8.2 Spills Policies and Procedures

       A Minor Spill is one in which ALL of the following conditions are met:

• the responsible party is at the scene; and
• the material spilled is not highly toxic, corrosive, reactive, biohazard material or a special hazard; and
• the quantity spilled is small; and
• there is no fire hazard present; and
• the spill is completely contained inside a building; and
• the material has little or no potential to reach the environment (e.g., via a floor drain, sinks, etc); and
• the spill is not in a common area (e.g., a hallway) or other area accessible to the general public; and
• advanced personnel protective equipment (i.e., more than gloves and safety glasses) is not needed to respond to the spill
  
  
    A Major Spill is one in which ANY of the following conditions apply:
• the responsible party or the chemical spilled is unknown ; or
• the material spilled is highly toxic, corrosive, reactive, biohazard material or a special hazard; or
• a large (or undetermined) quantity was spilled; or
• a significant fire hazard may be present; or
• the material has the potential to reach the environment (e.g., via a floor drain); or
• the spill is in a common area (e.g., hallway) or other area accessible to the general public; or
• advanced personnel protective equipment (more than gloves and safety glasses) is required to respond to the spill; or
• a responder is unsure whether the spill should be considered “Minor” or “Major”.
  
  
  III. POLICY AND PROCEDURES
  Minor Spills -
  Suffolk University policy is that minor, indoor spills of hazardous materials or waste that present no immediate threat to personal health or safety, or of being released to the environment, are to be cleaned up by the personnel responsible for the spill unless they are not comfortable doing so. Hazardous material users and hazardous waste generators must be aware of the properties of the materials they use and the waste they generate.
  All chemical and petroleum spills must be reported. Notification for minor spills is generally made directly to Campus Police OR OEHS (617-570-4849) or (617-573-8628). If the Campus Police receives the initial contact, they contact OEHS. Once assessment and clean up is complete OEHS will give the “all clear” for an area to be reoccupied.
  Major Spills -
  Major spills are to be reported to the Suffolk University Police Department emergency number (x8111) or (x8333) from a University phone or (617) 573- 8111 or 8333 from any other phone immediately. If initial notification is made of a major spill, or if at any time during the spill response it is determined that the incident should be considered a “Major Spill”, OEHS is contacted immediately to respond to the site. OEHS will take control of the situation once they are on site, fully briefed, and accept control. OEHS will defer to the Boston Fire Department once either party is on site, fully briefed, and accepts control. OEHS will determine if notification to outside authorities is required (and if so, will make the notification). 
  Clean Harbors is Suffolk University’s 24 Hour Emergency Spill Response Contractor.  OEHS will respond to and co-manage a major spill event along with Clean Harbors.  OEHS and/or Suffolk University Police will be responsible for activating an Emergency Response by Clean Harbors.
  During the duration of a major spill OEHS will serve as a liaison among those affected including, but not limited to; outside agencies (if applicable), faculty/staff, facilities, SUPD, etc. OEHS, BFD or authorized outside contractors (Clean Harbors) will also conduct all monitoring that is required to give the “all clear” for an area to be reoccupied.

IV. EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION 

            Department                                Extension           From an Outside Line                      


Suffolk University Police                           8111 or 8113       617-573-8111 or 8333

OEHS – Michael Kauffman                     8628                     617-573-8628                             

OEHS – Frederick Wafula                           4849                     617-570-4849                   

Boston EMS/Fire/Police                              9-911                           911                                   

Facilities Management                                 8110                     617-573-8110

Clean Harbors Emergency Response                                        800-645-8265

Facilities - Jim Wallace                                8110                     617-573-8110

ABM, Cleaning Service                                8110                     617-573-8110