INITIAL RESPONSE TO SMALL LABORATORY SPILLS

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INITIAL RESPONSE TO SMALL LABORATORY SPILLS

• Safe and quick response to small laboratory
  spills
• June 15, 2007
• Rob Provost Co-ordinator HWM

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A Little Preparation Goes A Long Way..

• Know the Hazards of the Chemicals you work with
  everyday
• Wear Personal Protective Equipment EVERYTIME you
  handle Chemicals
• Understand and Know the location of the MSDS of
  the Chemicals you handle
• Keep handy SOME Spill Cleanup Supplies

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What is a SMALL SPILL??
The size and cleanup difficulty of the spill can
be determined by several different factors

• Physical state of spill material (ie. Solid,
  Liquid or Gas)
• Quantity of material
• Hazards of the material (Flammable, Corrosive
  or Toxicity)
• Hazardous Conditions Caused by the spill
• Has someone been Contaminated by the spill

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Physical State of Material

• Solid Spills are easier to control and cleanup
  than liquids
• Identified Liquid spills lt 1L can be controlled
  and absorbed with appropriate supplies
• NEVER attempt to stop a stuck or broken gas
  cylinder Evacuate the AREA and Call UofT Police
  978-2222 !

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Spill Quantity

• Any size spill can be cleaned up IF you have the
  right equipment available!
• If possible do enough to prevent progress of
  spill
• Solids spills can be scooped back into a jar or
  beaker
• Liquids can be absorbed with paper towels, bench
  coat or cloth to control it

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Hazards of the Material

• Vapours produced from spills cause the MOST
  hazards, either Toxic or Flammable
• Corrosive Solids and Liquids can react with the
  response materials
• HIGH vapour pressure usually is an indication of
  a volatile liquid
• NEVER response to unknown spill alone

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Conditions Caused by Spill

• Solids or Viscous Liquids can make moving around
  slippery and dangerous
• Location of Spill can make exiting hazardous
• Try not to contaminate clean areas with the spill
  material
• Extinguish any sources of ignition if spill
  contains flammable materials
• Make sure Fume Hoods are running!

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Contamination of Personnel

• First Priority should be given to any people who
  are contaminated
• Removing contaminated clothing to prevent further
  contact
• Flush contaminated area with water for NO less
  than fifteen minutes
• Seek Immediate Medical Attention

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Cleanup Procedures

• STOP - THINK! Do not rush. Carefully plan
  cleanup.
• Attend to any persons who may have been
  contaminated
• Post signs to identify the hazard and control
  access
• Review MSDS for Hazards and Cleanup suggestions
  or consult a Chemical Dictionary hazards
• Determine whether it can be handled safely
• Contact Environmental Protection Services (EPS)
  for Assistance 978-7000
• Eliminate all ignition sources if flammable
  material is involved.
• Turn on fumehoods to capture or direct flow of
  vapours

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Cleanup Procedures contd

• Don personal protective equipment, as appropriate
  to the hazards.
• Try to confine the spill to a small area. Do not
  allow the material to spread.
• Carefully remove other materials, containers,
  equipment from path of the spill.
• Absorb any liquids with absorbent or available
  supplies
• Sweep solids of low toxicity into a dust pan and
  place into container for disposal
• (NOTE Do NOT use BIO or RAD Bags for disposal of
  Chemical Waste)

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Cleanup Procedures contd

• Dispose of all cleanup materials as hazardous
  waste.
• Waste must be properly packaged in a leakproof
  container, sealed and labelled with a hazardous
  waste label.
• Handle the waste the same way you would any other
  chemical waste produced from your lab.
• Then report the incident to supervisor and
  Environmental Health and Safety and to the local
  joint health and safety committee. Use the
  "Accident/Incident/Occupational Disease Report"
  form.

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Response Chart
Spill State Gas / Liquid / Solid

• Hazard
• Contact

• Hazard
• Contact
• Inhalation

• Hazard
• Contact
• Inhalation

• Protection
• Dust Mask
• Gloves

• Protection
• SCBA
• Encapsulating Suit

• Protection
• Vapour Resp.
• Gloves, Boots, Coveralls

• Containment
• Sweep

• Containment
• Vent remove

• Containment
• Neutralize Absorb

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Cleanup Techniques

• Protect floor drains or other means for
  environmental release. Spill socks and absorbents
  may be placed around drains, as needed.
• Contain and clean-up the spill with the
  appropriate material.
• Loose spill control materials should be
  distributed over the entire spill area, working
  from the outside, circling to the inside. This
  reduces the chance of splash or spread of the
  spilled chemical.
• When spilled materials have been absorbed, use
  brush and scoop to place materials in an
  appropriate container. Polyethylene bags may be
  used for small spills. Five gallon pails may be
  appropriate for larger quantities.

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Spill Cleanup Supplies
Solids
Liquids

• Warning Sign
• Broom and Dustpan
• Disposal Container, any leakproof container
• Hazardous Waste Label

• Warning Sign
• Absorbent material
• Broom and Dustpan
• Disposal Container, any leakproof container
• Hazardous Waste Label

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Already in Lab

• Safety Glasses or Goggles
• Nitrile Gloves
• Lab coat or Apron

Extra Supplies

• Neoprene Gloves
• Shoe Covers
• Respirator

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Mercury Spills

• One of the most common spills at U of T is a
  Mercury Spill. Either from a Thermometer or a
  leak of elemental Mercury.
• Initial Hazard is from contact, wear gloves while
  cleaning
• Use damp cloth or tissue to wipe mercury into
  disposal container or syringe (without sharp) to
  vacuum up droplets
• Be CAREFUL of broken glass if thermometer was
  involved
• Also dispose of any equipment contaminated that
  cannot be properly cleaned
• Should the Mercury persist contact EPS for the
  area to be vacuumed clean

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Leaking Cylinders

• The most dangerous spill situation is a leaking
  or broken gas cylinder, for two reasons. The gas
  contained in the cylinder can be either toxic,
  flammable, corrosive, an asphyxiant or a
  combination of these.
• Initially evacuate the area, have someone contact
  UofT Police 978-2222 while finding someone who
  knows what the cylinder contains
• Try to isolate the area affected by gas through
  ventilation controls, fume hoods and securing
  doors
• Signage of the hazard is important to control
  exposure

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Post Spill Duties

• After the spill is cleaned up and the material
  collected has been labelled and stored for proper
  hazardous disposal, what then?.
• May need to limit access to the area until the
  air has be refreshed
• Reports of the incident should be made to
  Environmental Health and Safety and to the local
  joint health and safety committee
• Notify Caretaking for further cleaning and
  restoring the area affected
• Remove any warning signs from the area
• Restock the supply used !

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Who You Going To Call?
If you cant safely handle the spill CALL

• Environmental Protection Services 978-7000
• Weekdays (8AM to 4PM)
• or
• U of T Police 978-2222
• for After Hours Response
• Please state type of spill, quantity, location,
  contact person and phone number.