Required Emergency Equipment

U.S. EPA regulations list the type of equipment that both large and small quantity generators must have on hand in areas where waste is generated and accumulated. Note: You only need to provide equipment for the type of emergencies that could be expected at your facility. For instance, if you only handle used oil, you would not need to keep decontamination equipment on hand.

Required equipment includes:

• An internal communications or alarm system that can issue emergency instructions (either voice or signal) to employees.
• A telephone, a hand-held two-way radio, or another device that is immediately available to employees and capable of summoning emergency assistance from local police and/or fire departments, state or local emergency response teams.
• Portable fire extinguishers, fire control equipment – chosen for the kind of fires expected at the facility, such as those that use foam, inert gas or dry chemicals, spill control equipment and decontamination equipment.
• Water, foam-producing equipment, automatic sprinklers or water spray systems.

All of the emergency equipment must be tested and maintained to ensure it operates properly during an emergency. Workers who are managing hazardous waste need to be able to sound the alarms or reach another employee without delays.

Also, make sure you have enough aisle space to allow the free movement of emergency equipment