Spills

Emergency Numbers

Chemical Spill

• Remove personnel from the immediate area.
• Restrict access to the area and assess the extent of the spill.
• If it is safe to do so, contain the spill. Try to protect hallways, elevator shafts, floor drains, etc.
• Attend to injured personnel as necessary.
• Do not attempt to clean a large chemical spill, a spill beyond your control, a spill that has migrated to drains or hard-to-clean areas, or a spill where clean-up could result in adverse exposure to the spilled chemical.

— Seek assistance from Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) by calling the emergency number above.

• If the spill is small, involves a chemical you understand well, has not migrated to drains or difficult-to-clean places, you have the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and spill cleanup materials, and there is no risk of adverse exposure, clean the spill.
  • Wear PPE appropriate to the chemical spilled at a minimum, safety glasses, gloves, and appropriate attire.
  • Refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for more information on proper PPE.
  • Collect spill material and label it as hazardous waste.
  • Place in Hazardous Waste Satellite Accumulation Area and make request for pickup.
  • Report non-emergency incident to EHS at:
    CRC: (617) 353-4094 | BUMC/BMC: (617) 358-7840

Or- report incident as a ‘near miss’ by using the online form.

Mercury Spill

Any spill involving mercury MUST be reported to EHS by calling the appropriate number above. DO NOT attempt to clean a mercury spill, no matter how small.

Chemical Exposure

• Remove any contaminated clothing as quickly as possible.
• Flush any exposed skin or hair with water for at least 15 minutes. Do not hesitate in activating a safety shower.
• For chemical exposure to the eye:
  • Flush with water for at least 15 minutes at an emergency eyewash station.
  • Hold eyelids open while flushing.
• Seek appropriate medical attention. See Incident and Accident Reporting panel for more detail.
• In research laboratories, report all exposures to ROHP at (617) 358-7647.
• For emergency medical assistance, call the appropriate number above. If transported to hospital, bring a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the material you were exposed to, if able.

Blood/Body Fluid/Biological Spill

• Restrict access to the area and assess the extent of the spill.
• For large blood or body fluid spills, call the appropriate number above.
• Wear the proper PPE. At a minimum; safety glasses, gloves, and appropriate attire.
• Saturate the spill with an appropriate disinfectant. Allow a contact period of at least 15 minutes.
• Use paper towels, rags, or some other absorbent material to clean up the spill.
• Collect all spill material as biological waste.
• Dispose of waste according to procedure.

Biological Exposure

• If exposed to biological material, initiate first aid procedures.
• For medical assistance, call the appropriate number above. If transported to hospital, bring available information for the material you were exposed to, if able.
• Remove any exposed clothing as quickly as possible.
• Flush any exposed skin or hair with water for at least 15 minutes. Do not hesitate in activating a safety shower.
• For exposure to the eye:
  • Flush with water for at least 15 minutes at an emergency eyewash station.
  • Hold eyelids open while flushing.
• Seek appropriate medical attention. See Incident and Accident Reporting panel for more detail.
• In research laboratories, report all exposures to ROHP at (617) 414-7647.

Radiation Accident Response