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Hazmat Spill Procedures

When a hazardous chemical, bodily fluid or other material spills, the person responsible for the spill must take immediate action to prevent serious problems such as fires, injury, death or harm to the environment. Those responsible for cleaning up or minimizing the effects of the the spill must follow several procedures to minimize risk.

  1. Small Chemical Spills

    • When the amount of hazardous material spilled is less than one liter and the substance has a hazard rating of less than 2 in all categories, the procedure is to turn off ignition sources if the material is flammable; wear protective equipment such as rubber gloves and goggles and avoid breathing vapors; limit access to the area; and notify others, including a lab supervisor or other trained personnel. Contact the local Environmental Health Safety and Insurance Office to report the spill. Refer to a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for clean-up instructions. Anyone who comes in contact with spilled chemicals should wash his hands thoroughly with soap and water.

    Larger or More Dangerous Chemical Spills

    • If a hazardous material spill is more than one liter or has a hazard rating of more than 2, or if an unknown material has spilled, immediately evacuate the spill area, restrict access to the area and contact the local police department to report the incident. The local police will report the spill to the Environmental Health Safety and Insurance Office, who in turn will contact a HazMat response team and/or the fire department. When they arrive to respond to the spill, provide them with a copy of the MSDS for the substance spilled.

    Biohazard Spills

    • Spills involving blood, plasma, saliva or other bodily fluids require immediate treatment with bleach or another solution known to kill human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis viruses. Leave the cleaning on the spilled substance for five to ten minutes, then absorb it and deposit the waste into a biohazard waste bag. Wear appropriate protective material (goggles, rubber gloves and a lab coat) during the clean-up process. If possible, a person who has spilled her own bodily fluid should clean up the spill herself.

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