Hazardous Materials

Procedures

When a spill does occur, it is necessary to take prompt and appropriate action.

Major Spill Procedures

• Notify others in your area that a spill has occurred.
• Evacuate the room, floor or building as necessary. Do not hesitate to pull the fire alarm if necessary to evacuate the building.
• Call 911 from a campus phone to report the spill.
• For flammable materials, turn off all ignition sources.
• Close doors to the area where the spill occurred.
• Limit access to the area.
• Stand by the area outside the building until help arrives, a minimum of 300 feet away.
• Report the spill to your supervisor and to Environmental Health and Safety at x3150.

Provide the following when reporting a spill:

• Personal injuries, if any
• Location of the spill (building and room number)
• Name of material(s) involved (spell clearly and slowly)
• The amount of material spilled
• Immediate actions taken
• How spill occurred (if known or suspected)
• Who first noticed spill and at what time
• Call-back number(s)

Minor Spill Procedures:

• Notify others in the area that a spill has occurred.
• Prevent others from coming in contact with the spilled chemical(s).
• Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) such as goggles, gloves, etc. before cleanup.
• Try tp prevent spilled chemicals from entering waterways by building a dike around the access points (sink, cup sinks, floor and outside storm drains). Spread absorbent material on and around the spill to absorb the chemical(s).
• Sweep up the absorbed spill from the outside toward the middle. Scoop up and deposit in a leak-proof container. Label and dispose of the container through the hazardous waste management program.
• Wash the contaminated surface with soapy water. Report the spill to Environmental Health and Safety at x3150 and to your supervisor.

Fluorescent Light Fixtures/PCB Awareness--Spills of Leaks from Fluorescent Light Fixtures:

• Caution! Light fixtures manufactured prior to 1980 may have ballasts that contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or mercury.
• Isolate the leak/spill area to prevent people from coming in contact with the spilled material.
• Contact the Facilities and Operations at x3200 for cleanup by trained University personnel.