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Emergency Response Guide

Chemical Spill or Gas Leak

See INJURY tab for information about chemical contamination of
skin or eyes.

Notes and Precautions:

1. Do not work with or clean up a chemical until you are familiar with its hazards.
2. Material safety data sheets (MSDSs) are available online at www.uos.harvard.edu/ehs for many chemicals in laboratories.
3. Attend to the injured or contaminated, and remove them from exposure. Get medical attention, as necessary. See Personal Injury tab for information about chemical contamination of skin, eyes,more.
4. Call the spill emergency number to report the spill if: it’s greater than you can handle; it’s very toxic or corrosive; it poses a fire hazard; it’s likely to enter a drain pipe or the environment beyond the building; or, simply, you need assistance.
5. Remove contaminated clothing immediately, shower, then don clean clothes.
6. Evacuate the area when the probability of exposure to a spill poses an unnecessary risk. Bar reentry, posting a sign or barrier tape that indicates a spill.
7. Cleanup. Responsibility for spill cleanup rests with the laboratory causing the spill. If the individual responsible for the spill is unknown, unaccountable, or unable to clean up the spill due to injury, then clean up rests with the department.Assistance by a contractor specializing in spill remediation will be charged to the responsible laboratory or department. Custodians are not trained to clean up spills of hazardous materials.
8. Spill Equipment & Supplies. Emergency Spill Cabinets in each research building are stocked with absorbent materials, neutralizers, and protective equipment. Specific procedures for cleaning up spills will vary depending on the location of the accident, the amount and physical properties of the spilled material (volatile liquid, solid, or toxic gas), and the degree and type of toxicity.
9. The EHS Department, HUPD, and Campus Security will provide technical or tactical support to the laboratory, as necessary.

MINOR OR MANAGEABLE CHEMICAL SPILL (“INCIDENTAL SPILL”)

(Consider low toxicity, low combustibility, small amount, distinctive and tolerable odor, and weak or no acute symptoms of exposure.)

• Alert people in the immediate area of the spill. Isolate the area of contamination.
• Turn on or adjust (open sash fully) the chemical fume hood to increase exhaust ventilation. If the spill lies outside the hood, open the sash fully.
• Clean the spill only after familiarizing yourself with the chemical’s physical and health hazards described on the product label, MSDS, certificate of analysis, etc.
• Find a spill kit in an emergency spill cabinet in your building.
  • Wear protective equipment, including safety goggles; gloves impervious to the chemical spilled; a long-sleeve lab coat; and, impervious shoes or latex overshoes, available in each spill cabinet.
• Block the release of hazardous chemicals and oil to floor, sink, sewer, or storm drains. If spilled material reaches an environmental receptor, call EHS.
• Control any spreading with a dike or with absorbent spill materials. Absorb spill with vermiculite, dry sand, diatomaceous earth, or “kitty litter,” not with paper towels or incompatible materials. Avoid walking through the spill or breathing its vapors.
• Use an appropriate cleanup kit to neutralize inorganic acids and bases.Use a mercury spill kit for elemental mercury (thermometer) spills.Use activated charcoal for most organic solvent spills. Follow instructions on spill kit for the amount of chemicals that can be absorbed or neutralized by that particular kit.
• Discard broken glass and other contaminated objects using forceps or appropriate tools, not gloved hands alone.
• Collect residue, place in container, affix and complete a hazardous waste tag, and place waste in your hazardous waste satellite accumulation area.
• After the spill is thoroughly absorbed, neutralized, and cleaned up, wash the area with soap and water. Custodial Services may assist after this point to reclean area.
• Afterward, call the EHS Department to replenish all needed spill supplies.

MAJOR OR UNMANAGEABLE CHEMICAL SPILL (Consider high toxicity, flammability, a large amount, a repelling odor or one without warning properties, acute symptoms of exposure, or a chemical that cannot be identified.)

Do not attempt to clean up major, unmanageable chemical spills.

• Alert laboratory to evacuate to a safe distance or assigned assembly area.
• Raise the sash to the chemical fume hood (unless the spill occurred in the hood), while evacuating, if possible.
• Turn off open heat sources: GC, Bunsen burner, hot plate, heat gun, cauterizing furnace, etc.—if spilled material is flammable and in large quantity, and if this can be accomplished safely,with haste, as you exit the space.
• Close door(s) to affected area. Isolate area and prevent reentry. Post a “Do Not Enter” sign or place barrier tape across the door. (See emergency spill cabinets for barrier tape.)
• Relocate to a safe place and call the Spill Emergency Response Number.Have person familiar with the incident and laboratory available to provide information to emergency responders (fire department,medical technicians, EHS, etc.).

Do not reenter the area until you are instructed to do so by the fire department or other emergency responders.

GUIDELINES FOR CLEANING COMMON MINOR OR MANAGEABLE (INCIDENTAL) SPILLS

TYPE	EXAMPLES	ACTION TO BE TAKEN
Combustible/non-combustible Not volatile Low toxicity In small quantity	Dilute hydrochloric acid, dilute sulfuric acid, dilute sodium hydroxide	Wear appropriate PPE.Neutralize chemicals, absorb with inert clay or vermiculite, package, label with hazardous waste tag, place in SAA. Call Environmental Health and Safety for pick-up.
Flammables	Ethers Alcohols	Fast action is crucial. Extinguish all open flames. Soak up solvent with spill control pillows or solvent spill kit. Transfer to appropriate container, label with hazardous waste tag, place in SAA. Call Environmental Health and Safety for hazardous waste removal.
Highly toxic	Ammonium hydroxide Acetic anhydride	DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN UP! Alert lab personnel and PI of situation to prevent futher exposure.Alert Environmental Health and Safety and they may arrange for a chemical spill vendor to clean.
Elemental mercury		Clean small spill using a card, straight edge, aspirating bulb, and dampened amalran sponge, which can be found in the spill cabinet. For better visibility, hold flashlight almost parallel with the contaminated surface. Label and store waste in SAA. For a large spill, contact Environmental Health and Safety at 2-1720 after vacating the contaminated area.
Leaking gas cylinder or natural gas	Nitrogen (inert) Hydrogen (flammable) Oxygen (oxidizer)	For toxic and air reactive gas leaks, evacuate area and call 911. For flammable gases, shut off any open flames. Post a sign to warn others of the hazard.Alert Environmental Health and Safety and gas supplier immediately.