OEH&S Chemical Safety Manual Chapter 8

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO A CHEMICAL SPILL

IN AN EMERGENCY CALL 476-6911 or 9-911
At San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) CALL 206-8522

Hazardous materials such as chemicals, radionuclides and biohazardous substances are widely used at UCSF in research, clinical, health care, teaching and support activities. On occasion, due to unforeseen circumstances, mishandling, damaged containers and/or accidents, hazardous materials are spilled.

Campus policy states that Principal Investigators and supervisors have the primary responsibility for insuring that hazardous materials are used safely and for informing their staff of the proper procedures to follow in the event of a hazardous material spill.

The Campus recognizes that these incidents can escalate and pose a hazard to employees and the environment. Therefore, OEH&S has been directed to maintain hazardous materials spill response facilities. In addition, OEH&S has prepared technical bulletins, available upon request, explaining how to deal with radioactive, chemical and biohazardous material spills. These guidelines will help you decide on the appropriate course of action.

Your response to a hazardous materials incident depends on your knowledge and preparedness, and the size and character of the incident. Contact OEH&S for information or training of a minor spill clean up. If a spill occur s, you must decide whether to handle it yourself or request advice/assistance from OEH&S.

A. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM

OEH&S has established the HazMat Emergency Response Program to provide 24-hour emergency response support to campus and satellite locations. The HazMat Responder is an OEH&S specialist who is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, to provide technical assistance to campus units, UC Police Department (UCPD) and the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD). The HazMat Responder operates a vehicle equipped with a cellular phone and emergency response equipment and will respond to all requests for emergency support, either by telephone or in person.

The HazMat Emergency Response Program complements existing campus policy which specifies that supervisors and Principal Investigators are responsible for the clean up of a minor spill. In addition, supervisors and Principal Investigators are responsible for initial and annual training of their staff for hazardous materials handling, use, and spill clean up procedures.

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B. REPORTING PROCEDURE

1. Alert persons in the immediate area to the spill to evacuate if necessary.



2. Attend to injured or contaminated persons and remove them from exposure. Avoid unnecessary movement in order to prevent the spread of contamination.



3. Call UCPD at 9-911. For off campus, call 476-6911. Provide the following information:
   1. Name
   
   
   
   2. Phone number
   
   
   
   3. Location of incident
   
   
   
   4. Identity of material involved
   
   
   
   5. Quantity spilled
   
   
   
   6. Any other pertinent information. UCPD or SFGH Facilities Management will then contact the OEH &S HazMat Responder.


4. Close doors and restrict access to affected area.



5. Have person knowledgeable of incident and affected area assist the OEH&S HazMat Responder.

C. MINOR HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPILL

A minor spill of a hazardous material (chemical, radioactive, or biohazardous) is defined as one for which the staff has the confidence and capability to clean up without the assistance of emergency personnel. A small area is affected and a small number of personnel may need to leave the area until the spill is cleaned up.

The supervisor within the department has the responsibility to clean up a minor spill. Additional information for the clean up of a minor spill may be obtained from campus safety manuals, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) or by calling OEH&S at 476 1300.

You should call for help if:

1. You have not been trained in the specific procedures to follow.



2. You feel it is unsafe to clean up the spill.



3. You don't know what the spilled material is.



4. You lack the necessary protection or clean-up materials to do the job safely.



5. The spill is large.



6. The spilled material is highly toxic.



7. You or co-workers feel any physical symptoms of exposure (eye irritation, difficulty breathing, coughing, dizziness, nausea, skin irritation).



8. The substance involved is regulated (carcinogen, biohazard, radioactive).

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D. PROCEDURE TO CLEAN UP A MINOR SPILL

1. Alert persons in immediate area of spill.



2. Wear protective equipment, including safety goggles, gloves and long-sleeve lab coat.



3. Avoid breathing vapors from spill.



4. Confine spill to small area. Contain the spill “from the outside in”.



5. Use appropriate materials to absorb or clean up spill. Collect residue, place in container, label container and dispose as chemical waste.



6. After removal of all contamination, wash area with clean water.

E. SPILL RESPONSE FACILITIES

OEH&S maintains three types of spill response facilities:

1. SPILL CABINETS - 2'x 2' wall mounted cabinets containing a universal absorbent for small spills of non-radioactive chemicals.



2. SPILL CLOSETS - telephone-booth-size closets containing a universal absorbent, protective equipment and clean-up equipment. The closets also contain a kit for treating radionuclide spills.



3. SPILL CENTERS - small rooms with more specialized equipment for emergency responders (OEH&S, UCPD, SFFD).

Spill cabinets and spill closets are for campus personnel to use as needed and are left unlocked to provide easy access. When materials are used, please contact OEH&S at 476-1300 to replace them. Spill centers are for the exclusive use of emergency responders (OEH&S, UCPD, SFFD) and are kept locked.

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F. SPILL CABINETS

OEH&S maintains "spill cabinets" throughout the Parnassus campus in areas where laboratories are concentrated. They are intended to provide labs with easy access to absorbent materials to control small (up to 1 liter) spills of non-radioactive chemicals. Protective equipment is not included in the spill cabinet since laboratory personnel who work with chemicals are expected to have eye protection, chemical-resistant gloves and a lab coat in their laboratories. Each cabinet contains spill pads made of a universal absorbent which is capable of picking up any liquid including hydrofluoric acid, and a 12" x 18" plastic bag for disposal of the spill pads.

SPILL CABINET LOCATIONS

All hazardous spill cabinets are located in the corridors next to the following rooms:

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G. SPILL CLOSETS

When the spill requires clean up supplies, more absorbent and/or greater personal protective equipment, these materials will be found in the "spill closets." Spill closets also contain a kit to treat radionuclide spills and bleach to disinfect biohazardous materials. Respiratory protection equipment is not available as wearing respiratory protection entails medical approval, fit-testing, and training. If you think you need respiratory protection to clean up the spill, DO NOT attempt the clean up. Call the campus emergency number 476-6911 or 9-911 and remain in the general area to provide information to the HazMat Responder.

Spill closets are listed below, however, inventories may vary slightly depending on closet size and location.

SPILL CLOSET LOCATIONS

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H. SPILL CENTERS

"Spill centers" are intended for the exclusive use of emergency personnel (OEH&S, UCPD, SFFD). As with the spill closets, inventories in each center may vary slightly with size and location.

SPILL CENTER LOCATIONS

I. SPILL BUCKETS

In addition to OEH&S maintained spill cabinets and closets for campus personnel use, OEH&S recommends that each chemical user reserve a small space (2' x 2') for a "spill bucket" containing spill material and personal protective equipment. This "spill bucket" is inexpensive and portable and will allow you to respond quickly to minor spills of non-radioactive chemicals.

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