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SPILL CLEAN-UP CONSIDERATIONS
Laboratory/Shop personnel may clean up small spills of
hazardous materials provided that all of the following conditions are met:
- The hazards of the material(s) are known, and appropriate precautions can be taken to prevent personal exposure
- There is no potential of a release to the environment
- There are no personal injuries
- The clean up procedures are known and the proper equipment (e.g., PPE and spill clean up materials) is available
- The spill can be cleaned up safely by two people in one hour or less. (Spill clean up kits for flammables, acids and caustics can be ordered through
Procurement).
- The spill does not involve elemental mercury. Special cleanup and air monitoring is required. Contact an EH&S industrial hygienist for assistance.
If all of these conditions are not met then Fire Operations (7-911) should be summoned for spill response. Inform your supervisor of all spills and all clean ups. For
mixed spills (radiological and chemical) contact the assigned Radiological Control Technician before initiating any clean up activities. Personnel who have been exposed to hazardous materials during a spill situation are to report to Health Services (extension
6266) for an evaluation. Ensure that you can provide Health Services with the Material Safety Data Sheet
or the name of the material(s) involved in the spill. Laboratories and shop areas where hazardous materials are handled should have an adequate number
of spill kits for the hazardous materials handled. These are commercially available through VWR Scientific
(the Laboratory has a contract with this vendor).Additional guidelines for spills and other unplanned events may be found in the Laboratory's Emergency Response Guide.
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