Lab Safety Plan - Accident, Emergencies and Chemical Spills

13.  Accidents, Emergencies, and Chemical Spills

 

 

13.1 Overview

Laboratory emergencies may result from a variety of factors, including serious injuries, fires and explosions, spills and exposures, and natural disasters. All laboratory employees should be familiar with and aware of the location of their laboratory’s emergency response plans and safety manuals. Before beginning any laboratory task, know what to do in the event of an emergency situation. Identify the location of safety equipment, including first aid kits, eye washes, safety showers, fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations, and spill kits. Plan ahead and know the location of the closest fire alarms, exits, and telephones in your laboratory.

For all incidents requiring emergency response, call the police at 911.

13.2 Medical Emergencies

13.2.1 In the event of any medical emergency:

Check the scene to see that it is safe and that you and the victim are not in danger.

Call the Kent State Police by dialing 9-1-1 from a campus phone and give the following information:

  • The location of the incident
  • The type of injury or incident
  • If the victim is conscious or unconscious
  • If an ambulance is needed

13.2.2 If the injury is severe enough to be an emergency, do not leave the scene or attempt to move the injured person from the scene. Moving the injured person from where Kent State PD knows the person to be can delay care and worsen outcomes.

13.2.3 Get first aid kit and use as directed or to the level of your first aid training.

13.2.4 If injury came from chemical exposure or there is a potential for chemical exposure, wear appropriate PPE and do not expose yourself while assisting.

13.2.5 Do not move the victim if unsure about a head or neck injury.

13.2.6 If someone has a foreign object lodged in them, do not remove it.

13.2.7 If there is a chemical exposure as well as an injury, if the person can move themselves to wash the area at the sink or eyewash, have them do so.

13.2.8 Remain calm and reassure the victim while waiting for emergency personnel.

13.2.9 Once the area is secured and the scene/victim has been transferred to emergency responder care, notify the PI/Supervisor and report the injury to EHS using the “Report an Incident or Safety Concern” tool on the EHS main page. The campus has a requirement to report work related serious injuries to PERRP within 8 hours of the incident occurring, so the prompt reporting of the incident and relevant details is vital for EHS to follow up.

13.2.10 Accidents/Injuries that are not Medical Emergencies

PI/Laboratory Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that their employees receive appropriate medical attention in the event of an occupational injury or illness. Local medical treatment facilities can be found at the Deweese Health Clinic or UH in Ravenna. All accidents and near misses must be reported to the supervisor and EHS. An injury, incident or safety concern can also be reported to EHS online.  EHS will conduct an accident investigation and develop recommendations and corrective actions to prevent future accidents.  At a minimum, each laboratory must have the following preparations in place:

  • Fully stocked first aid kit
  • Posting of emergency telephone numbers and locations of emergency treatment facilities
  • Training of staff to accompany injured personnel to medical treatment site and to provide medical personnel with copies of SDS(s) for the chemical(s) involved in the incident

13.3. Laboratory Safety Rules

13.3.1  Familiarize yourself with the lab, location and operation of the safety features (exits, fire extinguishers, safety showers, eye wash facility, and first aid and spill kits).

13.3.2 Complete training  in Flashtrain on all aspects of lab safety relevant to your work prior to beginning potentially hazardous activities and when changes are made to the procedures.

13.3.3 Wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as: approved gloves, safety glasses or goggles, lab coat or apron, long pants that cover your ankles, and closed-toe shoes that cover your entire foot. PPE requirements will be designated by the hazards associated with the lab space.

13.3.4 Work in properly-ventilated areas and in a safe manner according to any relevant Standard Operating Procedures.

13.3.5 Do not eat, drink, chew gum, smoke, or apply makeup while working in laboratory spaces where chemical, radioactive, or biological hazards are present.

13.3.6 Store all chemicals and other hazardous materials according to prudent practices  and Kent State  policy. Know your chemical compatibilities/incompatibilities, stability, shelf life and recommended storage conditions.

13.3.6 Dispose of all waste in the correct manner in accordance with Kent State policy. There are specific protocols for chemicals, contaminated and broken glass and plastic, sharps, radioactive isotopes and biological agents. Refer to Lab Safety Manuals for additional information on working with hazardous materials in the lab.

13.3.7 Know how to respond properly in an emergency. Clean up all spills safely and promptly, and report them to the Lab supervisor. If unsure how to safely clean up a spill, ask PI/ Lab Supervisor or EHS for assistance.

13.3.8 Report to Lab Supervisor and EHS of all incidents (spills, splashes, fires, etc.), injuries, and accidents, right away, even if the incident seems small or unimportant.

13.3.9  Report to PI/Lab Supervisor of any unsafe conditions in the laboratory as soon as possible.

13.3.10 If an employee has a severe or life threatening injury, call for emergency response at 911. Employees with minor injuries should be treated with first aid kits as appropriate(by those with proper training), and sent to the appropriate facility for further evaluation and treatment. The Deweese Health Clinic is open during normal business hours from 8AM until 5 PM.   After normal business hours, treatment can be obtained at UH Hospitals in Ravenna.

 

13.3.11 Serious occupational injuries, illnesses, and exposures to hazardous substances must be reported to the supervisor and EHS within 8 hours. EHS will report the event to PERPP, investigate the accident, and complete exposure monitoring, if necessary. Serious injuries include those that result in permanent impairment or disfigurement, or require hospitalization. Examples include amputations, lacerations with severe bleeding, burns, concussions, fractures and crush injuries. As soon as Faculty/ Laboratory Supervisors are aware of a potentially serious incident, they must contact EHS.   

13.4. Fire-Related Emergencies

If you encounter a fire, or a fire-related emergency (e.g., abnormal heating, smoke, burning odor), immediately follow these instructions:

  1. Pull the fire alarm pull station and call 911 to notify the Kent State University Police Department.
  2. Evacuate and isolate the area
  3. Use portable fire extinguishers to facilitate evacuation and/or control a small fire (i.e., size of a small trash can), if safe to do so.
  4. If possible, shut off equipment before leaving
  5. Close doors and/or fume hood sash
  6. Remain safely outside the affected area to provide details to emergency responders; and
  7. Evacuate the building when the alarm sounds.  It is against state law to remain in the building when the alarm is sounding.  If the alarm sounds due to a false alarm or drill, you will be allowed to re-enter the building as soon as the Fire Department determines that it is safe to do so. Do not go back into the building until the alarm stops and you are cleared to reenter.
  8. If your clothing catches on fire, go to the nearest emergency shower immediately.  If a shower is not immediately available, then stop, drop, and roll. A fire extinguisher may be used to extinguish a fire on someone’s person as last resort. Report any burn injuries to the supervisor immediately and seek medical treatment.  Report to EHS within 8 hours every time a fire extinguisher is discharged. The fire extinguisher will also need to be replaced.

13.5 Chemical Spills

Chemical spills can result in chemical exposures and contaminations. Chemical spills become emergencies when:

13.5.1. The spill results in a release to the environment (e.g., sink or floor drain)

13.5.2 The material or its hazards are unknown

13.5.3 Laboratory staff cannot safety manage the hazard because the material is too hazardous or the quantity is too large

13.5.6 Effective emergency response to these situations is imperative to mitigate or minimize adverse reactions when chemical incidents occur.

13.5.7 Factors to Consider before Spill Clean-Up

  • Size of spill area
  • Quantity of chemical
  • Toxicity
  • Volatility
  • Clean up materials available
  • Training of responders

13.5.8 In the event of a significant chemical exposure or contamination, immediately try to remove or isolate the chemical if safe to do so. When skin or eye exposures occur, remove contaminated clothing and flush the affected area using an eye wash or shower for at least 15 minutes. If a chemical is ingested, follow the instructions on the SDS. Obtain medical assistance as indicated. Remember to wear appropriate PPE before helping others. Faculty/Laboratory Supervisors must review all exposure situations, make sure affected employees receive appropriate medical treatment and/or assessment, and arrange for containment and clean-up of the chemical as appropriate.

13.5.9 Small chemical spills can be cleaned up by laboratory personnel who have been trained in spill clean-up and with the appropriate materials.  A small spill is generally defined as < 1 liter of chemical that is not highly toxic, does not present a significant fire or environmental hazard, and is not in a public area such as a common hallway.  Large chemical spills include spills of larger quantities, spills of any quantity of highly toxic chemicals, or chemicals in public areas or adjacent to drains. Large spills require emergency response. Call 911 for assistance.

13.6. What to do with a Small Chemical Spill (<1 Liter)

  1. Evacuate all non-essential persons from the spill area
  2. If needed, call for medical assistance by dialing 911
  3. Help anyone who may have been contaminated. Use emergency eyewashes/showers to flush the skin or eyes for at least 15 minutes
  4. Post someone just outside the spill area to keep people from entering. Avoid walking through contaminated areas
  5. You must have the proper protective equipment and clean-up materials to clean-up spills. Check the chemical's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) in your laboratory or online in the CEMS database.
  6. Turn off sources of flames, electrical heaters, and other electrical apparatus, and close valves on gas cylinders if the chemical is flammable (stop ongoing processes if necessary)
  7. Confine the spill to a small area. Do not let it spread
  8. Avoid breathing vapors from the spill. If the spill is in a non-ventilated area (confined space), do not attempt to clean it up. Call for emergency personnel to respond and clean up the spill
  9. Wear personal protective equipment, including safety goggles, gloves, and a laboratory coat or other protective garment to clean-up the spill (consult with SDS)
  10. Work with another person to clean-up the spill. Do not clean-up a spill alone
  11. DO NOT ADD WATER TO THE SPILL
  12. Replenish supplies after a spill.

13.6.12 Use an appropriate kit to neutralize and absorb inorganic acids and bases. For other chemicals, use the appropriate kit or absorb the spill with sorbent pads, paper towels, vermiculite, dry sand, or diatomaceous earth. For mercury spills and for all other spills requiring specialized clean-up procedures, contact EHS. Collect the residue and place it in a clear plastic bag. Double bag the waste and label the bag with the contents and label it to be picked up as chemical waste.

13.7.  What to do with a Large Chemical Spill (>1 Liter)

Large chemical spills require emergency response. Call 911.  If the spill presents a situation that is immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) or presents a significant fire risk, activate a fire alarm, evacuate the area, and wait for emergency response to arrive.

  1. Remove the injured and/or contaminated person(s) and provide first aid
  2. Call for emergency medical response/medical assistance by dialing 911
  3. Help anyone who may have been contaminated. User emergency eyewash/showers by flushing the skin or eyes for at least 15 minutes
  4. As you evacuate the laboratory, close the door behind you, and:
  5. Post someone safely outside and away from the spill area to keep people from entering
  6. Confine the spill area if possible and safe to do so                   
  7. Leave on exhaust ventilation
  8. If possible, turn off all sources of flames, electrical heaters, and other electrical equipment if  the spilled material is flammable
  9. Avoid walking through contaminated areas or breathing vapors of the spilled material
  10. Any employee with known contact with a particularly hazardous chemical must shower, including washing of the hair as soon as possible unless contraindicated by physical injuries
  11. Replenish supplies after a spill.

13.8.  Highly Toxic Chemical Spills

Do not clean up by yourself! All spills of these chemicals require emergency response:

  • Aromatic amines
  • Hydrazine
  • Bromines
  • Nitriles
  • Carbon disulfide
  • Nitro-compounds
  • Cyanides
  • Organic halides

13.9.  Other hazards from spills

  • Biological hazard
  • Radioactive hazard(See radiation safety plan)
  • Consult EHS in the event of either of these issues.   Please also refer to the Radiation safety manual and biosafety manual.

 

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