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