EHRS: Chemical Hygiene Plan

General Information

Anticipate spills by having the appropriate safety equipment on hand.

If a spill occurs immediately alert personnel in the area and do what is necessary to protect life. Confine the spill if possible.

Call for assistance if the spill is large; a threat to personnel, students or the public; involves radioactive materials, corrosives, highly toxic, or reactive chemicals.

Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety at 898-4453
University Police 511 or 898-7333

The Office Of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety is equipped to handle many spills that may occur at the University. If there is the slightest doubt how to proceed, do not hesitate to call for assistance.

For specific spill cleanup information, contact your supervisor, instructor, or EHRS.

Spill of chemicals that do not pose a fire, toxic, or corrosive hazard, may be cleaned up by the laboratory worker. Use an absorbent material that will neutralize the spill if available. Examples of spill cleanup materials include:

trisodium phosphate
sand
sodium bicarbonate for acids
powdered citric acid for bases
"Oil-Dri","Zorb-All","Speedi-Dri"
paper towels

A dustpan and brush should be used and rubber gloves and goggles should be worn during the cleanup. Decontaminate area with soap and water after clean-up. Place residue in a container for waste collection.

Contact your supervisor, instructor or EHRS for disposal information.

Notify all personnel in the area if a flammable, carcinogenic, reactive, toxic, or reproductive hazard is spilled. Extinguish flames and all other sources of ignition (such as brush-type motors.) Maintain fume hood ventilation, vacate the area and call for assistance.

The following compounds are very hazardous. You should not clean them up yourself.

aromatic amines
nitrocompounds
bromine
ethers
carbon disulfide
hydrazine
cyanides
nitriles
organic halides

If you spill an acutely toxic material listed in Appendix B, immediately contact University Police at 898-7333 (they will contact Environmental Health and Radiation Safety.)

Small spills of acid chloride should be absorbed with "Oil-Dry", "Zorb-All", "Speedi-Dry" or other clay type absorbent. Avoid contact with skin. Place residue in container for waste collection by EHRS. For specific cleanup information, contact your supervisor, instructor, or EHRS.

Elemental mercury spills should be handled by EHRS which has the proper equipment to cleanup spilled mercury.

Smother alkali metal spills with powdered graphite or "Met-L-X".

White Phosphorus should be smothered with wet sand or wet absorbent.

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