Emergency Response Guidelines: Hazardous Material Spill Response


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Hazardous Material Spill
A hazardous material spill is a spill in which there is a significant amount of a hazardous material released or one in which the release of the substance cannot be controlled. Examples of hazardous materials in quantities that would be considered a spill are: more than one gallon of bleach, more than 100 ml of sulfuric acid, more than one gallon of gasoline, and any quantity of mercury. Examples of infectious materials include blood and other body fluids.

Hazardous Material Spill Response

If the hazardous material comes in contact with your skin, immediately flush the affected area with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, then seek medical attention.
Dial 911 or 285-1111.
Stop the source of the hazardous material if possible.
Evacuate the immediate area, closing doors behind you.
Unless trained, DO NOT attempt to clean up the spill yourself.
Make yourself available to emergency personnel to supply critical information to aid in clean up.
Provide as much of the following information as possible:

Where has the hazardous material spill occurred? Specify the floor, room number, and location in room.

Has there been a fire and/or explosion?

Are there any injuries? If so, how many?

What material has been spilled?

What is the state of the material (i.e., solid, liquid, gas, combination)?

Is any of the hazardous material escaping from the spill location in the form of chemical vapors/fumes or running or dripping liquid?

Infectious Material Spill Response

If the infectious material comes in contact with your skin, immediately wash with soap and water.
Unless trained, DO NOT attempt to clean up the spill yourself.
Contact Work Control (285-5081) until 4 p.m. or University Police (285-1111) after hours.
Make yourself available to responding Environmental Health and Safety personnel to supply information to aid in clean up.