St. Petersburg College EMERGENCY PROCEDURES should be followed in case of a fire, medical emergency, or an accidental spill of chemicals or chemical wastes. The following procedures apply to the accidental spill of liquid, solid or gaseous hazardous materials:

 

1.      IF PERSONS ARE INJURED OR IF IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY        ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED - DIAL 911

 

2.      EVACUATE THE AREA - In an orderly manner, escort staff and students out of the spill area. Secure the area so that no unauthorized persons may enter the fire or spill area. This may include closing and locking doors, barrier tape, posting signs, or posting guards to prevent reentry.

      • Facilities Services should be contacted immediately to shut off the HVAC system to prevent contaminating other areas within the building or the spread of fire.

      • In the case of a chemical spill, if a floor drain is nearby, close it off immediately. Never open a floor drain and allow the spilled chemical to go into the sewer, unless this is the recommended procedure indicated on the MSDS. This may further complicate the clean-up process.

 

3.      IF IT IS A CHEMICAL EMERGENCY, IDENTIFY THE CHEMICAL

 

         Check the label, the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), and any other   documentation that is readily available to identify the chemical spilled. If you         cannot identify the chemical, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONTAIN THE SPILL.

 

4.      CONTAIN THE SPILL ONLY IF YOU ARE NOT AT RISK - Never, Never put yourself at risk. Containment should only be attempted if the employee has consulted the MSDS for chemical spilled, has the training, appropriate spill containment materials, and personal protective gear on-hand to do so. Please remember that soap and water is not always the answer - certain chemicals react with water and can create a more toxic environment than the spilled chemical. Likewise, organic absorbent materials like kitty litter may cause a violent reaction if applied to certain chemical spills. Never take a chance on applying anything to a chemical spill if you have not read the emergency response information on the MSDS.

 

5.NOTIFY THE SITE EMERGENCY COORDINATOR (Plant Supervisor)

   AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST.

Document all information available regarding the spill and be prepared to relate this to the Emergency Coordinator and the Environmental Specialist. Information such as the chemical spilled and the approximate amount spilled, the exact location of the spill, the time of the spill, the names of all persons present at the time of the spill and what actions have been taken. The Emergency Coordinator and the Environmental Specialist will coordinate with SPC's emergency response consultant to arrange for the clean-up of the chemical.

 

 

Safety/Environmental 5/22/02