shoveled into containers for disposal as PCB waste;
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g) in the case of soot, remove using a high efficiency vacuum;
h) wipe contaminated surfaces with rags and a solvent (for examp le, varsol or
turpentine);
i) wash surfaces with all industrial strength cleaner and water;
j) replace leaking or deteriorated containers;
k) dispose of contaminated clothing, rags and waste as PCB waste.
Training
3.13 All personnel involved in the handling, storage and disposal of fluorescent light ballasts
must be fully aware of this procedure and its attachments.
3.14 All personnel working at and/or accessing 275 Chamberlain Street and 3971 Greenbank
Road should be made clearly aware of and understand the current PCB waste
management procedures.
First Aid
3.15 If a worker is exposed to PCBs during a clean up or at any other time, the following first
aid treatment should be followed:
a) skin - wash skin thoroughly with soap and water. If a rash develops, seek
medical attention;
b) eyes - flush eyes with a gentle stream of lukewarm water for 15 minutes, keeping
the eyelids open, and seek medical attention;
c) breathing dust or fumes – remove the worker to fresh air and seek medical
attention
4.0 APPENDICES
Attachment 1: Handling and Disposal of PCB-Filled Flourescent Lamp Ballasts
Attachment 2: Emergency Telephone Numbers
Attachment 3: PCB Storage Site Inspection Checklists
5.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Board Policy P.058.HS: Occupational Health and Safety
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Attachment 1
Handling and Disposal of PCB-Filled Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts
Background
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are man-made liquids that arc highly stable, noncorroding and
relatively non-flammable. These and other characteristics have led to their widespread use in
electrical equipment including transformers and capacitors. When potential hazards to the
environment and human health became evident, the manufacture and non -electrical uses of PCBs
were banned in 1977. Thus, not all flourescent lamp ballasts contain PCBs but there are still some in
the system which were manufactured before 1977 and are PCB -containing.
Although PCBs are widely recognized as a potential hazard to human health, the full extent is not
known. There have been many laboratory experiments and other studies that have tried to determine
the full health effects of PCBs on humans, but none has been definitive. As a result, even expert
opinion varies significantly on this subject.
Brief exposure does not appear to constitute a major health hazard, but contact may cause skin
rashes, swelling of eyelids, hyper-pigmentation (for example, darkening of nails and skin), headaches
or vomiting.
Extended high-level exposure has resulted in cases of chloracne, a painful and disfiguring skin
condition, similar to adolescent acne.
Some PCB mixtures are suspected human carcinogens. However, no adequate studies have yet
been carried out to determine whether long-term PCB exposure in humans is associated with cancer.
Similarly, the potential effects of PCBs on human reproduction have yet to be ascertained.
PCBs can enter the body through the skin, by inhalation of vapours or by ingestion of food
contaminated with PCBs.
Large-Scale Relamping Projects
At some schools/sites, relamping projects are undertaken by the Plant Department, which results in a
large amount of ballasts being generated for disposal. A company will be contracted to remove these
ballasts from the school/site. Contact the Plant Department, to make arrangements for a pick-up at
your school/site.
Day-to-Day Generation of Light Ballasts for Disposal
Day-to-day maintenance of lights results in few ballasts being generated for disposal. In this case,
school board staff can safely separate P CB-containing ballasts from those that do not contain PCBs,
and remove the PCB-containing ballasts from the school/site.
The procedure in Figure l will be followed by OCDSB staff when removing flourescent lamp ballasts.
Personal Protective Equipment
If a ballast is leaking oil or tar, wear disposable rubber gloves to remove the ballast.
Determining if Ballasts Contain PCBs
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To determine if a ballast contains PCBs, compare the serial number or manufacturer’s code with the
information given in Table 1. In cases where the numbers cannot be read, the ballast will be
assumed to contain PCBs.
Disposal of Ballasts
Following removal, all ballasts containing PCBs will be taken to Bronson Shops, 275 Chamberlain
Avenue or McCullough Shops, 3971 Greenbank Road, where they will be collected for disposal.
Ballasts that do not contain PCBs can be thrown in the normal garbage.
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Attachment 1
Table 1: Identification of Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts that Contain PCBs
Manufacturer Code Format
Advance If the code stamped on the ballast cover is 1-79 onwards, the ballast does not
contain PCB.
Aerovox Before 1979, the catalogue code had the form 9 193 FC and if the fifth letter
was a G or R, the ballast did not contain PCB; the F in this example indicates
that the ballast contained PCB.
After 1979, the catalogue code had the following form: Z 93 P 3417 E.
A capacitor with such a catalogue code does not contain PCB.
Allanson/Jannock The catalogue identification code is stamped on the ballast nameplate: ballasts
with the code AM and higher do not contain PCB.
In May 1987, switched from alpha to numeric coding (for example, May 1987 =
0587) and ballasts produced after this date have NO PCB on the product label.
Canadian General
Electric
The level on a typical ballast has the following type of manufacturer’s code:
17 A 28 7 ER or 18 849 E.
If the second last letter or final letter of the code is E, the ballast does not
contain PCB.
If the second last letter or final letter of the code is T, this may contain PCBs;
therefore, check the date stamp on the back of the ballast and a stamp of 8703
onwards designates non-PCB ballasts.
Phillips Have the words non-PCB marked on the label.
Sola Canada If the date code on the ballast label is A80 or higher, the ballast is non-PCB.
Sola USA If the first two digits of the code are 80 or higher, the ballast is non-PCB.
Universal
Manufacturing
If the last two digits in the code are 79 or higher, the ballast does not contain
PCB.
Westinghouse Fluorescent ballasts made from 1978 onwards have NO PCB marked on the
label.
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Attachment 1
Figure 1: Procedure for Removal of Fluorescent Light Ballasts
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Attachment 2
Emergency Telephone Numbers
Fire Department: 9-1-1
OCDSB 24-Hour Duty Call Out: 721-1054
Ministry of the Environment: 521-3450
Ottawa Hospital (Civic Campus): 761-4000
Ottawa Hospital (General Campus): 737-7777
Ottawa Carleton Regional Health Dept: 722-2200
Ministry of the Environment Spills Action Centre: 1-800-268-6060
Ottawa Police Department: 230-6211
Additional assistance may be obtained from:
CANUTEC: 613-996-6666
OCDSB Occupational Health & Safety Office: 596-8288
OCDSB Plant Manager: 596-8267
Environment Canada National Environmental Emergency Centre : 997-3742