Our guidance can be found here: http://www.drs.illinois.edu/AccidentResponse/ChemicalSpill

 

If lab people can meet the criteria of a simple spill, they can clean it up themselves. Otherwise, we advise calling in the hazmat team of the local fire department. The fire department will only stabilize the spill, so that final cleanup is conducted by either lab personnel or an outside contractor.

 

We do not provide spill kits for laboratories, but they are expected to have one (there is guidance on our web site). We do not have formal spill response training for lab personnel, but some basic concepts are provided in some of our online training courses.

 

Peter Ashbrook, Director

Division of Research Safety

 

 

Greetings all,

 

I’d like to gather some data regarding how you handle laboratory spills at your workplace.

 

·         Who handles incidental laboratory spills? Trained laboratory personnel? Or a company/school Hazmat team? Or the fire department?

 

·         Are there any restrictions regarding the quantity? such as those less than 1-2 liters vs. 2 liters or more?

 

·         Are there any restrictions on where they are permitted to cleanup a spill? Such as inside vs. outside the fume hood?

 

·         Are there any restrictions on the type of spills that someone is permitted to clean up? such as cleanup of corrosives? or cleanup of toxic chemicals?

 

·         Do you provide spill kits for your laboratories?

 

·         Do you provide spill response training for lab personnel?

 

Any other comments?

 

Feel free to respond directly to me if necessary.

 

Many thanks,

 

Chris

 

Christopher E. Kohler

Laboratory Safety Manager

University Environmental Health and Safety

Indiana University

1514 E Third Street

Bloomington, IN 47405

(812) 855-5454

cekohler**At_Symbol_Here**iu.edu