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, flammable or reactive chemicals.

• Environmental Health and Safety Office at x6342, beeper 630-3518.
  
• Emergency Assistance; Campus Safety x333

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

Spill Cleanup Supplies

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 EHSO 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.

Hazardous Spills

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

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

If you spill an acutely toxic material listed in Appendix D, immediately contact Campus Safety at x333 (they will contact Environmental Health and 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. For specific cleanup information, contact your supervisor, instructor, or EHSO.

Elemental mercury spills should be handled by EHSO 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.

Return to the Chemical Hygiene Plan Index.