Chemical Safety

Chapter 10 Emergency Response and Chemical Spills

Responding to a chemical spill or emergency
Call 9-911 (METCAD) for assistance in the following kinds of emergencies:

• medical assistance for injuries
• fires
• explosions
• chemical spills for which assistance is required (complicated spill)

METCAD will dispatch the Fire Department and/or ambulances as appropriate. The fire department has the capability to mitigate chemical spills that cannot be managed without assistance.

Complicated Spills
If your spill meets ANY of the following conditions of a complicated spill, call METCAD (9-911) immediately.
METCAD will dispatch a hazardous materials crew from the nearest city fire station. There is no direct charge for this service.

A spill is complicated if:

• a person is injured; or
• identity of the chemical is unknown; or
• multiple chemicals are involved; or
• the chemical is highly toxic, highly flammable or highly reactive; or
• the spill occurs in a "public space" such as corridors; or
• the spill has the potential to spread to other parts of the building such as through the ventilation system; or
• the clean up procedures are not known or appropriate materials are not readily available; or
• the clean up requires a respirator to be worn and no personnel have been fit tested or officially trained to use a respirator (includes cartridge respirators); or
• the spill may endanger the environment such as reaching waterways or outside ground.

Specific spill response measures for complicated spills

1. Evacuate affected area, alert others in the area to have them evacuate too.
2. Close doors and windows (if possible) as you evacuate the area. Open windows can cause fumes and vapors to travel into the hallway.
3. Contact METCAD (9-911). Provide the following information:
   • What is the name of the chemical spilled?
   • What quantity of the chemical is spilled?
   • Where is the spill (building name and room number)?
   • Is anyone injured or splashed with the chemical?
   • Is a fire or explosion involved in the spill?
   • What is your name and phone number?
4. Arrange for someone to meet the emergency responders.
5. Secure the area with signs and warning tape, or post staff outside of the affected are so personnel cannot enter the area until emergency responders arrive.

Simple Spills
If the spill does not meet any of the conditions for a complicated spill, the spill is defined as simple. You may clean up simple spills as described below.

Specific spill response measures for simple spills

1. Prevent the spread of fumes and vapors by closing doors and windows (if possible).
2. Remove all potential sources of ignition (pumps, Bunsen burners, mechanical equipment not designed to be spark proof) if the material is flammable. It may be necessary to shut off power from a remote circuit breaker.
3. Use the necessary personal protective equipment such as appropriate gloves, eye protection and lab coat or apron.
4. Absorb liquids using absorbent material, preferably using sorbent pads or spill pillows. Avoid using any silica product with hydrofluoric acid. 3M™ Chemical Sorbents are good to use for most liquids, although they do not readily absorb acids (it will eventually).
5. Small spills of acids and bases can be absorbed with sorbent pads and placed in a bag. Do not try to neutralize spills of acids or bases.
6. Spills of powders should be swept up carefully to avoid contaminating the air with dusts from the chemical.
7. Collect and contain the clean up materials in a plastic container or thick plastic bag (as long as there are very little free liquids). Place a descriptive label on each container or bag.
8. Decontaminate the area and affected equipment. Ventilate area if necessary. Soap and water can be used to clean most surfaces. Contact the DRS Chemical Safety Section via e-mail or call (217) 333-2755 if you have any questions.
9. Dispose wastes by following the instructions in Chapter 8 for the collection of chemical wastes. If you have questions, contact the DRS Chemical Safety Section via e-mail or call (217) 333-2755.

Mercury spills

1. Cordon off the area to prevent mercury from being tracked.
2. If you break a mercury thermometer, a mercury sponge is usually adequate for cleaning up the spill. Use the sponge to absorb the mercury. Place it and the broken thermometer in a sturdy plastic bag. Close and label the bag "Broken mercury thermometer."
3. For small spills of mercury, Hg absorb™ can be used to clean up the spill. Place contaminated items in a sturdy bag and request a chemical waste pickup using the ChemTrak form CWM-TRK-01.
4. For spills too large to clean up with Hg absorb™, contact DRS (3-2755). DRS will have to contact the Labor crew of F&S to arrange for clean up using a special mercury vacuum cleaner. DO NOT use a regular vacuum cleaner or shop vac, as harmful mercury vapors will be generated and the vacuums will become contaminated. F&S will charge for the clean up service.

NOTE: The best method of dealing with mercury spills is to prevent them in the first place. Examine all uses of mercury to see if substitutes are available. If not, use trays or other equipment to provide containment in the event of a spill.

Preparing for spills
It is best to proceed in an organized manner for spill response. Establishing protocols and evaluating potential hazards in advance will be well worth the initial effort.

• Establish spill response protocols
  Before working with chemicals you should determine what could go wrong and how you might respond to a spill. As a result of this evaluation, you should prepare written protocols for use in the event of a spill. These protocols need to be communicated to all persons who might be affected by a spill. The best place to document spill response protocols in the laboratory is in your Chemical Hygiene Plan. If you need a copy of the UIUC Model Chemical Hygiene Plan, access it from the DRS website or call the DRS Chemical Safety Section at (217) 333-2755.
  
  In addition, you should have basic spill clean up materials readily available should anything go wrong. More information on spill clean up materials is listed below. Always create written spill protocols before using a chemical.
  
  
• Evaluate hazards
  When spills occur, a quick appropriate response can prevent serious consequences. However, the wrong response can make things worse. In order to respond promptly and appropriately, you should evaluate the potential hazards in advance of using the chemicals. The first source of information to consult would be your Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs). [If you need an MSDS, consult DRS Chemical Safety Section website or call (217) 333-2755.] Of most concern in spill situations are chemicals which are:
  • air reactive
  • water reactive
  • flammable
  • polymerizable
  • corrosive
  • highly toxic
  
  Based on these hazards, you can then determine:
  • appropriate personal protective equipment for spill response (e. g. gloves, respirators, etc.)
  • types of fire suppression equipment
  • appropriate clean up materials
  • first aid procedures
  
  
• Spill clean up materials and equipment
  Prior to starting any work with chemicals, make sure that you have all the necessary personal protective devices, safety equipment, and containment/clean up materials readily available. Each individual who may be involved in spill response or clean up must know the purpose and limitations of all personal protective equipment, safety equipment and clean up materials. Prepackaged spill kits are available from various vendors. The prepackaged kits tend to be expensive, so campus units typically make their own kits. To make your own kit, include the following items:
  1. Disposable nitrile gloves (1 box)
  2. Neoprene gloves (1 set)
  3. Safety goggles
  4. Hand broom
  5. Plastic dustpan
  6. 4-mil plastic zippered bags
  7. Universal Sorbent (Spill) Pads
     
     
  If mercury containing devices must be used in the lab (please replace all devices, if possible with non-mercury alternatives), the spill clean up kit should also contain Hg Absorb™ (available from Lab Safety Supply).
  
  The location of spill control kits should be clearly marked and highly visible. Make sure all personnel know the kit's location, are familiar with the kit's contents, and understand its limitations.

Preventing spills
Listed below are some basic spill prevention steps that apply to storage, transportation, and transfer of chemicals.

• General precautions:
  • reduce clutter and unnecessary materials in your work areas
  • eliminate tripping hazards and other obstructions
  • have all needed equipment readily available before starting work
  
  
• Storage precautions:
  • use sturdy shelves
  • larger containers should be stored closer to the floor
  • containers on shelves should be stored back from the edge to reduce the danger of falling
  • storage shelves should have lips to further reduce the danger of falling
  • chemicals should be stored by compatibility class first, then alphabetically
  • inspect the storage area regularly for leaking or defective containers
  • use appropriate storage containers
  • periodically check containers under laboratory chemical hoods, sinks and lab benches for signs of deterioration
  
  
• Transportation precautions:
  • use carts, where appropriate
  • use safety containers, where appropriate
  • use bottle carriers for any glass bottle greater than 250 ml
  • use straps to secure gas cylinders, where appropriate
  • think about potential hazards before transporting chemicals
  • consider purchasing plastic coated "shatter resistant" bottles
  
  
• Precautions in transferring chemicals:
  • pay careful attention to the size of container to avoid overfilling
  • use pumps or other mechanical devices rather than simple pouring
  • provide containment to capture leaks and spills