PURPOSE:
Provide guidance to NCSU staff on actions to be taken when a hazardous
material spill occurs. For this section, the term "spill"
includes gas releases as well as solid and liquid spills.
SPILL / LEAK PREPAREDNESS / PREVENTION
Obtain chemicals in smallest bottles possible to meet needs. Keep
fume hoods clean, free of containers no longer in use. Store large quantities
(gallon containers) of flammable liquids in compartments in flammable
liquid storage cabinets or, if limited quantity, in the base cabinet
under your hood. Avoid use of mercury thermometers. If mercury containing
instruments must be used, provide secondary containment in the event
of breakage or spills. For large scale chemical baths in equipment,
provide secondary containment,if possible. Secondary containment is
required for containers of liquid waste stored outside of your hood.
Assure hazardous gases are stored in exhausted gas cabinets and are
equipped with flow restricting orifices according to University guidelines
(see Compressed Gas Safety requirements). Labs with hazardous gases
should contain emergency power off buttons which will shut down gas
valves INSIDE the exhausted cabinet in the event of emergency. Where
highly toxic or pyrophoric gases are used, monitors which will alarm
and cause gas valves to shut are required.
TRAINING
Hazard communication training is required for all persons prior to
use of hazardous materials. Personnel are required to be familiar with
the hazard properties of the materials they use and the steps to be
taken in the event of emergencies. Adequate detail in the lab safety
plan on this subject and review of the plan content by all employees
is required.
MATERIALS
Material safety data sheets must be on hand in the laboratory or work
area for ALL TRADE NAME MATERIALS. These are chemical mixtures which
are often not available through on-line material safety data sheet databases.
These MSDSs should be stored in a safe area so they are readily available
for use and reference in an emergency (suggest you keep them by your
safety plan in your lab or work area. Spill control materials should
be kept on hand for spill response, along with the necessary protective
equipment to be used. Minimum supplies for the following materials listed
below, available at Central Stores, should be kept in each lab or chemical
work area.
Protective Clothing Spill Control Materials
| Chemical Splash Goggles (2)
Full face shields (2)
Neoprene Gloves (long) (2)
Rubber aprons (2)
Rubber shoe covers (2)
|
One bag / box absorbant
5 gal pails (2)
Polypropylene dust pans (2)
Half gallon ziplock bags (4)
Waste disposal labels |
NOTE: Persons who are, for any reason, uncomfortable
cleaning up spills within the guidelines listed below should contact their
supervisors or principle investigators ASAP (don't wait until spill occurs)
so that alternate department spill response plans, if appropriate, can
be made.
NOTE: THE TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT LISTED ABOVE WILL NOT
NECESSARILY EQUIP PERSONNEL TO HANDLE ALL SPILLS. CLICK HERE FOR MORE
DETAIL
Questions
Additional questions or comments about this section can be referred
to 515-6860.
PROCEDURES
WHEN A SPILL OCCURS THE FOLLOWING ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN DEPENDING
UPON THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE MATERIAL INVOLVED:
