Please make sure your lab has the following required postings for reference and that the spill kit is easily accessible. If your laboratory is not able to handle a chemical spill cleanup, 24-hour emergency response support is provided:
Important! When there is a threat to human health, life, or institutional property, call Public Safety at 706-721-2911. Public Safety personnel will contact the departments responsible for managing each situation.
Chemical Safety Office
Health Sciences Campus
Environmental Health & Safety Building
706-721-2663
706-721-9844
Campus Emergency:
706-721-2911
The range and quantity of hazardous substances used in laboratories require pre-planning to respond safely to chemical spills. Spill Kits with instructions, absorbents, reactants, and personal protective equipment (PPE) should be available to clean up minor spills. However, the cleanup of major chemical spills should only be done by knowledgeable and experienced people.
Three (3) factors determine if a hazardous materials spill is a non-emergency or an emergency:
Where is the Spill? If the spill is outside of the laboratory or outside of the area where the material is normally used, and/or there is no trained person available to clean up the spill, you should contact the Chemical Safety Office for assistance.
Note! All laboratory workers or persons using hazardous materials must be trained in how to clean up the materials they are using. Spill Kits are required in all areas where chemicals are used or stored - employees who work in those areas must be trained in how to use the kits and how to activate the emergency response procedure for major chemical spills.
Small spills (< 1 liter and does not present an immediate fire, safety, environmental, or health hazard).
Clean spill area with water.
Large spills (> 1 liter) or highly dangerous (the material presents an immediate fire, safety, environmental, or health hazard, regardless of quantity). Examples: Spills of greater than 1 liter of ethanol, methanol, strong acids or bases or any quantity of highly volatile organics, and mercury compounds.
The contents of the kit should include:
