Glossary

To find out the definition of a specific word and for more information on different concepts described throughout the course, please click on the letters below or use the Find function (CTRL+F) of your Web browser.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P
Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

B

C

Cold Zone
Also known as the command area. In the event of a spill, the cold zone is upwind of the spill where there is no possibility of contamination.

Contaminant
A contaminant refers to a spilled substance that may pollute the surrounding area.

D

E

Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
An ERP is a plan that outlines the steps to follow in an emergency. An ERP helps to minimize panic and identifies employees and their responsibilities in an emergency situation.

Environmental Management System (EMS)
An EMS is a system that can help ensure that your company complies with regulatory requirements and achieves results that minimize risk to the environment.

F

G

H

Hot Zone
Also known as the isolation zone. In the event of a spill, the hot zone is the working area in which only those participating in spill cleanup activities may enter.

I

J

K

L

M

Major Incident
A major incident is a spill that is considered to be very serious. If there is a major incident, a response team and outside contracted help will likely be required to take corrective action. If the spread of contamination is too large, or if the receiving environment is sensitive, a spill may be considered a major incident.

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
A Material Safety Data Sheet is the most important source of information about a controlled product. An MSDS consists of nine sections, including Hazards Identification, Accidental Release Measures, Exposure/Personal Protective Equipment and First Aid Measures. When a spilled product is identified, its MSDS must be consulted for safety information.

Minor Incident
A minor incident is considered the least serious type of spill. In this type of incident, the on-site employee should be qualified and able to take corrective action. A 1 litre or 2 litre fuel spill, for example, may be considered a minor incident.

Mobilization Area
In the event of a spill, the mobilization area is where all spill equipment is kept, where PPE is put on and removed, and where waste from the spill is brought.

Moderate Incident
A moderate incident is a spill that is considered to be reasonably serious. In this case, the on-site employee should be qualified and able to take corrective action, but may need support from other employees. A 45 litre spill from a hydraulic line, for example, may be considered a moderate incident.

N

O

Oleophilic
Oleophilic refers to absorbent pads and pillows that are specifically designed to soak up oil and that may be found in an oil or petroleum spill kit.

P

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE includes any safety device or safeguard worn by workers to protect themselves against environmental hazards. There are four levels of PPE: A, B, C, D. Level A offers the highest level of protection and Level D offers the lowest level of protection.

Q

R

S

Spill Kit
Spill kits contain items that may be required to contain, clean up or dispose of a spilled hazardous material. All companies that have hazardous materials on site must also have spill kits available in case of an accident.

Common spill kit contents may include:

• trash bags
• absorbent pillows
• disposable gloves
• goggles
• cat litter
• decontamination pool (for washing)
• drain cover

Spill Report Form
A spill report form is part of the documentation you must fill out in the event of a spill. Most spill report forms can be divided into three sections: Notification, Cause and Description of Incident, and Response.

T

Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Label
A TDG label may help you to identify a spilled contaminant.

U

V

W

WHMIS
WHMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System and is a law that was developed to protect Canadian employees who work with hazardous products. WHMIS is built on three main elements: Product labels, MSDS's, and worker education. When trying to identify a spilled product, you may look for WHMIS labels for assistance and consult its MSDS for more information.

Warm Zone
Also known as the decontamination area. In the event of a spill, the warm zone is upwind of the spill but may not be free of contamination.

X

Y

Z

Last Modified: October 20, 2009