Standard Operating Procedure for Handling of Spillage During Material Dispensing
Department | Elixir Department |
---|---|
SOP No. | SOP/ELX/045/2025 |
Supersedes | SOP/ELX/045/2022 |
Page No. | Page 1 of 8 |
Issue Date | 11/04/2025 |
Effective Date | 15/04/2025 |
Review Date | 11/04/2026 |
1. Purpose
To define the procedure for handling any spillage of raw materials, excipients, or solvents during dispensing operations in the Elixir Department to ensure safety, minimize contamination, and comply with GMP practices.
2. Scope
This SOP is applicable to all personnel involved in dispensing of materials for elixir manufacturing and covers all types of spills (powders, liquids, solvents) within dispensing booths or controlled areas.
3. Responsibilities
- Dispensing Operator:
- Immediately report and initiate first response for any spill incident.
- Clean minor spills using approved materials and PPE.
- Supervisor:
- Assess the spillage, classify the incident (minor/major), and coordinate cleanup.
- Ensure appropriate documentation is maintained.
- QA Officer:
- Review and approve the cleanup procedure and determine material usability post-incident.
4. Accountability
The Production Head and Safety Officer are accountable for ensuring adherence to this SOP and implementation of corrective measures after spillage.
5. Procedure
5.1 Classification of Spillage
- Minor Spillage: Small quantities that do not pose chemical hazards and can be cleaned by dispensing personnel.
- Major Spillage: Large volume spills, hazardous solvent spillage, or contamination risk requiring immediate supervisor and QA involvement.
5.2 General Precautions
- Ensure spill kits and PPE (gloves, mask, goggles) are available in the dispensing area.
- Place warning signage (“Spill Area – Do Not Enter”) around the affected zone.
5.3 Handling Minor Spillage
- Wear appropriate PPE before initiating cleanup.
- Collect powder spillage using a HEPA-filtered vacuum or wet lint-free wipes.
- For liquids/solvents, use absorbent pads or spill pillows to soak the material.
- Dispose of waste in designated yellow/red biohazard bags and label as “Spill Waste.”
- Clean the surface with 70% IPA or other approved disinfectant.
- Document the incident in the Spill Register (Annexure-1).
5.4 Handling Major Spillage
- Immediately evacuate non-essential personnel and notify the area supervisor and QA.
- Isolate the area and switch off HVAC if flammable solvents are involved.
- Use chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, face shield, and respirator (if required).
- Clean as per validated SOP for hazardous chemical containment.
- Dispose contaminated items as per waste handling SOP.
- Fill Deviation Report (Annexure-2) and conduct root cause analysis if repeated.
5.5 Post-Cleanup Verification
- QA to inspect the area and confirm it is clean and safe for operation.
- Record the clearance status in the Spill Register and resume dispensing only after QA sign-off.
6. Abbreviations
- SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
- QA: Quality Assurance
- PPE: Personal Protective Equipment
- HEPA: High Efficiency Particulate Air
7. Documents
- Spill Register (Annexure-1)
- Deviation Report (Annexure-2)
- Post-Spillage Clearance Log (Annexure-3)
8. References
- OSHA Guidelines for Chemical Spills
- WHO GMP – Pharmaceutical Production Safety Practices
9. SOP Version
Version: 2.0
10. Approval Section
Prepared By | Checked By | Approved By | |
---|---|---|---|
Signature | |||
Date | |||
Name | |||
Designation | |||
Department |
11. Annexures
Annexure-1: Spill Register
Date | Material | Batch No. | Type of Spill | Cleaned By | Verified By | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11/04/2025 | Sorbitol Solution | SB2025 | Minor – Liquid | Rajesh Kumar | Sunita Reddy | Cleaned & Area Cleared |
Annexure-2: Deviation Report
Date | Material | Batch No. | Description | Root Cause | Corrective Action | Approved By |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11/04/2025 | Sorbitol Solution | SB2025 | Spillage during container tilt | Container not secured | Clamp trays implemented | QA Head |
Annexure-3: Post-Spillage Clearance Log
Date | Area | Spill Type | Cleared By | Verified By (QA) | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
11/04/2025 | Dispensing Booth 2 | Minor | Rajesh Kumar | Sunita Reddy | Ready for Use |
Revision History:
Revision Date | Revision No. | Revision Details | Reason for Revision | Approved By |
---|---|---|---|---|
01/01/2024 | 1.0 | Initial Issue | New SOP Creation | QA Head |
11/04/2025 | 2.0 | Annexures Added; Classification Enhanced | Audit Preparedness | QA Head |