• Spill Response and Clean-up Procedures
• Developing a Spill Response Plan
• Recommended Spill Control Materials Inventory

Spill Response and Clean-up Procedures

In the event of a chemical spill, the individual(s) who caused the spill is responsible for prompt and proper clean-up. It is also their responsibility to have spill control and personal protective equipment appropriate for the chemicals being handled readily available. See Developing a Spill Response Plan for more information.

All spill kits come with a Chemical Spill Response Protocol visual guide. Click on the image below to view the guide, or download as a PDF here. 

The following are general guidelines to be followed for a chemical spill. More detailed procedures may be available in your Departmental Chemical Hygiene Plan or Spill Response Plan.

Emergency Actions

• Immediately alert area occupants and supervisor, and evacuate the area, if necessary.
• If there is a fire or medical attention is needed, contact Public Safety at 609-258-3333.
• Attend to any people who may be contaminated. Contaminated clothing must be removed immediately and the skin flushed with water for no less than fifteen minutes. Clothing must be laundered before reuse. See First Aid for Chemical Exposures for more information.
• If a volatile, flammable material is spilled, immediately warn everyone, control sources of ignition and ventilate the area.

Immediate Spill Response

• Don personal protective equipment, as appropriate to the hazards. Refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet or other references for information.
• Consider the need for respiratory protection. The use of a respirator or self-contained breathing apparatus requires specialized training and medical surveillance. Never enter a contaminated atmosphere without protection or use a respirator without training. If respiratory protection is needed and no trained personnel are available, call EHS at x8-5294 or Public Safety at 911. If respiratory protection is used, be sure there is another person outside the spill area in communication, in case of an emergency. If no one is available, contact Public Safety.
• Using the chart below, determine the extent and type of spill. If the spill is large, if there has been a release to the environment or if there is no one knowledgeable about spill clean-up available, contact EHS at 609-258-5294 from 8:30am-4:30pm. Outside those hours, contact Public Safety at 609-258-3333 and ask for EHS assistance.

Category	Size	Response	Treatment Materials
Small	up to 300mL	chemical treatment or absorption	neutralization or absorption spill kit
Medium	300mL to 5L	absorption	absorption spill kit
Large	more than 5L	call Public Safety (609-258-3333)	outside help

• 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 according to the table above. 
  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. Bulk absorbents and many spill pillows do not work with hydrofluoric acid. POWERSORB® (by 3M) products and their equivalent will handle hydrofluoric acid. Specialized hydrofluoric acid kits also are available for purchase from lab safety suppliers. Many neutralizers for acids or bases have a color change indicator to show when the spill is neutralized.
• 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 or 20 gallon drums with polyethylene liners may be appropriate for larger quantities.
• Complete a hazardous waste sticker, identifying the material as Spill Debris involving XYZ Chemical, and affix onto the container. Spill control materials will probably need to be disposed of as hazardous waste. Contact EHS at 258-5294 for advice on storage and packaging for disposal.
• Decontaminate the surface where the spill occurred using a mild detergent and water, when appropriate.
• Report all spills to your supervisor or the Principal Investigator.

Developing a Spill Response Plan (top)

An effective spill response procedure should consider all of the items listed below. The complexity and detail of the plan will, of course depend upon the physical characteristics and volume of materials being handled, their potential toxicity, and the potential for releases to the environment.

• Review Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) or other references for recommended spill cleanup methods and materials, and the need for personal protective equipment (e.g., respirator*, gloves, protective clothing, etc.)
• Acquire sufficient quantities and types of appropriate spill control materials to contain any spills that can be reasonably anticipated. The need for equipment to disperse, collect and contain spill control materials (e.g., brushes, scoops, sealable containers, etc.) should also be reviewed. See Recommended Spill Control Materials Inventory for more details. EHS maintains EHS chemical spill control kits that can be used if no other materials are available. After use, please call EHS at 258-5294 to restock.
• Acquire recommended personal protective equipment and training in its proper use. *For example, if an air purifying respirator or self-contained breathing apparatus are needed, personnel must be enrolled in the Respiratory Protection Program and attend annual training and fit-testing. 
• Place spill control materials and protective equipment in a readily accessible location within or immediately adjacent to the laboratory.
• Develop a spill response plan that includes:
  • Names and telephone numbers of individuals to be contacted in the event of a spill.
  • Evacuation plans for the room or building, as appropriate.
  • Instructions for containing the spilled material, including potential releases to the environment (e.g., protect floor drains).
  • Inventory of spill control materials and personal protective equipment.
  • Means for proper disposal of cleanup materials (in most cases, as hazardous waste) including contaminated tools and clothing.
  • Decontamination of the area following the cleanup.
• Discuss the spill response plans with all employees in the area. EHS offers training for employees who work directly with chemicals (see Chemical Spills and Waste Procedures) and who are expected to respond outside their work area to assist with spill cleanup (see Chemical Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) First Responder - Operations Level Training). Contact Steve Elwood at 258-6271to schedule a session for your area.

Recommended Spill Control Material Inventory (top)

Spill kits are located in major hallways, stairwells and near elevators. Note: For spills greater than 4 liters, call Public Safety at 609-258-3333.

Chemical Spill Kits

Each Chemical Spill Kit contains one Toolbox/ PPE Spill Kit and two Universal Spill Absorbent Kits. 

Part 1: Toolbox/ PPE Spill Kit

Toolbox

• 1 Pen, 1 Marker, 3 Twist Ties, and 4 Hazardous Waste Labels
• 3 Waste Bags
• 1 Dustpan Set
• Length of “Caution- Chemical Spill” Tape
• 1 Spill Instructions

PPE
Hot Zone Bag

• 4 Pairs L Disposable Nitrile Gloves and 2 Pairs of Tyvek Shoe Covers
• 1 XL Disposable Apron with Sleeves and 1 Pair of Chemical Splash Goggles

Warm Zone Bag

• 4 Pairs L Disposable Nitrile Gloves and 2 Pairs of Tyvek Shoe Covers
• 1 XL Disposable Apron without Sleeves and 1 Pair of Safety Glasses

 
Part 2: Universal Spill Absorbent Kit

• 1 3 in. x 10 ft. Absorbent Sock
• 10 Universal Spill Pads
• 7 lbs. Absorbent (absorbs 2 L of water) 

Food Oil Spill Kits

• 1 Pair PVC Glove with Gauntlet (M)
• 1 pair PVC Glove with Gauntlet (XL)
• 1 x 12” Dustpan and Brush Set
• 3 x Hazardous Materials Bag (4mil thickness)
• 10 x Oil Only Absorbent Pad (18” x 16”)
• 2 x Oil Absorbent Pillow (10 gallon capacity)
• 1 x Xsorb Premium Granules Absorbent (30 lb. bag)
• 2 x 10 ft. Universal Absorbent Sock (3” diameter)

This lists the locations of all spill kits maintained by EHS around campus. If you find that a kit is missing or has been used and not restocked, please contact 258-5294 immediately so the kit can be serviced.

Building/ Department	Location	Type of spill kit*
120 Prospect	Cleaning chemicals storage room	HSK
171 Broadmead	B01	CSK
185 Nassau St. Visual Arts	Under sink in rm. A02 (Photography Lab)	CSK
185 Nassau St. Visual Arts	1st Floor Sculpture Room	CSK
185 Nassau St. Visual Arts	Under sink in rm. 124 (Lithography)	CSK
185 Nassau St. Visual Arts	2nd Floor Hallway between painting spaces	CSK
185 Nassau St. Visual Arts	4th Floor Junior Space	CSK
87 Prospect	Loading Dock area	SLDK
Andlinger Center	00 - Lobby near elevator 2	CSK
Andlinger Center	1L - 141 corridor near elevator 3	CSK
Bowen Hall/SEAS	Ground Floor in the 114 Suite	CSK
Bowen Hall/SEAS	Third Floor near elevator	CSK
Butler/First	Wilcox loading dock area	F
Center For Jewish Life	Loading dock	F
Dean Mathey	Storage room	HSK
E-Quad	100 Level A-Wing outside elevator	CSK
E-Quad	100 Level B-Wing outside elevator	CSK
E-Quad	100 Level E-Wing Outside E-117	CSK
E-Quad	100 Level G-Wing by dockside entrance	CSK
E-Quad	100 Level J-Wing outside elevator	CSK
E-Quad	Ramp behind the Loading Dock	CSK
E-Quad	Shed 7 (haz waste storage) behind loading dock	LDK
Forbes	Loading dock, outside receiving office	F
Frick/Chemistry	Stock room	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	B-Level B02 corridor by elevator	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	Central stairs B03 Mechanical Room	HSK
Frick/Chemistry	B-Level B06 corridor by elevator	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	A-Level A01 corridor by entrance of A03 laboratory	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	A-Level A03 corridor by entrance of A08 laboratory	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	Room 101 storage	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	Room 102 storage	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	Room 103 storage	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	Room 201 storage	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	Room 202 storage	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	Room 203 storage	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	Room 301 storage	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	Room 302 storage	CSK
Frick/Chemistry	Room 303 storage	CSK
Frist Campus Center	Loading Dock area	F
Gas Dynamics (Forrestal Campus)	Compressor room	CSK
Grad College	Loading dock, inside receiving office	F
Guyot/ Geosciences	A-level, in room A-61 (equipment room)	CSK
Guyot/ Geosciences	B-level, in corridor by phone outside B-54	CSK
Guyot/ Geosciences	mezzanine level by elevator, opposite M-50 storage room	CSK
Guyot/ EEB	Guyot, mezzanine level outside Professor Stern lab	CSK
Guyot/ EEB	Guyot, third floor near EEB elevator	CSK
Guyot/ EEB	Guyot, fourth floor near EEB elevator	CSK
Hoyt/ CBE	Hoyt, second floor near elevator	CSK
Icahn Laboratory	Loading Dock	CSK
Icahn Laboratory	First Floor West Wing lab block (mid-block entrance)	CSK
Icahn Laboratory	First Floor South Wing lab block (mid-block entrance)	CSK
Icahn Laboratory	Second Floor West Wing lab block (mid-block entrance)	CSK
Icahn Laboratory	Second Floor South Wing lab block (mid-block entrance)	CSK
Jadwin Hall Physics	Loading Dock – outside loading dock office	LDK
Jadwin Hall Physics	Jadwin Hall B-Level (in hallway between B-3 and B-18)	CSK
Jadwin Hall Physics	Jadwin Hall Level 1, outside Rm. 118	CSK
Jadwin Hall Loading Dock Bldg.	90-day Hazardous Waste Storage room A25	LDK
Lawrence Apts	Geothermal Room	CSK
LTL/Molecular Biology	Loading Dock	LDK
LTL/Molecular Biology	LTL 1st Floor (near restrooms)	CSK
LTL/Molecular Biology	LTL 2nd Floor (near stairwell)	CSK
LTL/Molecular Biology	LTL 301 (near stairwell)	CSK
LTL/Molecular Biology	Elevator Lobby (Ground Floor)	CSK
MacMillan/ Maintenance	MacMillan Building - Garage Shop	CSK
Maintenance Yard	Maintenance Yard - Pesticide Shed, top of cabinet (2 PPE kits)	PPE X 2
PNI/ Psychology	A-level central research corridor	CSK
PNI/ Psychology	1-level central research corridor	CSK
PNI/ Psychology	2-level central research corridor	CSK
Rocky/Mathey	Loading dock area	F
Schultz/ Molecular Biology	Schultz-Moffett Ground floor near elevator	CSK
Stanworth	Basement Storage room	HSK
Warehouse/ Building Services	Building Services Warehouse 755 Alexander Road	CSK
Whitman	Loading dock area	F

Key

CSK: Chemical Spill Kit contains:

• One 16-gallon polyethylene (blue) drum with vermiculite absorbent
• One 5-gallon (gray) pail -PPE - with the following:
  • Two pair Silver Shield gloves
  • Several pair nitrile gloves
  • One disposable apron with sleeves
  • Two sleeveless disposable aprons
  • Two pair Tyvek shoe covers
  • Two pair chemical splash goggles
  • Two white oil-absorbent pads
  • One 4½-foot grey multi-absorbent pad/sock
  • Three Plastic disposal bags
  • Several waste stickers
  • One Dustpan/Brush
  • One Red Sharpee© marker.
  • Binder with procedures, Phone List, Two CAUTION – DO NOT ENTER signs, Two CAUTION – CHEMICAL SPILL signs, inventory

LDK:  Loading Dock Kit

Contains a Chemical Spill Kit plus an additional 16 gal. poly drum containing:

• one absorbent pad approx. 20 ft.. long
• four 4ft. long socks

SLDK:  Small Loading Dock Kit

Contains a CSK without Silver Shield gloves and with extra pads and socks.

HSK:  Housing Spill Kit

Contains a CSK minus the Silver Shield gloves.

F: Food Oil Kit

Contains a 16 gal. poly drum with approx. half vermiculite absorbent, several pads, a couple of socks, a small dust pan and brush, and a couple of bags for disposal.