Chemical Spills
Cleaning up a chemical spill step by step:
- Help anybody that might be contaminated by flushing the area splashed. The safety shower, eye wash unit, or the sink can be used for this purpose.
- Inform persons in the vicinity of the spill. Evacuate all nonessential personnel from the spill area, and post danger signs.
- Always use rubber gloves and tweezers to pick up broken glass. Dispose of glass and sharps in specially marked, puncture-proof containers.
- If the material spilled is flammable turn off ignition sources.
- Avoid breathing vapors by opening windows or running the fume hoods.
- Consult reference literature to learn more about the dangers associated with the substance and the right procedure to clean up the spill.
- Use the materials and instructions in your spill kit to clean the spill.
- Wash your hands and any other areas such as shoe soles that could have been contaminated.
- Report incident to the laboratory supervisor and the Safety Office at x7280.
- If the substance spilled was hazardous. The waste produced will be considered hazardous waste and will have to be brought to the safety office for disposal within 72 hours.
