Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response
Chemical Spill Response
Response to chemical spills will vary based on several conditions. Some spills should be cleaned up by the individual(s) which created the spill while others should be cleaned up by specialists trained in chemical spill response. If these individuals are not located on your campus, an outside resource may need to be called in (i.e. local fire department, private contractor, etc.)
If an unexpected release of hazardous materials does occur, campus personnel should initiate clean up if ALL of the following criteria are met:
- The spilled material is known, AND
- Personnel are familiar with the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), AND
- Personnel are available and have been trained in the use of the MSDS-suggested Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), AND
- The correct clean up supplies are available, AND
- Personnel are confident in their ability to clean up the spill, AND
- Your health and safety are not in imminent danger.
If all of the above criteria are met, then campus personnel should initiate work area notification and emergency response procedures including, but not limited to:
- Searching for and assessing injuries
- Requesting assistance as needed
- Sealing off of the work area if necessary
- Alerting others in the work area of the situation
- Cleaning up the spill