Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILLS For Tulane Laboratory and Facilities Employees January, 2005

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Objectives Prevention Preparation What To Do When A Spill Occurs Containing the Spill Post-Spill Activities How to Report a Spill After-Hours

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Prevention Hazardous materials spills can be avoided if the following steps are taken: –Secure all materials before leaving the work area –Never work with materials on the edge of the lab counter –Transport the material in a container designed for spills ( i.e., shatter proof materials) –Never lift heavy boxes containing hazardous materials –Work with small amounts

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Preparation Incidents involving hazardous materials will happen and there are steps in which a user of these materials can take to ensure a quick and safe clean up. The following steps should be taken to make certain the clean up is fast and safe: –Review OEHS safety training sessions –Contact DSR for safety information –Include in your SOP/Chemical Hygiene Plan a spill response procedure –Have accessible hazardous material spill response equipment –Train everyone in your work area on the response procedures –Provide (when possible) a small spill response

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) What To Do When It Happens Secure area (i.e., close door, pull fume hood sash down) Notify others of Hazardous Materials Spill Activate Fire Alarm if Fire is involved Contact the Public Safety Office Contact OEHS for further instructions Get medical attention for any injured person Use eyewash stations and showers when chemicals are splashed to the eyes or body

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Containing The Spill Pull down the Sash Close the Door Turn off all ignition sources Upright the container Consult the MSDS Wear appropriate PPE Cover with appropriate absorbent material

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Post-Spill Activities Review SOPs and spill response procedures Fill out Hazardous Spill Incident Form located at Replace any spill response equipment that you used Containerize and dispose of any hazardous waste with OEHS

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILLS AT NIGHT OR ON WEEKENDS Secure area (i.e., close door, pull fume hood sash down) Leave area immediately Activate Fire Alarm if Fire is involved Contact Public Safety –Uptown – –Health Science Center –

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Special Spills If a spill occurs involving the following special materials, contact OEHS at (Downtown) or (Uptown): Biological Select Agents Radiological Mercury

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Summary Train personnel on how to properly respond to spill incidents involving hazardous materials Prepare your work area by having the proper spill response equipment available Include spill clean up procedures in your SOPs and emergency action plans (EAPs) for handling hazardous materials Have available at an emergency phone all emergency response phone numbers.

Tulane University Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) Bruce McClue, Hazardous Waste Supervisor (504) / If unable to proceed to quiz, type the link below into your browser Proceed to Quiz