Laboratory Spill Response - Chemical, Biological, Radiological

Download of poster available at Lab Spill Procedures 

Chemical Spill

1. Assess the spill.
   1. Is the spill manageable? Is it a minor spill that can easily be cleaned up?  If no:
      • Evacuate lab, restrict area and notify others in the area of the spill.
      • If there is immediate risk to the safety of other people in the building, activate the emergency alarm and evacuate.
      • Dial ext. 2000 and provide campus dispatch with all relevant information.
      • If safe to do so:
        • Attend to injured/contaminated personnel.
        • Turn off ignition sources if flammable material involved.
        • Restrict/contain the spill.
   2. Is the spill manageable? Is it a minor spill that can easily be cleaned up?  If yes:
      • Attend to injured/contaminated personnel.
      • Turn off ignition sources if flammable material involved.
      • Restrict area and notify others of the spill.
      • Don appropriate PPE.
      • Contain the spill.
      • Neutralize if appropriate /required.
      • Soak up spilt material using appropriate absorbents as applicable.
      • Transfer to appropriate container and treat as hazardous waste.

*Note that certain materials such as pyrophorics, mercury, and hydrofluoric acid require specific neutralizers and/or modified spill response procedures.   Specific response procedures should be developed based on the identity and quantity of material being handled.  

Biological Spill

For Level 1 or 2 biohazards:

• Attend to injured/contaminated personnel.
• Restrict area and notify others of the spill.
• Don appropriate PPE.
• Contain the spill.
• Decontaminate the area with appropriate disinfectant allowing for sufficient contact time.
• Soak up spilt material using appropriate absorbents as applicable.
• Transfer to autoclave bag and treat as biohazardous waste.

The disinfectant in this lab is:

Radiological Spill

See Radiation Safety Manual for detailed procedure.

1. Assess the spill.  
   1. Does the spill involve more than 100 exemption quantities, contamination of personnel or release of volatile material?  If no:
      • Restrict the area and notify others of the spill
      • Don appropriate PPE
      • Contain spill.
      • Absorb from the outside in as applicable, transferring used absorbents into disposal containers and treat as radioactive waste.
      • Wipe test or use survey meter to identify residual contamination
      • Decontaminate area with cleaning agent such as DeCon until radiation counts return to background levels.
   2. Does the spill involve more than 100 exemption quantities, contamination of personnel or release of volatile material? If yes:
      • Evacuate lab, restrict area and notify others in the area of the spill.
      • Contact the RSO at (519) 824-4120 ext. 54888 or ext. 53774 (out of hours dial ext. 52000 or (519) 840-5000).

Note that this information reinforces but does not replace the requirement to post CNSC poster, “Spill Procedures”