Spills

Emergency Numbers
Response CRC BUMC/BMC
Spill Assistance. Request assistance. (617) 353-2105 (617) 358-4144
Medical Assistance
When calling:
1) identify yourself,
2) provide call back phone number,
3) provide exact location,
4) provide incident details.
External emergency services will be contacted as necessary.
(617) 353-2121 (617) 414-4444
Report Exposures in a research laboratory to ROHP (617) 358-7647 (617) 358-7647
Report Exposures in other areas to Occupational Health (617) 353-6630 (617) 638-8400
Reporting Student Exposures to Student Health Services (617) 353-3575 (617) 353-3575
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 Incident Response