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Washington
University
in
St. Louis
Hazardous
Material Spills
Spills can be classified as
either a minor clean-up procedure or a major spill. Minor clean-up
procedures do not expose laboratory employees to any potential health
hazards and should be cleaned up immediately by the laboratory staff wearing
the appropriate personal protective equipment.
Major spill clean-up
should not be attempted by laboratory personnel.
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For chemical or biological spills, call WUPD (935-5555) at the Danforth
Campus, Protective Services (362-4357) at the Medical School or 9-911 from
all other campuses or activate any Blue Light Emergency Phone. For
off-campus emergencies, call 911.
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For radiological contamination, call Radiation Safety at 362-3476.
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the problem is unclear, call WUPD (935-5555) at the Danforth Campus,
Protective Services (362-4357) at the Medical School or 9-911 from all
other campuses or activate any Blue Light Emergency Phone. For off-campus
emergencies, call 911.
In the event of a spill, the
following general procedures are to be followed:
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Survey the situation for the potential hazards present before approaching
a spill area.
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possible, attend to anyone who may have been contaminated.
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Notify persons in the immediate area about the spill.
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Evacuate non-essential personnel from the spill area.
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Close the door.
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Untrained laboratory personnel are not to clean up spills.
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the spill material is flammable, turn off ignition and heat sources.
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Avoid breathing vapors of the spilled material.
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Leave the local exhaust ventilation (fume hoods, etc.) on.
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Notify the principal investigator if a regulated substance is involved.
The following is emergency
preplanning to follow prior to working with toxic chemicals:
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Determine the potential location of releases.
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Determine the quantities of material that may be released.
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Know the chemical and physical properties of the material (physical state,
vapor pressure, air or water reactivity).
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Know the hazardous properties of the material (toxicity, reactivity,
corrosiveness and flammability)
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Have available the personal protective equipment that may be needed.
The Environmental Health and
Safety Office can offer more information about chemical and biological
agents, and other health hazards.
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