How to Clean a Room Exposed to Chlorine Gas

Chlorine gas is used in a number of businesses including public water treatment, swimming pools, dairy operations, paper or pulp mills, chemical manufacturing, fabric manufacturing or any location where chlorine is used for cleaning purposes. Chlorine gas contains a yellow to yellow-reddish tint at room temperature. Chlorine gas exposure can affect humans through entering the respiratory system or absorption through the eyes or skin. If a room is contaminated by a chlorine leak, proper cleanup is important, but only after the leak has stopped.

Instructions

• 1

  Follow your company's emergency procedures and material safety data sheets first. Companies that use chlorine gas on a regular basis should have emergency procedures and policies in place. If you are not certain that the chlorine leak has stopped, call the fire department to report the leak before cleaning the room. Never initiate cleanup until properly trained professionals give the go-ahead.

• 2

  Remove all people or animals at least 50 feet from the contaminated area. Assess the health of all humans or animals potentially exposed to the chlorine leak. Symptoms of chlorine inhalation include shortness of breath, coughing, nausea, dizziness, irritated or sore throat, bluish tint to the skin and unconsciousness. Call 911 or seek medical attention for anyone showing signs and symptoms of exposure.

• 3

  Wear personal protective equipment before entering the contaminated room such as a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health approved gas protection mask specifically for chlorine. Businesses that use chlorine should provide personal protection equipment on site for emergencies.

• 4

  Open all windows in the room where the spill occurred. Remove all combustible items from the contaminated room. Potentially combustible items include paper, wood or oil. Remove any sources of fire from the room if possible.

• 5

  Use a chlorine detection kit after the room has been ventilated for several hours to ensure the chlorine gas has cleared. Chlorine gas detection kits include hand-held meters to gage the amount of gas in the air. Businesses that utilize chlorine gas should include kits as part of the building's emergency kit.