Chapter 5

Emergency Procedures
A laboratory worker was using a heat gun to heat approximately 0.5 liters of heptane
in a Pyrex beaker by hand over an open bench. A splash of heptane came in contact
with the elements of the heat gun, igniting the heptane and causing him to toss the
beaker away from him. The sleeve of the worker's shirt caught fire. The flaming
beaker landed on another work surface, spreading the fire to his computer. The
worker immediately used a safety shower to put out the fire on his clothing, then
used a dry chemical fire extinguisher to put out the other fire. The worker received
burns to his hand. The computer containing his thesis was destroyed by the powder
from the extinguisher.
Plan your work around the possibility of an emergency. Don't let them take you
by surprise. Remember, if it can happen, it will happen.
F First, look around your laboratory. Consider what emergencies are possible.
Fire? Spill? Chemical exposure? Gaseous release?
F Second, plan how to prevent and respond to those emergencies. For most labs,
this Guide will serve as its written Emergency Response Plan. Some laboratories
may need additional procedures for unusual situations. For example, some
procedures cannot be conducted safely by a worker working alone.
F Third, make sure you are prepared to respond to an emergency. Have spill
This part pertains to control materials, personal protective clothing and other emergency response
chemical equipment nearby. Get training in first aid and fire extinguisher use. Practice
emergencies. Call emergency communications, evacuation procedures and spill response. Post
the Safety
Department for hazard information and contact names on the door to your lab to help emergency
guidance in responders. The Safety Department can help you with all these things.
preparing for and
responding to 5.1 In An Emergency -- Notify
chemical and other
types of
emergencies. Emergency Phone Numbers
UW Police: 911
UW Hospital Emergency Room: 262-2398
UW Hospital Poison Control Center: 262-3702
Although Safety Department personnel often advise emergency responders
and ensure notification laws are followed, we are not a primary emergency
response organization for large incidents.

UW Police is the
communication Immediately report any spill, leak or release to UW Police or the Safety Department.
center for campus There are Federal, State and local reporting requirements (cf. Chapter 3). Safety will
emergency
response. assess the incident and determine what, if any, reporting is required and if other
action is needed. Wisconsin's Spill Law covers accidental, intentional, sudden and
non-sudden releases to the environment including spills, leaks, and releases to land,
air, or water. State authorities may interpret the law as having a zero threshold for
some chemical releases to the environment. Therefore, state law may require the
UW to report your release to the State Division of Emergency Government.

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126 Emergency Procedures

Other spill laws require that releases of certain substances at specified reportable
quantities be reported to State and Local Emergency Planning Committees and the
National Response Center. Releases may also need to be reported under the
Community Right-to-Know Law via an annual report prepared by the Safety
Department. To maintain the University's compliance with these laws, report all
spills, leaks, and releases to UW Police or the Safety Department. A spill or release
reported to UW Police will automatically be reported to the Safety Department.
Routine fume hood releases through normal use need not be reported to the Safety
Department, however, try to minimize environmental releases. Check with the
Safety Department if you emit highly toxic or unusual chemicals via a fume hood.

5.1.a The 9 1 1 System

Call 911 when you
911 service is the universal emergency phone number that can be used no matter
need a police where you are. Dialing 911 in an emergency speeds up emergency service by
officer, firefighter or eliminating the need for the caller to look up emergency phone numbers. When you
EMT to respond. dial 911 from a campus phone, the call is received at UW Police. The caller's
telephone number and address are displayed to the police dispatcher and is printed.
The police dispatcher records any relevant information about the nature of the
emergency and dispatches the appropriate personnel. University Police receive their
information from the database at DoIT Voice Services, so it is very important that
you inform DoIT Voice Services (262-0521) of any changes in your office, room, or
telephone numbers. If the correct information is not in the database, emergency
personnel may waste precious time searching for the location of the emergency.
According to University Police, one of the biggest confusions about 911 service
is determining under what circumstances it should be used. Call 911 ONLY when
Dialing either 911
the situation requires a police or fire officer to respond. Don't call 911 if you need
or 9-911 will work directions or are locked out of a building.
from campus Dialing 911 will work from all campus telephones. Cell phone calls will be
telephones. directed to the Dane County 911 Center, but University Police will also be contacted
and will respond.
There are also more than 40 blue-lighted emergency telephones at about 15
locations on campus. These telephones are connected directly to the University
Police 911 service. When picked up, the phones will automatically dial 911.

Never attempt a
5.1.b Cooperate with Emergency Responders
rescue unless you When the fire alarm in your building goes off, immediately leave the building. Do
are protected from not take anything with you because this may slow you down or impede the exit of
the hazard and you others. Handicapped individuals who are unable to exit should go to the nearest
are sure of your
pre-designated area of refuge or exit stairwell. Designated staff or firefighters will
safe return. Leave
rescue operations assist them when they arrive on the scene.
to the Madison Fire Even if the fire alarm stops ringing, do not reenter the building unless / until UW
Department. Police or Fire Department officials give permission as some fire alarms will reset
after 5 - 15 minutes even when emergency operations are ongoing.

5.1.c Post the Laboratory Emergency Information Form

Post the entrance to your laboratory with the Laboratory Emergency Information
form to inform emergency responders of the hazards present and who should be
contacted in an emergency. Posting this form will facilitate a prompt response and

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 Emergency Procedures 127

minimize damage to your lab. The Madison Fire Department requires that each
laboratory be posted with the Laboratory Emergency Information form outside its
entry door. The form has two crucial items of emergency response information:
¸ An indication of the level of flammability, reactivity and toxicity hazards of the
chemicals present in the room and whether water reactive chemicals are present.
¸ The names and phone numbers (campus and home) of the person or persons
responsible for your lab, and an alternate emergency contact.
Some people may not wish to list their home phone numbers on the emergency
contact posters. You should understand, however, that firefighters may wait before
entering your laboratory to ascertain the presence of hazards, thus increasing the
potential for property loss in the event of fire.

If you use radioactive materials or biohazardous agents, or if other hazards are

present in the room that emergency responders should know about (e.g., high voltage
power supplies, explosives, etc.), be sure to include those hazards on the Laboratory
Emergency Information form. Contact the Safety Department for guidance.

Remember, you are 5.2 Prepare for Emergencies / Spills

the person most
responsible for your The Madison Fire Department will respond to emergencies and spills. They will
safety. ensure the event is contained and presents no further hazard to life or the

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128 Emergency Procedures

environment. However, they will not clean any spill. After the emergency, the
University will still be responsible for cleaning the spill. Thus, the Madison Fire
Department is not a panacea for a lab worker's unpreparedness. Your lab needs to
have a plan which addresses the following issues:
w Emergency contact information (see above)
w Evacuation plans for the room or building
w Understand your chemical hazards
w Instructions for containing a spill
w Spill control materials

Everyone who 5.2.a Understand your Hazards

works with Persons handling chemicals should be aware of the hazards associated with the
chemicals should materials they are using and how to manage any spills of these materials. This
learn how to
information can be found in the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) which
respond to spills.
accompany the chemicals purchased. If you are unsure of the safety hazards of a
(Example - not UW) particular chemical, review the MSDS before starting your procedure. These sheets
Graduate student should be kept in a central location in your lab or other work area so you can access
weighing NaH (97% them quickly. If you need a MSDS, call the Safety Department or look for the sheet
dry) on lab bench.
on one of the MSDS sites listed to our web site: http://www.fpm.wisc.edu/safety.
While scooping
NaH onto balance It is unfortunate that emergencies happen why they are least expected, when the
with spatula, NaH junior person are working, after hours with no one present, etc. Be prepared for the
ignited. Student worst case scenario. Plan for a spill of your largest container of acid, base, solvent,
tried to extinguish or dry chemical. Annex 5-1 discusses routine spill response and supplies needed to
fire with lab coat to
no success, so
clean up spills.
used another lab Researchers and supervisors are responsible for training students and employees
coat. That also on the procedures to safely work with chemicals, including responding to chemical
caught fire. Used a spills. Training aids (i.e., handouts , videotapes, etc.) are available from the Safety
dry chemical fire
Department and Safety can provide on-site training and consultation regarding safe
extinguisher, but
wasn't successful. practices and engineering controls for spills / releases and recommended spill control
Swept fire into materials tailored to specific situations. Some of the most important response
plastic bucket and information includes:
poured water on ¸ Know where laboratory equipment shutoff switches are located
fire. Fire flared up.
Fire extinguished
¸ Know the location of the nearest eyewash, safety shower, fire pull and type and
with second dry location of fire extinguisher.
chemical fire ¸ Know evacuation routes , include both primary and secondary routes from the
extinguisher. laboratory to the outside of the building.
Issues:
1. fire alarm not
¸ Establish an assembly location where lab personnel can congregate and be
pulled. accounted for and ascertain no one remains in the building.
2. The Third fire this ¸ Establish procedures for responses to personal injuries.
student had.
5.2.b Make a Spill Kit
Your laboratory should have stockpiled sufficient quantity of absorbents and other
materials to control any spill that can be reasonably anticipated. Annex 5-1
discusses spill cleanup and the supplies needed for response. Remember, you want
Stock spill-control to be capable of responding to a spill of your largest container. Some labs use
supplies near your Particularly Hazardous Substances. Use of these substances requires approval and
lab.
development of a spill plan. Other labs have special hazards (e.g., Hydrofluoric
acid, mercury, etc.). Response to these agents is discussed separately, at the end of

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 Emergency Procedures 129

this chapter. The general requirement is to protect yourself while you absorb /
neutralize the spilled material and then clean the spill. Thus, items you will need in
a spill response kit include:
F Personal protective equipment
¸ 2 pair of chemical splash goggles
¸ 2 pair of gloves (e.g., Silver shield, Nitrile, etc., a universal glove)
¸ 2 pair of shoe covers
¸ 2 plastic or Tyvek aprons and/or Tyvek suits
F Absorbent materials
¸ Absorbent pillows / powders (e.g., 3M Powersorb or other commercial
products)
¸ Activated carbon (good for organic solvents)
¸ Floor-dry / Oil-dry (inexpensive absorbent, the Safety Department can give
you a gallon container of this material).
F Neutralizing materials
¸ Acid neutralizer
¸ Caustic neutralizer (e.g., Neutrasorb [for acids] and Neutracit-2 [for bases]
include a color change substance to indicate complete neutralization)
¸ Solvent neutralizer (e.g., solusorb, activated carbon) to reduce vapors and
raise the flash point of the mixture
F Cleanup equipment
¸ Polypropylene scoop or dust pan
¸ broom or brush with polypropylene bristles
¸ 2 five (5) gallon polypropylene pails
¸ 2 polypropylene bags
¸ sealing tape
¸ pH test papers
¸ Sign: Danger Chemical Spill - Keep Away

5.2.c Assessing Spills

Some spills are easy. You look at them and they are obviously trivial. Some are
more complicated or contain materials which may be difficult for you to clean up.
How to gauge the magnitude of a spill? Quantity is one quick guideline:
Category Size Response Treatment Materials
Small < 300 mlH chemical treatment neutralization or absorption
or absorption spill kit
Medium 300 ml - 5 L absorption absorption spill kit
Large > 5 liters call 911 outside help
A small / medium
spill:
H
about the size of a can of cola
wdoesn't spread A small- or medium-sized spill is one that does not spread rapidly, does not
rapidly
endanger people or property except by direct contact, and does not endanger the
wdoesn't endanger
people or property
environment outside the building. University policy is that the persons causing
except by direct simple spills are responsible for cleaning the spill to the extent of their abilities.
contact. Researchers and supervisors should train all their workers to clean such spills. A
wdoesn't endanger simple spill can be neutralized, absorbed, or otherwise managed by the user(s) of the
the environment chemical. No notification of emergency responders is necessary for simple spills,
outside the (i.e., you don't need to call 911). However, the Safety Department should be notified
building.

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130 Emergency Procedures

and Safety Department personnel are always available for advice and assistance.
Emergency phone numbers posted in labs include Safety Department personnel's
home phone numbers.
All other spills or releases should be considered large spills / major emergencies.
Major chemical spills or releases are handled by the Madison Fire Department's
Hazardous Incident Team (HITeam). Your call to UW Police (i.e., 911) will
summon them. They have self-contained breathing apparatus and other protective
equipment that allows safe entry into the hazardous area.
w Even a small amount of spilled flammable liquid or reactive substance presents a
fire hazard. Labs contain many spark sources. Do not hesitate to evacuate, notify
It is better to be UW Police and pull the fire alarm if you are unsure of the spill's fire potential.
safe than sorry;
when in doubt, w Any uncontained chemical that can disperse fumes, gases, or dusts may be
get out! hazardous to your health and the health of those around you. If you suspect that
the spill released an acute respiratory hazard, evacuate the area. If others in the
area could be exposed to the chemical, evacuate the area or building and follow
the major emergency procedures.
w If anyone is injured or contaminated, notify UW Police and begin first aid.

5.3 Major (i.e., High Hazard) Emergencies

Major emergencies are those emergency situations that pose an high hazard such as
an immediate threat to health, property or the environment. Major emergencies,
such as large spills and releases of hazardous materials, are emergency situations
which normally require the assistance of outside specialists such as UW Police, the
Major emergencies Madison Fire Department or the Fire Department's Hazardous Incident (Response)
include:
Team (HIT). OSHA defines major emergencies as situations that:
• Most fires and
explosions w require evacuation of employees in the area
• Spills or releases
that threaten to
w require response from outside the immediate release area
spread to other w the release poses, or has the potential to pose, conditions that are immediately
areas dangerous to life and health
• Injuries that w the release poses a serious threat of fire and explosion
require medical
w require immediate attention due to imminent danger
attention
• Any emergency w the release may cause high levels of exposure to toxic substances
that requires w the worker is uncertain that he / she can handle the severity of the hazard with the
evacuation PPE and equipment that has been provided and the exposure limit might easily be
exceeded
w the situation is unclear or data is lacking regarding important factors
Thus, emergencies that require the evacuation of a building (or a floor or a wing of a
building) are high hazard emergencies.
It is best to err on the side of caution. What begins as a small spill could escalate
into a major emergency. If you do not know the nature of the emergency, if you are
uncertain about how to handle the emergency or if the situation changes beyond your
control, proceed with the High Hazard Emergencies procedures, below.
Provide clear and
complete
5.3.a Responding to Major Emergencies
information to ¸ Notify your supervisor and call UW Police (911 or 9-911):
emergency w Identify yourself and the reason you are calling.
responders. w Identify the exact location (building address, room number) of the emergency.

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 Emergency Procedures 131

w Identify the nature of the emergency, any injuries or symptoms involved, and
the identity of any hazardous materials involved if you know them.
¸ For situations that threaten fire or explosion, and spills in which hazardous vapors
are present:
wEvacuate the area and tell others to evacuate.
wClose, but do not lock doors behind you to isolate the area.
wIf you have time to do so safely, close fume hood sashes.
wIf you have time to do so safely, post a sign to warn others not to enter the
area.
w Call UW Police from a safe location nearby.
¸ If fire, smoke, gases or vapors are spreading to other areas:
w Pull the fire alarm to evacuate the building.
w Call UW Police from a remote location and inform them of the spill.
w Be available to advise emergency response personnel by identifying yourself
when they arrive. Someone responsible for that room or building should be
present to provide details of the incident to emergency responders. This
individual should be able to identify the types and quantities of chemicals
stored there, and their locations within the rooms.
Be prepared for
emergencies; 5.3.b Fires
know the locations Be prepared for fires. Participate in the annual building evacuation drills. Know
of your nearest
exits and
where your emergency exits and nearest fire alarms are. Call Safety to sign up for
fire extinguishers. fire extinguisher training. Your ability to respond quickly and competently with the
appropriate fire extinguisher can keep a minor flame from turning into a major
conflagration.
In the event of a fire, pull the fire alarm first. Then, if you have been trained and
In the event of a the fire is very small (e.g., no bigger than a wastepaper basket), attempt to extinguish
fire, pull the fire the fire with an appropriate fire extinguisher. If you manage to completely
alarm first. extinguish the fire, inform UW Police.

These campus
fire extinguishers... colored ...are good for fighting fires involving:
Class ABC red Normal combustibles (paper, wood, and
Dry Chemical rubbish), flammable liquids and electrical fires
Class BC red Flammable liquids and electrical fires
Carbon Dioxide, HalonH
Class A WaterH silver Dry combustibles, such as paper,
wood and rubbish fires
Find the nearest fire
extinguisher. What Class D Dry Powder yellow Alkali metals, such as sodium, potassium,
kind of fire is it (NaCl) lithium and other alkali metals
capable of
extinguishing?
H
very few of these extinguishers are found on campus.

If you decide to fight the fire, do so from a position where you can escape. A fire
contained in a small vessel can usually be suffocated by covering the vessel with a
lid. While attempting to control the fire, continually assess the situation. If you
Fire prevention is doubt your ability to quickly extinguish the fire with an extinguisher, get out of the
discussed in building. If possible, prior to evacuation shut down any equipment that may add fuel
Chapter 4, to the fire. Do not turn off any hoods in the immediate area as they will work to

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132 Emergency Procedures

keep the area free from smoke and flames, but close the door behind you to help
prevent the fire's spread. When you evacuate, move well away from the building to
allow firefighters room to work. Move upwind of the building. Do not reenter the
building until permission is given by the Fire Department.

5.3.c Explosions
Chapter 4 and Many experiments release tremendous amounts of energy. There are many fuel
Appendix B of the
Guide contain
sources in a lab that can aggravate the situation. An explosion (not just a pop) is a
information about High Hazard Emergency. Beware of secondary explosions, fires, and spills or
preventing releases of toxic chemicals due to glass container damage triggered by the first blast.
explosions. Stay clear of windows that may shatter.

5.4 Skin Contamination and Injuries

Note: Hydrofluoric acid requires special precautions because of its unique hazards.
While we have included information here for completeness, see Section 5.6 if
you work with hydrofluoric acid.
Work with potentially hazardous chemicals may lead to contamination and injury.
Workers should be aware of signs and symptoms associated with chemical
intoxication and if an employee or student develops such signs or symptoms, they
should be offered the opportunity to receive an appropriate medical examination. If
Be prepared. Take a spill, leak, explosion, or other occurrence results in the likelihood of a hazardous
a Red Cross first chemical exposure, affected workers should be given an opportunity for a medical
aid class. consultation to determine whether there is a need for a medical examination.
Regardless of an injury's magnitude, all injured persons should seek medical
advice and attention. If you have been trained to administer first aid, you can help
treat minor injuries or help direct interim first aid measures until medical personnel
can take over. Prompt action to notify emergency responders and appropriate first
aid attention is important to someone who is seriously injured. To transport an
injured person to a local emergency room call UW Police, (911). You may also take
minor accident victims to a local emergency room. The Emergency Room Entrance
at UW Hospital is located on the building's west side near the intersection of
University Bay Drive and Highland Avenue. However, do not move a seriously
injured person unless he or she is in further danger. Also be sure to notify your
supervisor of any injuries, and complete an Occupational Accident or Illness Report
Form.
5.4.a Procedures for Chemical Spill on a Person
Time is crucial in an emergency situation. To react quickly to
skin contamination, know where the nearest eyewash and
safety shower are located and remember, decontamination
removes the source of injury.
For small spills on the skin, flush immediately under
running water for at least 15 minutes. Remove any jewelry
that might contain residue. For small spills with no sign of a
burn, wash the area with soap under warm running water. If
pain returns after the 15-minute flooding, resume flooding the
area. When providing assistance to a victim of chemical
contamination, be sure to use appropriate personal protective
equipment. Some important points:

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 Emergency Procedures 133

w Do not use solvents to wash the skin. These remove the natural protective oils
from the skin and can cause irritation and inflammation. In some cases, washing
with solvents may facilitate absorption of a toxic chemical.
w For flammable solids on the skin, first brush off as much of the solid as possible
and treat as a small spill on the skin.
w For hydrofluoric acid (HF) spills, wash and flush for only 5 minutes and
promptly apply calcium gluconate gel and get immediate medical attention. The
gel helps prevent permanent bone or tissue damage. If no gel is available, rinse
for 15 minutes after contacting 911 for immediate transportation to the emergency
The first 15 room.
seconds are critical
in limiting the For a chemical splash in the eyes, immediately flush the eyes under running
amount of eye
water for 15 minutes, holding the eyes open and rotating the eyeballs. This is best
damage.
done in an eyewash fountain using a properly controlled flow of tepid water that
allows for hands-free cleaning. Hold the eyelids open and move the eye up, down
and sideways to ensure complete coverage. If available in your first aid kit, use an
irrigator loop to thoroughly flush the conjunctiva under the upper eyelid. If no
eyewash fountain is available, lay the victim on his or her back and gently pour
water in the eyes for 15 minutes or until medical personnel arrive. If hydrogen
Consider NOT fluoride is splashed in the eye, flush for five minutes and then irrigate the eye with a
wearing contact 1% solution prepared from the calcium gluconate antidote gel. Get immediate
lenses in the lab. medical attention.
For spills on clothing, immediately remove all contaminated clothing, including
shoes, undergarments and jewelry, while standing under running water or the safety
shower. Chemicals can be absorbed by clothing and continue to present an exposure
Incidents, usually danger. Removing saturated clothing promptly can greatly reduce the severity of a
involving phenol,
where workers
chemical burn. When removing shirts or pullover sweaters, be careful not to
spilled a chemical contaminate the eyes. Cutting off such clothing will help prevent spreading the
on their pants and contamination. To prepare for emergencies, shears (rounded-tip scissors) should be
bypassed the safety available in the first aid kit to allow safe cutting of contaminated clothing. Do not
shower to enter a put contaminated clothing back on, they still contain chemicals. Wash contaminated
restroom to remove
the pants and rinse clothing separately or discard.
the leg. After, they Check the MSDS to see if any delayed effects should be expected, and keep the
put contaminated MSDS with the victim. Call UW Police (i.e., 911) to have the victim taken to the
pants back on. emergency room for medical attention. Be sure to inform emergency personnel of
This resulted in
second degree
the decontamination procedures used prior to their arrival (e.g., flushing for fifteen
burns that could minutes with water). Be certain that emergency room personnel are told exactly
have been what the victim was contaminated with so they can treat the victim accordingly.
prevented.
5.4.b Cryogenic Liquid Spill Procedures
Contact with cryogenic liquids may cause ice crystals to form in tissues under the
spill area, either superficially or more deeply in the fluids and underlying soft
tissues. The first aid procedure for contact with cryogenic liquids is identical to that
for frostbite. Rewarm the affected area as quickly as possible by immersing it in
warm, but not hot, water (i.e., about 40 /C [102/F - 105/F]). Do not rub the affected
tissues. Do not apply heat lamps or hot water and do not break blisters. Cover the
affected area with a sterile covering and seek assistance as you would for burns.
Remember, large cryogenic liquid spills and spills in enclosed areas may displace
breathable air causing instant unconsciousness without warning.

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134 Emergency Procedures

5.4.c First Aid for Other (Minor) Incidents

First notify UW Remember 911. People often become so involved in the unfolding emergency
Police, then situation they forget that help is a phone call away. Initial response to an emergency
administer first aid,
then seek medical
event is dictated by the emergency. Evaluate any situation before attempting to give
attention for the aid. Do not expose yourself to hazardous atmospheres, chemical contact or other
victim. dangers while attempting to give aid. Responses to some common potential
laboratory incidents are described below:
Chemical inhalation: close containers, open windows and move worker to an
area of fresh air. In extreme situations, resuscitate with rescue breathing if
necessary, and give shock prevention treatment (victim lying down, lightly covered
to preserve body heat and comforted to reduce anxiety). If symptoms such as
headaches, nose or throat irritation, dizziness, or drowsiness persist, seek medical
attention.
Chemical ingestion: Immediately go to the emergency room or call the Poison
Center (2-3702) for advice about poisoning and chemical toxicity. Do not induce
vomiting unless directed to do so by a health care provider.
Thermal Burn: Immerse the burned area in cold water or hold under cold
running water until the pain stops. Cover with a sterile dressing.
Remember, get Bleeding: Hold a clean pad directly on the wound and apply hand pressure. If
medical attention necessary, elevate the bleeding extremity and apply pressure to a pressure point to
for the victim after
reduce blood flow.
administering first
aid. Clothing Fire: Put out burning clothing or hair by dousing the victim in a safety
shower or other water source, or by smothering the fire with a cotton lab coat or fire
blanket. If a safety shower or fire blanket are unavailable, have the victim roll on
the floor to put out the flames.
Always get medical attention for the victim after administering first aid and
report the incident to the laboratory manager, supervisor or principal investigator.

5.5 Small or Simple Spills

A small (or simple or incidental), spill is one that does not pose a significant safety
or health hazard to employees in the immediate vicinity nor does it have the
potential to become an emergency within a short time frame. Lab workers are
qualified to clean up small spills because they are expected to be familiar with the
hazards of the chemicals they normally handle and they should be able to assess
A small / medium
spill: what level of emergency response is necessary.
wdoesn't spread At a minimum, persons spilling chemicals and persons discovering chemical
rapidly spills are responsible for assessing the spill and notifying UW Police or the Safety
wdoesn't endanger Department. Campus chemical users are responsible for cleanup of simple spills and
people or property the Madison Fire Department's Hazardous Incident Team is responsible for
except by direct responding to more serious spills. Each lab is responsible for cleaning their spills.
contact.
Generally speaking, spills that require involvement of individuals outside the lab
wdoesn't endanger
the environment
would be those that exceed normal exposures and may include spills which have
outside the become emergency situations because the spill event is beyond the lab worker's level
building. of training and experience. While the Safety Department does not normally clean
simple chemical spills, they are always available for on-site advice and can
occasionally loan spill cleanup supplies. Some spills may require special equipment.
Special procedures are outlined below for hydrofluoric and mercury spills.

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 Emergency Procedures 135

5.5.c Personal Protective Equipment for Spill Cleanup

Remember, cleaning up a spill may be potentially more hazardous than routinely
working with the same substance simply because you have no control over the
environment. Insure you wear personal protective equipment.
Contact lenses may Eye Protection: Safety glasses are the absolute minimum for working in a
risk eye injury in laboratory or cleaning up spills of hazardous materials; for corrosive and/or reactive
certain spill materials, goggles or a face shield are also necessary.
situations. Skin Protection: All personnel in laboratories should at least be wearing a lab
coat. If splashing is a possibility, an apron should be worn as well.
Spill response Gloves are very important to protect your hands. A pair of heavy nitrile, butyl, or
concept: neoprene gloves and one box of disposable polyethylene gloves are recommended
1. Notify others for each person involved in a cleanup. Plan on at least two people per cleanup.
2. Attend to any Since some chemicals may go through even heavy nitrile, butyl, or neoprene gloves,
injuries.
3. Identify the
you should refer to the glove compatibility table in Chapter 4 of this Guide to choose
spilled chemical. the best glove for your work. The Safety Department is available for consultation on
4. Assess the spill glove selection. Boots or shoe covers may be necessary for large liquid spills.
(i.e., major or We do not recommend that you use respirators because if your spill results in the
minor).
generation of toxic vapors or gasses, it is a high-hazard emergency. You should
5. Clean up.
evacuate and let the trained professionals of the Madison Fire Department's
Small liquid spill: Hazardous Incident Team handle the spill. You should not use a respirator unless
1. Notify all you have been trained, medically evaluated and fit-tested.
workers.
2. Confine the spill
5.5.d Responding to Small Spills
3. Wear protective
clothing Immediately warn / notify all persons nearby. Then turn off any ignition sources
4. Place absorbent such as burners, motors, and other spark-producing equipment.
or neutralizer on If this is a major spill that constitutes a high hazard emergency, leave the room
spill and close the door if possible. Call UW Police (9-1-1) to report the hazardous
material spill. University Police will contact the Madison Fire Department to alert
emergency response personnel.
Annex 5-1 outlines chemical spill response and cleanup. These procedures are
Small dry spill: relatively common and the process is described in most documents. The concept is
1. Notify all to absorb small spills with paper towels or other absorbents (e.g., Floor Dry, Kitty
workers. Litter, etc.). Remember, these materials can increase the surface area and
2. Confine the spill
evaporation rate, increasing the potential fire hazard if the material is flammable and
3. Wear protective
clothing the airborne concentration reaches the flammability level.
4. Dampen spilled Alert persons in the area that a spill has occurred. This will insure that the lab's
materials, use attention can be focused on the immediate issue, cleanup.
care to not make Is this a major or minor spill? Evaluate the toxicity, flammability, and other
an aerosol (use
water or oil if
hazardous properties of the chemical as well as the size and location of the spill
reaction possible (e.g., chemical fume hood or elevator) to determine whether evacuation or additional
5. Plan the clean up assistance is necessary. Large or toxic spills are high hazard emergencies (see 5.2).
& decontaminate. Prevent the spread of contamination and contain any volatile material within a room
6. Report to your
by keeping doors closed. Increase exhaust efficiency by minimizing sash height of
supervisor.
the chemical fume hood.
Consult your MSDS, the laboratory emergency plan, procedures in this guide, or
call the Safety Department for correct cleaning procedures.
Wear protective equipment (e.g., goggles, apron, laboratory coat, gloves, shoe
covers). Base the selection of the equipment on the hazard.

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136 Emergency Procedures

First, cordon off the spill area to prevent inadvertently spreading the
contamination over a much larger area. Then absorb liquid spills using paper towels,
Spills should be
spill pillows, Floor Dry, vermiculite or sand. Place the spill pillow over the spill and
inactivated in situ or draw the free liquid into the pillow. Sprinkle Floor Dry or sand over the surface of
be absorbed by the free liquid. Place the used pillows or absorbent materials in plastic bags for
appropriate disposal along with contaminated disposable protective equipment (e.g., gloves).
methods
Neutralize spills of corrosives and absorb, if appropriate. Sweep up waste and place
in plastic bags for disposal. Remember, the equipment you used to clean up the
spill will be contaminated and should either be cleaned / decontaminated or disposed
along with the spilled material.
Complete a white Surplus Chemical form and notify the Safety Department to
pick up the wastes. Complete an report describing the spill response and send a copy
to the Safety Department.
Remember, call Safety if you have any questions of how to respond to a minor
spill. Major spills should be reported first via 9-1-1.

Hydrofluoric acid 5.6 Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) Spills

(HF) rapidly As noted above, hydrofluoric acid requires special considerations. Some spill
penetrates deep
pillows cannot be used with hydrofluoric acid (HF). If you use hydrofluoric acid,
into skin tissue, so
avoid getting any you should buy the spill pillows specially made for hydrofluoric acid (e.g., 3M
on your skin or in Powersorb) or to use a neutralizing agent for cleanup. Sodium carbonate, sodium
your eyes. Always bicarbonate and sodium hydroxide are suitable neutralization agents for hydrofluoric
wear an apron, acid. Do not use Floor Dry or other silica based clay products.
gloves and goggles
when using HF. Know the hazards of chemicals involved before handling them. If you work with
HF under any conditions, you need to be aware of its unique health hazards, delayed
action and special treatment requirements.
Always assume containers are contaminated and wear appropriate gloves when
A worker picked up handling chemical containers. If you spill HF on you skin, wash and flush for only 5
a container of minutes and promptly apply a calcium gluconate gel and get immediate medical
trifluoroacetic acid
with her ungloved
attention. The calcium gluconate gel helps prevent permanent bone or tissue
hand to move it. damage. If no gel is available, rinse for 15 minutes and go immediately to the
She did not notice a emergency room.
small amount of If you splash HF in your eye, flush for five minutes and then irrigate the eye with
residue on the
a 1% solution prepared from the calcium gluconate antidote gel.
glass. Several
hours later, she felt
pain in the palm of 5.7 Mercury Spills
her hand and on Mercury is the single most spilled chemical on campus. It presents a special
her thumb. The
result was a serious
problem because of the difficulty in picking up the tiny droplets and the hazards of
burn that required undetected residues. Metallic mercury remaining in cracks and crevices will give off
skin grafting. toxic vapors for years.
Prevention is the best way to handle mercury spills. Trays should be used under
equipment wherever a mercury spill is possible.
Never use a regular Wear gloves when cleaning up mercury spills. Although the main exposure route
vacuum cleaner to
pick up spills of is through inhalation, it can also be absorbed through the skin.
liquid mercury.
Small Mercury Spills
Some mercury is
picked up, but most Small mercury spills are spills of less than 5 milliliters. First, pick up glass or other
of it gets dispersed large debris, then pick up the spilled metallic mercury. You can use a side arm flask
into the air. connected to a vacuum pump or sink aspirator to vacuum up small beads.

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 Emergency Procedures 137

Alternatively, you can consolidate the spill by using a thin piece of cardboard or
plastic. The mercury can be pushed onto another thin piece of cardboard or plastic
and transferred into the disposal container. Use mercury spill powder, mercury
absorbent paper or mercury sponges to decontaminate the area and clean up spill
residues. A recipe for mercury spill powder is provided on the next page.
Commercial kits and equipment are available for mercury spills.
Put the mercury into an airtight container labeled, "Waste Mercury" (scintillation
vials work well). Debris that cannot be cleaned should be sent to the Safety
Department using the white Surplus Chemicals form. Glassware and other debris
that are clean (no visible mercury) may be discarded in the normal trash.
Broken Mercury Thermometers
Put the mercury in an airtight container labeled "Waste Mercury" or carefully wrap
the sharp ends of the broken thermometer and place in a plastic bag, wide-mouth jar
or other puncture resistant container. Refer to procedures in Chapter 7, Chemical
Disposal Procedures, for disposal instructions.
Large Mercury Spills
A spill of more than For mercury spills greater than 5 ml, including manometer and barometer spills, call
5 ml is a large the Safety Department. The Safety Department has a mercury vacuum cleaner and
mercury spill. will help you clean the spill. Close off and post the area to prevent mercury or
vapors from spreading. Safety can also meter the air after a large spill to verify that
airborne levels of mercury have been reduced to an acceptable level.
Mercury Spill Powder
Hg Spill Powder You can make your own mercury spill powder to clean up mercury spills: Mix 85
grams of finely powdered Sodium Thiosulfate with 15 grams of finely powdered
w85 gm sodium EDTA. Follow this procedure to clean up a spill:
thiosulfate powder
w15 gm EDTA 1. Pick up all the large drops of mercury using an aspirator or other means.
powder
2. Sprinkle the powder on the spill area, wet it down with a water mist (pump
operated spray bottles work well for this).
3. Let it sit overnight.
4. Depending on what is being cleaned up the powder can be swept up or mopped
up.
5. Dispose of the resultant powder according to Chapter 7, Chemical Disposal
Procedures. Residue from mopping can be discarded down the sanitary sewer.

5.8 Review Questions

1. It's an emergency! Who should you call?

a. The Safety Department. b. UW Police: 911.
c. The Federal Emergency Management Agency. d. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

2. High hazard chemical emergencies (such as large spills, releases or fires) on the UW-Madison
campus are handled by:
a. Whoever caused it.
b. UW Safety Department.
c. Madison Fire Department's Hazardous Incident Team.
d. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

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138 Emergency Procedures

3. A fire alarm is used to:

a. Evacuate a building in case of a fire.
b. Evacuate a building in case of any emergency requiring evacuation.
c. Shut down a building's ventilation system to prevent spread of fire, smoke, or hazardous vapors.
d. All of the above.

4. You have a Class BC fire extinguisher. What kind of fire is it not appropriate for?
a. Normal combustibles, such as paper, wood and rubbish.
b. Flammable liquids.
c. Electrical fires.
d. Alkali metals, such as sodium or potassium metal.
e. a and d.

5. You're using an acidic solution in a repipettor dispenser. The delivery tube pops off and squirts your
eye with the acidic solution. The correct response is:
a. Go to the nearest eyewash station and flush your eye for at least 15 minutes.
b. Go to an emergency room for medical attention.
c. Use a basic solution to neutralize the acid.
d. a then b.

6. You've knocked a 1-liter glass container of a liquid chemical off of the counter in your lab, spilling
the contents all over the floor. The correct response is to:
a. Pull the fire alarm.
b. Determine the chemical spilled, notify your supervisor, then call Safety for advice on how to clean
it up.
c. Call Safety and ask them to come and clean it up for you.
d. Don't worry about it and continue on with your work.

7. You've knocked a small bottle of a pyrophoric chemical from the hood where you were working into
a nearby wastepaper basket. It bursts into flames. The correct response is to:
a. Pick up the flaming trash can and put it in the sink, where you can turn on the faucet to put out the
fire.
b. Pull the fire alarm / call 911, then attempt to extinguish the fire with your lab's fire extinguisher if
the fire is small and you believe you can extinguish it.
c. Pull the fire alarm and run out of the building.
d. Pick up the flaming trash can and put it in the hood, and close the sash and turn off the hood's fan.
Then allow the fire to burn out.

8. Your mercury manometer fell over and shattered, spilling the contents onto the carpeting in your lab.
The correct response is to:
a. Vacuum it up with a Hoover.
b. Clean it up with the Shop-vac.
c. Pull the fire alarm and run out of the building.
d. Close off the room, post warning signs and call Safety.

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 Emergency Procedures 139

9. The Madison Fire Department provides the following services to campus:

a. Fire fighting in case of a fire in campus buildings.
b. Response to a hazardous material spill or release, including use of special personal protective
equipment and clothing for safe entry into a hazardous area.
c. Emergency medical transport of injured persons to a local emergency room via their ambulance.
d. Inspecting campus buildings to prevent fires.
e. All of the above.

10. Which of the following describes a simple spill?

a. A simple spill does not spread rapidly.
b. A simple spill does not endanger people or property except by direct contact.
c. A simple spill does not endanger the environment outside the building.
d. A simple spill can be neutralized, absorbed, or otherwise managed by the user(s) of the chemical.
e. All of the above.

11. The proper response for hydrofluoric acid spills on skin or eyes:
a. Wash and flush for only 5 minutes.
b. Use calcium gluconate gel (1% solution if in eyes).
c. Seek medical care.
d. All of the above.

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140 Emergency Procedures

Annex 5-1. Chemical Spill Cleanup Procedures & Response Supplies

Step Supplies Needed
1. Control the spread of the liquid. Make a dike w Absorbent material (e.g. paper towels, oil-dry, cat
around the liquid by placing absorbents or pillows litter, spill booms and pillows).
at the outside edges of the spill.

2. Treatment is optional, but preferable, for acids and w For acids: sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate or
bases. Spills of most acids or bases, once sodium bicarbonate.
neutralized, can be mopped up and rinsed down the w For bases: citric acid powder.
drain. A neutralizing spill absorber greatly w pH paper to indicate when spills of acids and bases
simplifies cleanup and disposal. have been neutralized.
w Specific agent: call Safety Department for advice.
3. Absorption: Add the absorbents to the spill, w Absorbent material such as: paper towels, cat litter
working from the outer edges toward the center. or Floor / Oil Dry (available from Stores),
diatomaceous earth, or vermiculite, are relatively
inexpensive and work well, although they are
messy. A 25 pound bag of oil-dry will be sufficient
for a one gallon solvent spill.
w Spill control pillows are an alternative way to absorb
solvents, acids, and bases and are available from
commercial suppliers.
w Activated carbon is an excellent adsorbent for
solvents and especially odorous organic chemicals.

4. Recovery and Containment for Disposal: The w Plastic bag, jar, bottle, jug or plastic pail.
neutralized spill residue or the absorbent should be w Forceps (to pick up broken glass), broom, shovel,
scooped or swept up into a 5 gallon plastic bucket, dust pan.
jar, or other container. For dry powders or liquids w Mop and bucket.
absorbed to dryness, you can double bag the
residue into plastic bags (clear plastic bags are best)
and place the bags into a box. For spills of
powders or solid materials, either sweep up the
material or add something to lower the dust and/or
the volatility of the material (e.g., sweeping
compound or a spill mix consisting of: calcium
carbonate: oil-dry or kitty litter: and sand - 1:1:1
mix).

5. Decontamination: Ventilation may be necessary. w For most spills, conventional cleaning products
Open windows or use a fan. In some instances, the applied with a mop will decontaminate
Safety Department can test the air in the vicinity of satisfactorily.
where the spill occurred, to see if air concentrations w For toxic chemicals: use a suitable solvent; call
of the chemical have been lowered to an acceptable Safety for advice.
level.

6. Disposal: See instructions on the white Surplus w White Surplus Chemicals forms.
Chemicals Form. The identity of the spilled w Sturdy cardboard boxes.
material and whether it is absorbed or neutralized w Packing material (floor dry, newspaper, bentonite).
should be written on the container and on a white w Packing tape.
Surplus Chemicals form, available from the Safety
Department.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Safety Department (608) 262-8769