Emergency: Chemical Spill

CHEMICAL SPILL

CAUTION: Pre-planning is required to safety respond to chemical spills. Read and understand SDS for all the chemicals you will be using. Spill kits with instructions, absorbents, reactants,and protective equipment must be available in laboratories to clean up incidental spills.

Incidental spills are those that the laboratory staff is capable of handling without theassistance of the local spill response team.

Incidental Spills (<4 liters, low toxicity. Little of no fire or life hazard)

• Alert people in immediate area of spill.

• Wear safety goggles, nitrile gloves, and long-sleeve lab coat.

• Avoid breathing vapors from spill.

• Confine spill to small area by placing booms around spill.

• Call DCHO to coordinate spill clean up.

• Inorganic acids and bases: Neutralize, absorb, collect residue, and place in container. Dispose as

chemical waste.

• Other Chemicals. Use appropriate materials from kit, place in container and dispose as chemical

waste.

• Clean spill area with water.

Major Chemical Spill (> 4 Liters, high toxicity or poses fire or life hazard)

• Attend to injured or contaminated persons and remove from exposure.

• Alert people in the laboratory to evacuate.

• If flammable, turn off ignition and heat sources.

• Call 911 all hours.

• Call Laboratory owner.