Spills

The Hazardous Materials Emergency Response plan [PDF] is designed to minimize hazards to human health and the resulting environment from any unplanned release of hazardous materials. This plan outlines the emergency procedures that shall be followed by personnel if hazardous materials are released. EHRS has designed the Hazardous Materials Emergency Response plan [PDF] in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.

Hazardous Material Spill Identification

EHRS separates hazardous material spills in to two categories: Major or Minor.

Major Spills

• Chemical spills greater than 500 milliliters or grams.
• Chemical spills involving any amount of acutely hazardous materials.
• Blood spills greater than 500 milliliters.
• Any amount of Select Agents.
• Any amount of hazardous gases.
• Any amount of mercury and mercury compounds
• Radioactive materials released where the nature of the potential hazard cannot be ascertained, someone is contaminated, the release is in unrestricted areas, there is airborne radioactive materials generated, there are injuries that might involve the material, uptake potential is high, and evacuation of the room or building is necessary. 

Personnel must evacuate the lab and report all major spills to Public Safety Dispatch at 215.895.2222.  

Minor Spills

Small spill that is less than 500 milliliters or grams of non-acutely hazardous materials. An incident involving radioactive material can be considered minor if the following conditions are met:

• The nature and potential hazards are known
• There is no contamination of personnel
• One or two people can clean up the incident in about an hour
• There is no release of radioactive material into unrestricted areas
• There is no airborne radioactive material
• There are no injuries (e.g., lacerations from broken glass) except where radioactive material is not involved and medical attention is not required
• There is no potential uptake of radioactive material

All minor spills must be reported to EHRS the day of the incident.

Review the Laboratory Safety Manual [PDF] or the Hazardous Material Emergency Response Plan [PDF] for specific details on spills.