| Department | Environmental, Health and Safety | Document no | EHS-110 | ||
| Title | Laboratory Spill Response | ||||
| Prepared by: | Date: | Supersedes: | |||
| Checked by: | Date: | Date Issued: | |||
| Approved by: | Date: | Review Date: | |||
1. AFFECTED PARTIES
All Environment, Health and Safety personnel
2. PURPOSE
This SOP provides guidance and instruction on the management of chemical spills in a laboratory environment.
3. SCOPE
This SOP applies only to the spills of liquid and solid chemical spills in a chemistry laboratory environment. Spills of microbiological agents are outside the scope of this SOP.
4. RESPONSIBILITY \ BUSINESS RULES
Laboratory Management shall ensure a minimum of 2 laboratory colleagues per shift are trained in the performance of spill response and clean up.
5. PROCEDURE
5.1 Spills of Solid Materials
5.1.1 Is the material hazardous?
If No, go to 5.3 General Clean Up Procedure.
If Yes, or it is not possible to determine hazardous nature, continue to 5.1.2.
5.1.2 Assess the hazardous type and proceed to the appropriate paragraph 5.1.2.1 – 5.1.2.3 below.
5.1.2.1 Acid or Base Material (Phosphorous Pentoxide).
Examples of acids include P2O5
Examples of bases include NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide).
– Ensure water is not permitted to come into contact with the spilled material.
– Don the following PPE: Safety shoes Rubber gloves Laboratory coat Safety spectacles Face shield.
– Collect the spilled material into hazardous waste bags in the spill kit, using the scoops provided.
– When all the spilled material has been collected, carefully place the used scoops into the hazardous waste bag.
– Seal the bag with plastic ties and label as either “Acid waste material– solid” or “Basic waste material – solid” and include the name of the material on the label.
– Complete the spill cleanup by following go to 5.3, General Clean Up Procedure.
5.1.2.2 Mercury or Mercury Salt
– Retrieve the Mercury Spill Kit from the store.
– Follow the kit instructions to clean up the spill.
– Complete the spill cleanup by following go to paragraph 5.3 General Clean Up Procedure.
5.1.2.3 Cyanide Salt or Unknown material
Examples of cyanide compounds include NaCN (Sodium Cyanide), KCN (Potassium Cyanide).
– Immediately evacuate the area around the spilled material.
– Contact the EHS group for advice on clean up and disposal of the material. If the material is known, also consult the MSDS.
5.2 Spills of Liquid Materials
5.2.1 Immediately evacuate the area around the spilled material.
5.2.2 Contact the Spill Team. A list of Spill Team Members is posted near the Spill Kits storage area. The Spill Team completes the remaining steps of this procedure.
5.2.3 Assess the nature of the spill.
If the spill appears to be less than 7L, continue to 5.2.3.1. If the spill appears to be more than 7L, continue to 5.2.3.2.
5.2.3.1 Spill Volume less than 7L
– IF SAFE TO DO SO, switch off sources of ignition to minimise the potential for a fire to be started. Sources of ignition include but are not limited to:
Electrical wiring and switchboards Electric motors Power points Naked flames Static electricity Sparks. Consider that the action of activating a switch may be sufficient to ignite a potentially combustible or flammable atmosphere.
– Consult the container label and MSDS for the spilled material and don the recommended PPE.
– During spill cleanup, consider additional precautions based on the situation. For example, the floor may be slippery, or vapours present may be toxic, requiring ventilation.
– Using appropriate materials from the spill kits, contain the spill.
– Erect spill signage at the perimeter of the spill area.
– Select the appropriate absorbent from the Spill Kit store. Absorbents are available for acids, alkalis and solvents.
– Apply the absorbent as directed on the absorbent container.
– Use scoops provided to collect the absorbed material in hazardous waste bags.
– Place the used scoops and any used disposable PPE into the same hazardous waste bag.
– Seal the bag with plastic ties and label as either “Acid waste material – absorbed liquid” or “Basic waste material – absorbed liquid” or “Solvent waste material – absorbed liquid” and include the name of the material on the label.
– Complete the spill cleanup by following go to 5.3, General Clean Up Procedure.
5.2.3.2 Spill Volume more than 7L
– IF SAFE TO DO SO, contain the spill using the spill kit items.
– Contact the EHS group for advice on clean up and disposal of the material. If the material is known, also consult the MSDS.
5.3 General Clean Up Procedure
5.3.1 Clean the area of the spill using an approved cleaning agent from “Approved List for Lubricants, Cleaning Agents, Oils and Miscellaneous Materials”. Seek advice from the cleaning contractor staff on choosing the correct cleaning agent.
5.3.2 Store all reusable equipment in the Spill Kit store.
5.3.3 Complete the reporting of the incident according to SOP EHS-070 “Hazard Identification and Incident / Accident Investigation Reports.”
6. DEFINITIONS / ACRONYMS
EHS Environmental Health and Safety
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
PPE Personal Protective Equipment (such as gloves, safety spectacles, overalls)
7. SUMMARY OF CHANGES
| Version # | Revision History |
| EHS-110 | New |