Lab Emergency Response

Laboratory Shutdown Guidelines - Emergency - University of Maryland →

Labs should develop a plan to protect their equipment, materials, and research from damage and prevent hazardous conditions from emergencies. All personnel should be trained in shutting down equipment.

When is this necessary?

• Earthquakes
• Floods
• Power outages
• Emergency campus closures

PREPARE »

• Document shutdown procedures with detailed instructions for:
  • Securing hazardous materials including chemicals, biologicals, or radioactive materials
  • Ensuring freezers, refrigerators, and critical research equipment are plugged into emergency electrical outlets
  • Checking that emergency electrical outlets are red and provide emergency power to equipment during a power outage
  • Identifying equipment with specific power down or restart procedures after a power outage (e.g. NMRs, Hi-voltage Equipment, etc)
  • Taking an inventory of lab equipment
  • Identifying gas cylinders that supply critical equipment and should not be closed in an emergency (e.g. cylinders that supply a glove box)
  • Contacting laboratory staff during an emergency
• If experimental animals are in use in your lab areas, make sure animals are secured and unable to escape prior to evacuation.
• For unplanned long duration incidents contact DLAM ASAP to: 
  • Report any missing animals
  • Return animals to DLAM or get guidance on procedures to sacrifice the animals
  • Special precautions may need to be taken into account depending on the type of Lab Shutdown.
• Update NFPA 704 (fire diamond) at least once a year
• Keep emergency contacts updated and current
• Ensure critical research data is backed up or in the cloud
• Have at least one outlet-mounted or hand-held emergency flashlight
• Make full laboratory shut down procedures readily available to laboratory staff 
• Review full laboratory shut down procedures with laboratory staff periodically

RESPOND »

• Close the chemical fume hood sashes
• Label, store and secure hazardous materials in safe compartments
• Shut off all gas valves and secure gas cylinders, except those previously identified as servicing critical equipment
• Confirm proper ventilation for cryogenic liquids
• Check pressure-, temperature-, air-, or moisture-sensitive materials and equipment
• Reactions in progress may need to be terminated depending on the type of emergency and the duration expected
• Water-reactive materials should be placed in sealed containers and stored in areas that are unlikely to become wet
• Unplug all electrical devices (specifically those that generate heat)
• Seal/close and plug all refrigerators, freezers, incubators, and other essential equipment into emergency power outlets
• Exit the laboratory, and lock the door.
• Follow the evacuation procedures.
• Be sure to report all critical systems in need of immediate power supply to Facilities Management
• If the situation allows, dispose of all wastes:
  • Get rid of regular trash that may rot
  • Prepare chemical wastes by properly labeling and storing waste containers
  • Collect all biohazard and medical wastes. Add bleach to disinfect any cultures or wastes collected in aspiration flasks prior to leaving the lab

For medical emergencies call 911.

PREPARE »

• Ensure laboratory contacts for emergencies are up to date.
• Educate laboratory personnel on what to do during a fire alarm. Include instructions for:
  • Turning off flames and other ignition sources
  • Closing the fume hood sash
  • Closing all hazardous materials containers, biohazard, chemical, and radiation
  • Turning off all electrical equipment
  • Turning off all gases and securing gas cylinders that were in use.
  • All staff are required to exit the building when the fire alarm is activated.
• Identify the location of the nearest emergency equipment (fire extinguishers, emergency shower, eyewash, spill kit and fire blanket if available).
• Train individuals on the proper use of emergency equipment
• Take Fire Extinguisher Training, Learn P.A.S.S, Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
• Establish procedures to smother clothing fires
  • Use Stop, Drop, and Roll
  • Use a Fire Blanket.
  • Use a Safety Shower
  • DO NOT use fire extinguisher on a person.
• Don’t block corridors and doorways leading to Emergency Exits
• Know at least two different evacuation routes to outside the building
• Know the location outside of the building where all lab personnel can reconvene. See Emergency Evacuation Maps →

RESPOND »

Clothing Fire

• Stop, drop, and roll!
• This will help smother the flame. If a safety shower is near and available, drench the fire with water.
• Obtain medical attention.
• Call 911
• Report incident to supervisor.

Minor

• Alert people in laboratory and activate alarm.
• Smother or use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
• Follow PASS ( https://www.ehs.ucla.edu/fire/fire-extinguishers) 
  • Pull the pin or the ring
  • Approach the fire and stop about 8 feet away. Aim the nozzle at the base of fire.
  • Squeeze or press the handle to activate discharge.
  • Sweep the nozzle slowly from side to side, aiming at the base of the fire. Continue discharge until fire is extinguished or extinguisher is empty
• Make sure you have an exit path away from the fire.
• Avoid smoke or fumes as much as possible.
• Call 911 and Report incident to supervisor.
• Remain accessible and have a person knowledgeable of the incident available to talk with Emergency Responders.

Major

• Alert everyone in area and evacuate
• Close the laboratory doors to confine fire as much as possible.
• Activate nearest fire alarm.
• Evacuate the building through the stairwells (do not use elevators!). Call 911.
• Remain accessible and have a person knowledgeable of the incident available to talk with Emergency Responders.

Hazardous Chemical spills can result in gases, vapors, or fumes that can ignite, and/or have a toxic effect on people in the area. They can cause, dizziness, shortness of breath, asphyxiation, and sometimes death if not properly handled.

PREPARE »

• Know when a spill is safe to clean up
• Keep a sufficient reserve of materials to clean up spills that you can reasonably anticipate. This includes additional personal protective equipment (PPE), spill absorbents compatible with the chemicals in use, brushes, scoops, sealable containers, etc
• Spill control materials and protective equipment should be kept in areas immediately near the experimental areas
• 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 

RESPOND »

On the body

• Remove contaminated clothing immediately
• Run water on the contaminated areas for at least 15 minutes (safety shower or eyewash)
• Make sure chemical is not in shoes
• Obtain medical attention, if necessary
• Report incident to PI and EH&S Hotline Option 1 (310) 825-9797

Minor

• Alert those in immediate area
• Wear PPE (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 while cleaning the spill
• Confine spill as much as possible
• Use appropriate kits for neutralizing and absorbing both inorganic acids and bases
• Collect excess residue, place in a secure container, and dispose of this as chemical waste
• For other chemicals, use appropriate kit or absorb spill with vermiculite, dry sand, or diatomaceous earth. Collect residue, place in container and dispose as chemical waste

Major

• Alert people in the vicinity to evacuate
• Attend to the injured and contaminated persons; remove them from exposure
• If spilled chemical is flammable, turn off all ignition and heat sources
• Call 911, 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

PREPARE »

A spill kit should be readily available and should include the following items:

• Chlorine bleach or other IBC approved disinfectant
• Package or roll of paper towels, or other disposable absorbent
• Biohazard labeled red bags and waste containers
• Latex or Nitrile gloves, lab coat, safety glasses
• Forceps for picking up broken glass and biohazard sharps containers
• UCLA Biosafety Plan

RESPOND »

On the body

• Remove all contaminated clothing, dispose in a biohazard bag, or decontaminate using bleach
• Wash the exposed area thoroughly with soap and water for several minutes
• Obtain medical attention, if necessary

Minor

• Wear disposable gloves, lab coat, and safety glasses
• Cover the spill in paper towels and absorb all the liquid
• Soak paper towels in 10% bleach or use disinfectant wipes to disinfect surfaces that were affected
• Place the materials you used to disinfect spill in a biohazard red bag for disposal
• Clean spill area once again with fresh towels soaked in 10% bleach or disinfectant wipes

Major

• A major spill is one involving an infectious agent that is airborne, or one involving more than 4 liters of an infectious agent culture
• Alert everyone in immediate area to leave the lab
• If assistance is needed to clean the spill call 911
• Notify responders that this is a biohazard spill at UCLA
• Close doors to affected area, wait 30 minutes to allow aerosols to settle
• To clean the spill:
  • Wear disposable gloves, lab coat, and safety glasses
  • Cover the spill in paper towels and absorb all the liquid
  • Soak paper towels in 10% bleach or use disinfectant wipes to disinfect surfaces that were affected
  • Place the materials you used to disinfect spill in a biohazard red bag for disposal
  • Clean spill area once again with fresh towels soaked in 10% bleach or disinfectant wipes

Report all incidents, injuries, and potential exposures to PI and EH&S hotline at (310) 825-9797 Option 3.

Laboratory emergency response procedures : Safety, Health and Wellbeing : The University of Western Australia - University of Western Australia →

A radioactive spill is the spill of a radioactive material in a lab.

RESPOND »

In your eye

• Immediately rinse the eyeball and inner surface of eyelid with water for 15 minutes (use faucet or eye wash)
• Hold eye open so your eyelids are washed thoroughly
• Obtain medical attention
• Report incident to PI

Minor

• Alert people in immediate area
• Notify radiation safety officer
• Wear PPE (safety goggles, disposable gloves, shoe covers, and long-sleeve lab coat)
• For liquid spills, place absorbent paper towels over it. For solid spills, place damp towels over it
• Use forceps to place used towels in a plastic bag, then dispose of them in a radioactive waste box
• Monitor area, hands, and shoes for contamination with an appropriate survey meter or method
• Repeat cleanup until contamination is no longer detected

Major

• Isolate all potentially contaminated personnel in one area until they have been monitored and confirmed to be free of contamination
• Call school radiation safety officer
• Close the doors to prevent entrance into the spill area
• Have a person knowledgeable of the incident report it
• Radiation Safety Manual

Hazardous Gases include toxic, reactive, and gases that displace oxygen. Damage or improper use of a gas cylinder can lead to leaks and potential exposure and injuries.

PREPARE »

• Know the properties and hazards of your gas.
• Toxic gases and reactive gases should not be purchased or used without consultation with EH&S Chemical Safety. Certain gases require specific ventilation and storage for safe use.
• Establish a plan of maintenance to proactively control potential damage and gas leaks.
• Establish an emergency plan to address equipment, piping, or cylinder failures

RESPOND »

If a person knowledgeable about the source of the leak decides that it is hazardous to them or to other building occupants, the following steps should be taken:

• Immediately notify those in the building to evacuate.
• Pull fire alarm.
• Shut the doors and secure the area.
• Contact EHS and provide:
  • Building, floor, and room
  • Specific chemical name of involved gas
  • Source of the gas leak

A ventilation failure can involve the chemical fume hood or the laboratory in general.

RESPOND »

Fume Hood Ventilation Failure Procedure | Environmental Health and Safety - Ohio State University→

• Cease operation of fume hoods: 
  • Cease all operations that create hazardous fumes, gases, or vapors
  • Stop the chemical reactions and deenergize the electrical equipment. Close fume hood sash
  • Notify all lab personnel
  • Report the ventilation failure to PI and post a note on the fume hood
  • Contact FM for repairs as soon as possible
  • Do not attempt to restart any ventilation equipment or reset the chemical fume hood

Close the fume hood sash if the fire is in the fume hood. Fire emergency Procedures - UCLA Chem and Biochem → 

Laboratory Freezers | UVM Risk Management and Safety - University of Vermont →

PREPARE »

The operator should perform routine cleaning and maintenance. For maximum performance and efficiency, it is recommended that the unit be checked and calibrated periodically by a qualified service technician.

The following is a condensed list of suggested preventive maintenance requirements. Refer to the owner’s manual for specific details for each piece of equipment. Cleaning and calibration adjustment intervals are dependent on use, environmental conditions, and accuracy required.

• Fill an upright by starting at the bottom near the probe and add racks to one shelf at a time.
• Allow freezer to recover to set point between shelves
• Fill chest freezer by starting at the left side near the probe. Filling with room temperature racks will result in long pull-down time
• Fill the unit with frozen product to help overall performance, frozen water jugs, for example
• Always make certain the vacuum relief port is free of frost and ice, to allow for timely re-entry into the freezer after a door opening
• Unit needs space to breathe, 6” is a good general rule, could be less per the owner’s manual
• Unit must be connected to properly sized and dedicated breaker
  • Inspect all probe ports, make sure they are sealed during and after use. Do not drill/screw the case in any way without consulting the manufacturer

• To minimize ice build-up inside of freezer:
  • Locate the freezer away from drafts and heating/cooling units
  • Keep the number of door openings to a minimum
  • Minimize the length of time door is open
  • Make sure the door latches securely after opening
• If you have valuable and/or irreplaceable materials that rely on the mechanical equipment to maintain appropriate temperature, then you should install a monitor or alarm
• Minus80: Minus80 monitoring is a system used in several institutions around the country. They provide monitoring and alert services that are customized to each lab's need. These systems report temperature fluctuations over time as well as alerts for temperatures that exceed a given range. Minus80 personnel monitor alerts along with lab personnel. These systems communicate using Minus80 telecommunications equipment. Labs pay an initial purchase cost as well as monthly service charges. Contact Minus80 for more information or to set up this service

Suspicious Package | Office of Emergency Management - UCLA →

RESPOND »

What to look for when receiving a suspicious letter:

• No return address
• Restrictive markings
• Misspelled words
• Unknown powder or suspicious substance
• Possibly mailed from a foreign country
• Excessive postage

What to look for when receiving a suspicious package:

• Excessive tape
• Oily stains and/or discoloration on wrapping
• Strange odor
• Addressed incorrectly
• Rigid or bulky
• Lopsided or uneven
• Protruding wires

If you receive a suspicious letter or package:

• Stop! Don’t handle it
• Isolate it immediately
• Do not open, smell or taste it
• Immediately call UCPD by dialing 911 from a campus phone.

How to report a claim | Insurance & Risk Management - UCLA →

RESPOND »

Property Claims

• Claims involving UCLA property or other property under UCLA’s care.

General Liability Claims

• Claims alleging injury or damage to another person or their property.

For Either Type of Claim

• Complete the Claim Report
• Contact us with questions: glreports@irm.ucla.edu or call (310) 794-6956 or (310) 794-6950

Emergency Procedures - UCLA Chem & Biochem →

• UCLA EHS Hotline (310) 825-9797
• All serious injuries must be reported to the EH&S Hotline at x59797 within 8 hours.
• All fires, large spills and exposures must be reported to the EH&S Hotline at x59797 as soon as possible.
• For any spills or medical emergencies, Dial 911 (or 310-825-1491 from cell phone) and EH&S at x59797 for assistance.
• After hours/weekend/holiday help: File a Report | Environment, Health & Safety - UCLA EH&S → 

RESPOND »

If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

• EH&S Main Line: (310) 825-5689
• EH&S Hotline: (310) 825-9797