DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive

We use commercial spill kits located in each lab. HF is a special 
concern and special spill kits and calcium gluconate first aid 
ointment are needed for it.

>We provide a five gallon bucket with a labeled 1 gallon plastic jar of
>1:1 sodium bicarb (food grade) and clay (kitty litter or oil-sorb)
>inside. It comes with an instruction booklet inside. Emergency
>instructions and phone numbers on the label outside. A plastic dust pan
>and whisk broom. (PPE is already present in the labs.)
>
>I instruct our researchers to use the spill absorbent on the spill then
>collect everything, broken glass and absorbents, paper towels, etc, with
>the dustpan and broom and place the waste into the 5 gallon bucket that
>the spill kit comes in. They label the bucket then we remove it as
>hazardous waste and give them a new spill kit.
>
>In general the system works really well. All the labs have spill kits,
>they are trained to use them in lab safety training, and it's not too
>expensive for us to put them together. The only disadvantage is that
>it's bulky and there seems to be a great temptation to remove the
>contents and use the bucket for other purposes. But we catch those
>during lab inspections.
>
>On the other hand the fact that it is bulky almost forces them to leave
>it out on the floor (rather than tucked into a drawer or cabinet) and is
>easily spotted in the event of a spill.
>
>Christopher E. Kohler, MS
>Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer
>Laboratory Safety Manager
>Indiana University
>Office of Environmental, Health, and Safety Management
>2735 E. Tenth St., Room 160
>Bloomington, IN 47408
>
>"It's better to be safe 100 times than get killed once."
>
>                                                               -Mark
>Twain
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of
>Kerry Smith
>Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 5:15 PM
>To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
>Subject: [DCHAS-L] Spill kit portable vs. fixed
>
>We are discussing the advantages and disadvantages of centrally located,
>fixed (wall mounted) vs. portable spill kits for buildings with science
>labs.  Spill kit contents for each type would be the same.  Please
>respond if you have any assessments, experience, events or other ?
>Relating to this issue. 
>
>Thanks for your time
>
>Kerry J. Smith, CIH
>Senior Industrial Hygienist
>BYU Risk Management & Safety Dept.
>T 801-422-2943
>F 801-422-0711