Quick Guide to Chemical Spills or Releases

Planning for Emergencies

L. Spills And Emergency Procedures

L1. Chemical Spills

The time to prepare to handle a spill is long before it occurs. Appropriate precautions and the proper equipment will alleviate many of the potential complications associated with the spill of a hazardous material. The following principles will decrease the likelihood of a spill:

• Substitute a less hazardous chemical, procedure, or piece of equipment such as alcohol thermometers instead of mercury thermometers.
• Always store chemicals containers with closed caps.
• Use secondary containment whenever possible. Trays and wash basins work well. Coated safety bottles should be used when possible.
• Do not store chemicals on the floor, desks, or counter tops.
• Check shelving; watch for overloading or overcrowding. Excess chemicals can be stored in the division stockroom.
• Practice good housekeeping. Clutter increases the likelihood of a spill or accident.
• Minimize chemical storage in the laboratory. Purchase only the amount needed.

Anticipate chemical spills by having appropriate cleanup and safety equipment on hand. These cleanup supplies should be consistent with the hazards and quantities of substances used.

Paper towels and sponges may be used as absorbent type cleanup aids but this should be done cautiously. Paper used to clean up oxidizers can later ignite and appropriate gloves should be worn when cleaning toxic materials with towels. Sponges should be chemical resistant.

Commercial clean-up kits are available that have instructions, absorbents, neutralizers, and protective equipment, but these kits are usually expensive and may not cover everything used in a particular lab. Individuals or departments may want to assemble there own kits. The EHS Office can offer assistance in this process. These kits should be located strategically around the laboratory or department area.

If a spill does occur, the following general procedures should be followed:

• Attend to contaminated personnel.
• Alert personnel in adjacent areas.
• Confine the spill, and evacuate nonessential personnel from spill area.
• If spilled material is flammable, extinguish flames and all other sources of ignition.
• Maintain fume hood ventilation.
• Secure appropriate cleanup supplies.
• During cleanup, wear appropriate personal protection.
• Notify the Supervisor of Chemical Management, if the spill involves a regulated substance.

When the nature of the spill constitutes a more serious hazard or involves the release of gas or fumes, the following procedures should be followed:

• Activate the emergency alarm system.
• Rescue injured personnel, if possible.
• Evacuate the building; move to the assembly area.
• Notify Campus Safety with the details of the situation.

L2. Emergency Procedures

All laboratory personnel must be familiar with Colgate University's Emergency Response Plan. The following additional procedures are intended to limit injuries and minimize damage should an accident occur:

Render assistance to persons involved and remove them from exposure to further injury, if necessary.

• Warn personnel in adjacent areas of potential hazards to their safety.
• Render immediate first aid such as washing in safety shower, administering CPR, or special first aid (such as the use of a cyanide kit if cyanide exposure is involved).
• Extinguish small fires by using a portable fire extinguisher. Turn off nearby apparatus and remove flammable materials from the area. In case of larger fires, contact Campus Safety immediately.

In the case of a medical emergency, remain calm and do only what is necessary to protect life.

• Call Campus Safety immediately.
• Do not move an injured person unless they are in further danger.
• Keep the injured person warm. If feasible, designate one person to remain with the injured person.
• If clothing is on fire, knock the person on the ground and roll them around to smother the flames or douse under a safety shower. A fire blanket should only be used as a last resort.

L3. Fires and Explosions

Small fires can easily be extinguished without evacuating the building or calling the fire department. However, even a small fire can quickly become a serious problem. The first few minutes are critical to preventing a larger emergency. The following actions should be taken by personnel in the event of a minor fire:

• Alert other people in the laboratory and send someone to call Campus Safety.
• Attack the fire immediately, but never attempt to fight a fire alone. A fire in a small vessel can often be suffocated by placing a larger beaker or watch glass over the top. Use the proper extinguisher, directing discharge of the extinguisher at the base of the flame:
  • class A fires- ordinary combustible solids such as paper, wood, rubber, and textiles.
  • class B fires- petroleum hydrocarbons and volatile flammable solvents.
  • class C fires- electrical equipment.
  • class D fires- combustible or reactive metals such as sodium, potassium, or magnesium, metal hydrides, or organometallics.
  • Avoid entrapment, always fight a fire from a position accessible to an exit.

If there is any doubt whether the fire can be controlled locally by available personnel or equipment, the following actions should be taken:

• Activate the emergency alarm system.
• Confine the fire (close hood sashes, doors between laboratories, and fire doors) to prevent further spread of the fire.
• Assist injured personnel.
• Evacuate the building; move to an assemble point for accountability. The assembly point for the upper campus is Memorial Chapel.

L4. Personal Contamination

Chemical Spill to a Large Portion of the Body

• Immediately flood the contaminated area with sufficient running water.
• Remove all contaminated clothing.
• Continue to rinse with cold water for 15 minutes. Wash chemical from contaminated areas with the water but do not apply cremes or lotions.
• Get medical attention promptly.

Chemicals on the Skin in a Confined Area

• Flush the exposed skin with cold water.
• If the skin is not burned, wash the area with soap.
• Seek profession medical attention if necessary.

Chemical in the Eyes

• Flush the eyeball and inner eyelid with cold water for 15 minutes. Forcibly hold the eye open to wash thoroughly behind the eyelids.
• Get profession medical attention promptly.
• For caustic splash, continue to irrigate during transportation.

For Contact Lenses

• Copiously irrigate the eye with irrigation solution or water (do not use neutralizing solutions) while holding the lids apart as described above.
• Do not worry about loosing the contact lens.
• If the lens remains after the initial flushing, remove it or slide it onto the conjunctiva and reirrigate.
• Seek professional emergency management. Let them know if the contact lenses are still in the eyes.

Smoke or Fume Inhalation

• Remove from the contaminated air to fresh air.
• Treat for shock, if necessary.
• Get professional medical attention promptly.

Chemical Ingestion

• Administer antidote, if known and available.
• Wrap in blanket to prevent shock.
• Notify Campus Safety.
• Identify the chemical(s), and obtain the MSDS for the hospital.

Last modified: June 11, 1998