1.4.8.1 Chemical Spills

1.4.8.1  Chemical Spills

(Please refer to Spill Policy Attachment in Section 8.2.) 

In case of a major spills or uncontrolled spills

• Notify others in the immediate area and move to safety
• Call the Suffolk University Police Department (SUPD) at (617) 573-8111 or extension 8111
• Attend to any injured persons away from the spill; use PPE as recommended in the relevant safety data sheet
• SUPD will contact the Office of Environmental Health & Safety at (617) 570-4849 or (617) 573-8628
• The Office of Environmental Health & Safety will contact outside contractors and regulatory agencies as necessary

All spills of unknown materials should be treated as a hazardous chemical spill

Chemicals Splashes on the Body and in the Eyes

• Call the Suffolk University Police Department (SUPD) at (617) 573-8111 or extension 8111. If others are present, ask for them to contact SUPD
• Body - quickly remove all contaminated clothing, footwear and jewelry and flood the affected body area with only water for at least 15 minutes. Use only water
• Eyes - irrigate the eyeball and inner surface of eyelid with plenty of cool water for at least 15 minutes. Hold eyelids open to ensure effective wash. Use eyewash or other water source. Remove your contact lenses
• Report the incident to your supervisor or laboratory instructor and the Office of Environmental Health & Safety at (617) 573-8628 or (617) 570-4849

Ingestion of Hazardous Chemicals

• Identify ingested chemical
• Call the Suffolk University Police Department (SUPD) at (617) 573-8111 or extension 8111
• Call the Poison Information Center by dialing (617) 232-2120 or (800) 682-9211 (whenever help is available, one person can call SUPD while the other calls the Poison Information Center)
• Provide the ambulance crew and physician with the chemical name and any other relevant information. If possible, send the container, MSDS or the label with the victim
• Report the incident to your supervisor or laboratory instructor and the Office of Environmental Health & Safety at (617) 573-8628 or (617) 570-4849

Inhalation of Smoke, Vapors and Fumes

• If smoke or chemical vapors or fumes are present, move to fresh air or uncontaminated air
• Do not enter the area if you suspect that a life threatening condition exists for oxygen depletion, explosive vapors or highly toxic gases
• Call the Suffolk University Police Department at (617) 573-8111 or extension 8111  
• Report the incident to your supervisor or laboratory instructor and the Office of Environmental Health & Safety at (617) 573-8628 or (617) 570-4849