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EMERGENCY CONDITIONS and BASIC STAFF RESPONSE

UCSF Medical Center & Children's Hospital

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPILLS

Clear the immediate spill area	Leave the immediate area. Do not step in the spilled material as you leave Alert others in the immediate area of the spill.
Secure the spill area	Put up warning signs or caution tape or close the door. Restrict access to staff who are trained to clean up the spill.
Assist injured or contaminated persons.	Remove injured person from exposure if safe to do so. If splashed with a hazardous material, flush skin/eyes with water for 15 minutes. Send exposed persons to Employee Health Service or the Emergency Department for medical evaluation.
Identify the spilled material.	If not immediately known, either (1) check the label on different container of the same material; or (2) refer to MSDS. If you do NOT know what is spilled, STOP and call 9+911 (911 from non-campus phones) and report a chemical spill to have the Spill Response Team clean it up. If you can identify the material as one listed in the following pages and can safely clean it up, proceed as described below.
Avoid excessive exposure	If you are exposed to excessive levels of vapors, STOP and call 9+911 and report a chemical spill.
Gather spill control supplies	Retrieve spill control supplies from the nearest spill kit or supply location before starting clean up activities.
Put on protective clothing	Put on gloves, lab coat and/or apron, safety goggles, and foot covers. Avoid breathing vapors from spilled material. Keep the material off of your skin, clothing and shoes during cleanup. Do not touch or walk through spilled material.
Clean up the spill.	Stop the leak only if you can do so without risk. Use spill kits identified on the following pages. Circle the spill. Use absorbent or pads to surround the spill the spill and prevent the spread of spilled material. Limit the spill to the smallest area possible. Cover the spill. Work from the perimeter of the spill toward to center and over the spill with absorbent or pads. DO NOT ADD WATER. Wipe up or absorb the spill.
Final clean the spill area	Wash the spill area with soap and water. Repeat 3 times. If a blood or body fluid was spilled, disinfect with a disinfectant.
Collect the waste.	Collect residue, place in a waste container, label with appropriate information and dispose of as directed. Dispose of used absorbent material and disposable personal protective equipment as hazardous waste.
Wash yourself	Wash hands, face and other exposed parts of your body that may have been contaminated during cleanup.
Dispose of the waste.	Call Office of Environmental Health & Safety at 476-1300 for waste pick up. Follow the standard hazardous waste disposal requirements.

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• ALWAYS CALL 9+911 FOR SPILLS OF THE FOLLLOWING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS:
MERCURY * ETHYLENE OXIDE * DIESEL FUEL * ALL LARGE SPILLS * SPILLS OF UNKOWN MATERIAL
• Take care of injured or exposed persons first. If splashed, flush exposed area with water for 15 minutes. Go to the Emergency Room for medical evaluation.
Do NOT clean up the spill if: you do not know what spilled, you need to wear a respirator or you cannot safely clean it up. Call 9+911 for spill response team.
To clean up a VERY SMALL spill: Wear gloves, gown, lab coat or apron. Wipe up with absorbent pad.
• See MSDS for more information.

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Hazardous Material	Examples	Clean Up Procedure	Protective Clothing and Equipment	Physical Characteristics	Possible Health Effects During Spill Clean Up
Acids [Up to 250 ml.] or 1 cup	• Hydrochloric acid • Nitric acid • Sulfuric acid	Small spill: Follow small spill clean up procedure. Use supplies for acids. Dispose of as chemical waste.	• Goggles • Chemical resistant gloves • Gown, lab coat or apron • Shoe covers, as needed	• Liquid or powder • Corrosive • Some evaporation if a liquid • Some acids react with water	• If inhaled: Irritation to nose and throat. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation and redness. • If concentrated acid: Chemical burns to skin and eyes.
Alcohols [Up to 500 ml.] or 1 pint	• Ethanol • Isopropyl alcohol • Methanol	Small spill: Follow small spill cleanup procedure. Use supplies for solvents. Dispose of as chemical waste.	• Goggles • Chemical resistant gloves • Gown, lab coat or apron • Shoe covers, as needed	• Liquid • Flammable • Some evaporation	• If inhaled: Irritation to nose and throat. Headaches, dizziness and drowsiness. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation and redness
Anesthetic gases [Drips and splashes]	• Enthrane • Halothane • Isoflurane • Sevorflurane • Suprane	Small spill: If possible, evacuate room. Allow to evaporate and increase ventilation to remove vapors from room.	• Gloves • Gown	• Liquid • Rapid evaporation	• If inhaled: Irritation to nose and throat. Dizziness and drowsiness. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation and redness. • Possible reproductive effects.
Bleach [Up to 1 gallon]	• Clorox • Sodium Hypochlorite	Small spill: Follow small spill clean up procedure, as applicable. Spill can be wiped or mopped up.	• Goggles • Gloves • Gown, lab coat ,or apron • Shoe covers, as needed	• Liquid • Oxidizer • Some evaporation	• If inhaled: Irritation to nose and throat. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation and redness.
Body and body fluids [Up to 250 ml.] or 1 cup		Small spill: Follow small spill clean up procedure for Blood and Body Fluids. Dispose of as chemical waste.	• Gloves • Gown, lab coat, or apron • Shoe covers, as needed	• Liquid	• Hepatitis B • Hepatitis C • HIV • Other bloodborne pathogens
Caustics (Bases) [Up to 250 ml.] or 1 cup	• Potassium hydroxide • Sodium hydroxide	Small spill: Follow small spill cleanup procedure. Use supplies for caustics. Dispose of as chemical waste.	• Goggles • Chemical resistant gloves • Gown, lab coat, or apron • Shoe covers, as needed	• Liquid • Corrosive • Some evaporation	• If inhaled: Irritation to nose and throat. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation and redness. • If concentrated caustics: Chemical burns to skin and eyes.
Chemotherapy [Up to 250 ml.] or 1 cup		Small spill: Follow small spill clean up procedure. Use Chemotherapy Spill Kit. Dispose of as chemical waste.	• Goggles • Gloves • Gown, lab coat, or apron • Shoe covers, as needed	• Liquid • Some chemotherapy is corrosive • Some evaporation	• If inhaled: Irritation to nose and throat. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation and redness. • Long-term exposure may cause cancer.
Cleaners and Disinfectants [Up to 1 gallon]	• A-428-N • Cavicide • Sheet Magic • Stat III • Vivid	Small spill: Follow small spill clean up procedure, as applicable. Spill can be wiped or mopped up.	• Goggles • Gloves • Gown, lab coat, or apron	• Liquid • Some evaporation	• If inhaled: Irritation to nose and throat. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation and redness.
Formalin [Up to 250 ml.] or 1 cup	• 10 % Formalin	Small spill: Follow small spill clean up procedure. Use supplies for alde-hydes. Dispose of as chemical waste.	• Goggles • Chemical-resistant gloves • Gown, lab coat, or apron • Shoe covers, as needed	• Liquid • Some evaporation	• If inhaled: Very irritating to nose and throat. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation and redness. • Long-term exposure may cause cancer.
Formaldehyde [Up to 100 ml.]	• 37 % Formaldehyde	Small spill: Follow small spill clean up procedure. Use supplies for alde-hydes; Dispose of as chemical waste.	• Goggles • Chemical-resistant gloves • Gown, lab coat, or apron • Shoe covers, as needed	• Liquid • Some evaporation	• If inhaled: Very irritating to nose and throat. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation and redness. • Long-term exposure may cause cancer.
Glutaraldehyde [Up to 250 ml.]	• Cidex • Metricide • Wavicide	Small spill; follow small spill cleanup procedure Use supplies for alde-hydes; Dispose of as chemical waste.	• Goggles resistant gloves • Gown, lab coat, or apron • Shoe covers, as needed	• Liquid • Some evaporation	• If inhaled: Very irritating to nose and throat. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation and redness.
Nitrogen, Liquid		Evacuate room. Allow liquid to evaporate and increase ventilation to remove nitrogen-rich air	• Thick gloves • Lab coat	• Liquid • Very cold • Rapid evaporation • Displaces oxygen if used in room with poor ventilation	• Freezes skin upon contact. • If poor ventilation in room: headaches and dizziness. May collapse.
Photographic Fixer and Developer [1 gallon]	• Merry X-Ray Developer • Merry X-Ray Fixer	Circle spill with pads or booms to limit spread of liquid and block flow into floor drains. Dispose as chemical waste	• Goggles • Chemical resistant gloves • Gown, lab coat or apron • Shoe covers, as needed	• Liquid	• If inhaled: Irritation to nose and throat. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation and redness.
Resins [Up to 250 ml. or 1 cup for activator and up to 500 ml. or 1 pint for resin]	• Epoxies •Isocynanates • Methyl methacrylate	Small spill: Follow small spill clean up procedure. Use supplies for solvents. Dispose of as chemical waste.	• Goggles • Chemical resistant gloves • Gown, lab coat, or apron • Shoe covers, as needed	• Liquid • Flammable • Activator is an oxidizer • Some evaporation	• If inhaled: Irritation to nose and throat. Headaches, dizziness, and drowsiness. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation and redness. May be severe if exposure to activator occurs.
Solvent [Up to 500 ml. or 1 pint]	• Acetone • Toluene • Xylene	Small spill: follow small spill cleanup procedure Use supplies for solvents; dispose of as chemical waste	• Goggles • Chemical resistant gloves • Gown, lab coat, or apron • Shoe covers, as needed	• Liquid • Flammable • Some evaporation	• If inhaled: Irritation to nose and throat. Headaches,dizziness, and drowsiness. • If on skin or eyes: Irritation.

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPILLS
Page Updated: June 27, 2005

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