Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Chemical Spills

If people are directly affected or injured by the spill, address this first.

Render immediate first aid, wash off acid or base with lots of clean water or rinse out with eye wash. Emergency showers/eyewash stations are in most renovated labs. Contact first aiders or medical staff if needed.

Poison Information Centre phone 131126, or 0-000, or website. After hours, ring security ext. 46666.

When handling a chemical spill, a laboratory coat, gloves, safety glasses and closed in footwear MUST be worn as the minimum requirement. Information on appropriate glove selection is available. Chemical spill kits are available (see below for details on their use). Complete an incident report form, and hand it to the Departmental Manager.

Liquid Spill

If the chemical is highly toxic, or toxic fumes are released:

    1. EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY.
    2. Notify your supervisor, the Department Manager and the Safety Officer.
    3. The Safety Officer will supervise / organise a clean up
    4. Information on exposure to toxic fumes is available

If toxic fumes are not released:

    1. Contain the spill by covering it with the appropriate material stored in each chemical spill kit station, located in the corridor of each floor (Green BDH cases labelled 'Spill Kit'). See below for detailed instructions on the use of these kits.
    2. Place either absorbent material, a towel, paper towel or "rag on a roll" over the spill to prevent it from running under appliances, cupboards, etc.
    3. Notify the Safety Officer, the Departmental Manager and your supervisor.
    4. Use a broom and a mop to collect the wet material into a bag or container for disposal. Use more absorbent material or paper towel to ensure all liquid is soaked up.
    5. Arrange with the Safety Officer or the Departmental Manager for the appropriate means of disposal of the waste.

Solid Spill

Most solid spills can be swept into a bag or container, which should then be sealed and labelled for disposal.
Notify the Safety Officer or the Departmental Manager to organise the appropriate means of disposal.

Mercury Spill

Mercury (Hg) spills are usually derived from broken thermometers. Wearing gloves, scoop up the mercury using paper and place in a small sealable container, along with the remnants of the thermometer. Label the container "Mercury Waste" and add your lab name and department close (= 526). Dispose of in the Waste Area of the 6th floor.

Chemical Spill Kits

The chemical spill kit is a removable green plastic suitcase mounted on the wall on each floor in the corridor.

  1. SAFETY FIRST
    • Isolate spill area
    • Notify supervisor/Safety Officer
    • Wear adequate protection
      • eyes
      • hands
      • respiratory
  2. IDENTIFY SPILL (use Material Safety Data Sheets, labels, etc.)
    • acid
    • caustic
    • solvent
    • other
  3. SELECT CLEAN UP AGENT
    • Spill X-A for acid
    • Spill X-C for caustic
    • Spill-X-S for solvent
  4. TREAT SPILL
    • encircle/cover with agent
    • mix agent into spill
  5. RESTORE AREA
    • clean up
    • label
    • proper disposal
  6. REFILL SPILL KIT WITH CONSUMABLES AVAILABLE FROM STORES
  7. COMPLETE INCIDENT REPORT

 

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