Chemical Spill

 

Important Contacts

Key Contacts

UC Police Department (UCPD) & UCLA Fire:          9-1-1

Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S):                  (310) 825-9797

Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine (DLAM): (310) 825-2200

DGSOM Security:                                                        (310) 267-7100 

Facilities Management (FM):                                      (310) 825-9236

  • If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
Prepare 
  • Ensure laboratory contacts for emergencies are up to date
  • Know when a spill is safe to clean up
  • Keep a sufficient reserve of materials to clean up spills near experimental areas (PPE, spill absorbents compatible with the chemicals in use, brushes, scoops, sealable containers etc.)
  • Create a spill response plan with the following:
    • Names and telephone numbers of who should be contacted
    • Evacuation plans
    • Instructions to contain spilled materials, such as potential escapes to the environment
    • Inventory of all spill control materials and PPE
    • Means for proper disposal of cleanup materials and affected clothing (in most cases, as hazardous waste)
  • Review the UCLA Chemical Hygiene Plan for spill clean-up procedures
  • For more information, follow EH&S Chemical Safety.

 

Respond 

Immediately report all incidents, injuries, and potential exposures to your Principal Investigator (PI) and Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) hotline at (310) 825-9797 Option 1.

  • Remove all contaminated clothing, dispose in a biohazard bag or decontaminate using bleach
  • Ensure your shoes are not contaminated with hazardous material to prevent spreading outside of the immediate area
  • Wash the exposed area thoroughly with soap and water for 20 minutes
  • Obtain medical attention, if necessary
  • Report incident to Principal Investigator (PI) and EH&S Hotline Option +1 (310) 825-9797.
  • Immediately rinse the eyeball and inner surface of eyelid with water for 20 minutes (use faucet or eye wash)
  • Hold eye open so your eyelids are washed thoroughly
  • Obtain medical attention
  • Report incident to your Principal Investigator (PI).
  • Alert those in immediate area
  • Wear PPE to clean (safety goggles, gloves, shoe covers and long-sleeve laboratory coat)
  • Only clean spills where there is no danger to your breathing or risk of ignition
  • Confine spill as much as possible
  • Use appropriate kits for neutralizing and absorbing both inorganic acids and bases. Place in a secure container and dispose as chemical waste
  • For other chemicals, use appropriate kit or absorb spill with vermiculite, dry sand or diatomaceous earth. Place in secure container and dispose as chemical waste.
  • Alert people in the vicinity to evacuate
  • Attend to any injured and contaminated persons; remove them from exposure
  • If spilled chemical is flammable, turn off all ignition and heat sources if it is safe to do so
  • Call 9-1-1, let the responder know this is a spill in a UCLA laboratory
  • Close doors to affected area to keep spill area confined
  • Post “Do Not Enter” signs or prevent entry into the spill area
  • Have a person knowledgeable of the incident available to provide information to responders about the spill.