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Yale University Archaeology Laboratories

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Spill Response Protocol for YUAL

Note: Chemicals are only allowed in the following buildings: 10 Sachem Street, Room 22 (Fume Hood Lab) & Room 23 (Dirty Lab – limited); and 51 Hillhouse Ave, rooms TBA.

Emergency Contacts

Yukiko Tonoike
Laboratory Assistant
Phone: 203-432-6418
Fax: 203-432-3669
Emergency Phone: 203-500-9685
E-Mail: yukiko.tonoike@yale.edu

Office of Environmental Health and Safety
Business Hours Phone: 785-3555
Off-Hours Phone: 432-4400

Overview

This document provides information on several techniques that should be utilized for small quantity (less than 1 liter) chemical spills of low to moderately hazardous chemicals in the Yale University Archaeology Laboratories (Note: Not all YUAL laboratories are approved for chemical use). Any large scale spills or spills of highly hazardous chemicals should be controlled if possible, and then immediately contact OEHS and the laboratory assistant for the cleanup.

Response to spills in the laboratory can be broken down into three phases: containment, control, and clean up.

Containment: Containment is prevention of the spread of hazardous materials from the site of the spill. This is usually accomplished by using a physical barrier to contain the material to the spill area. If the spill cannot be approached and the material is spreading, the barrier can be established downgrade from the spill. Barriers should also be established around floor drains and sink drains to prevent hazardous material from entering them.

Control: This involves the stopping of an ongoing spill or leak. If an container is leaking and must be controlled by overpacking in larger containers, it is critical to select an overpack container that is compatible with the leaking material and it should be filled with a compatible absorbent material. If you must transfer a liquid into another container, be aware that a static electricity charge can build up from the movement of the liquid against the sides of the container. This charge can act as an ignition source in the case of flammable liquids. Therefore, containers should be grounded whenever a substance is being transferred to safely discharge the static electricity and to reduce the risk of fire or explosion.

Clean Up: The clean up of a chemical spill requires specialized equipment and trained personnel. Laboratory workers can perform several measures which do not involve contact with the spilled material. However, OEHS should be contacted for complete clean up, except spills of low to moderate hazardous chemicals in small quantities less than 1 liter.

Chemical Safety

(See YUAL Chemical Safety Information for more details)

Each laboratory cleared for use of chemicals has the following emergency items: first aid kit, spill response kit, a copy of this spill protocol, and relevant Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Note the location of these items before starting any work. In case of major emergencies, the MSDS should be taken during evacuation, if possible.

In addition, a safety shower and eye wash station is available in 10 Sachem Street, Room 22. If using Room 23 for chemical work, the door to both Room 22 and 23 must be kept open to allow access to the safety shower and eye wash station.

More details on 51 Hillhouse laboratories will be added as the information becomes available.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available in the laboratory assistant's office and in each room that the chemical is cleared to be used in. These sheets provide information regarding the physical and chemical properties of the product, and aid in understanding the potential health and physical hazards of a chemical and describes how to repond effectively to emergency situations. However, it should be noted that MSDS tends to address the worst case scenario such as in the case of a major industrial accident, rather than a laboratory situation. Therefore, if there are any questions contact the laboratory assistant or the OEHS safety advisor (10 Sachem St. - Joann Farrell; 51 Hillhouse Ave. - George Andrews).

Chemical Emergency Response Information (Copied from OEHS website)

Minor Chemical Spill

If you have a minor chemical spill, you should:

• Alert people in immediate area of spill
• Increase ventilation in area of spill (open window, turn on hood)
• Wear protective equipment, including safety goggles or face shield, gloves and long-sleeve lab coat.
• Avoid breathing vapors from spill.
• Confine spill to small area with adsorbent materials.
• Use appropriate kit to neutralize and adsorb inorganic acids and bases. For other chemicals, use appropriate kit or adsorb spill with vermiculite, dry sand, diatomaceous earth or paper towels. Collect residue, place in container, label container, and call the Environmental Affairs Section (432-6545) for disposal information.
• Clean spill area with soap and water.

Major Chemical Spill or Spill of an Extremely Hazardous Substance

Some spills are large (> 1 liter) or involve very hazardous or unknown substances. You should not clean them up by yourself! Example of very hazardous substances include: bromine, hydrazine, cyanides, Class 1 A flammable solvents, alkali metals and white phosphorus. If you have a major spill you should:

• Immediately call Emergency Response 785-3555 or the University Police 911.
• Alert people in the surrounding area to evacuate.
• Attend to injured or contaminated persons and remove them from exposure. In case of personal contamination, remove affected clothing and flush contaminated skin with water for at least fifteen minutes. Seek medical attention immediately.
• If it will not place your health or safety at risk, turn off ignition and heat sources, maintain fume hood ventilation and open windows to increase ventilation.
• Close doors to affected areas as you leave.
• Have person with knowledge of incident and laboratory assist emergency personnel upon arrival.

Chemical Exposures to the Body

• Quickly remove all contaminated clothing and footwear.
• Immediately flood the affected body area in cold water for at least 15 minutes. Remove jewelry to facilitate removal of any residual material.
• Wash off chemical with water only. Do not use neutralizing chemicals, cream, lotions or salves.
• Get medical attention promptly.
• Call for assistance.

It should be noted that some chemicals (phenol, aniline,) are rapidly adsorbed through skin. If a large enough area of skin is contaminated an adverse health effect (systematic toxicological reaction) may occur immediately to several hours after initial exposure depending on the chemical. If more than 9 square inches of the skin area has been exposed to a hazardous chemical, seek medical attention after washing the material off the skin. If the incident involves hydrofluoric acid (HF), seek immediate medical attention. Provide the physician with the chemical name.

Chemical Splash in Eye

• Irrigate the eyeball and inner surface of eyelid with plenty of cool water for at least 15 minutes. Use an eyewash or other water source. Forcibly hold eyelids open to ensure effective wash.
• Check for and remove contact lenses.
• Get medical attention promptly.

Ingestion of Hazardous Chemicals

• Identify the chemical ingested.
• Call Yale Police for an ambulance (911).
• Cover the injured person to prevent shock.
• 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.
• Call the Poison Information Center for additional information:
  Yale-New Haven Hospital: 688-2222
  State: 1-860-679-3456

Inhalation of Smoke, Vapors and Fumes

• Anyone overcome with smoke or chemical vapors or fumes should be removed to uncontaminated air and treated for shock.
• Do not enter the area if you expect that a life threatening condition still exists - oxygen depletion, explosive vapors or highly toxic gases (cyanide gas, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide)
• If victim is unconscious, get medical attention promptly by calling 911 from any campus phone.

Burning Chemicals on Clothing

• Extinguish burning clothing by using the drop-and-roll technique, wrapping victim in a fire blanket, dousing victim with cold water (use an emergency shower if it is immediately available).
• Remove contaminated clothing; however, avoid further damage to the burned area. If possible, send clothing with victim.
• Remove heat with cool water or ice packs until tissue around burn feels normal to the touch.
• Cover injured person to prevent shock.
• Get medical attention promptly promptly by calling 911 from any campus phone.

Hydrofluoric Acid

Skin Exposure to HF:

1. Immediately flood the affected body area with cool water for a minimum of 5 minutes, if calcium gluconate is available. If no calcium gluconate is immediately available, continue rinsing the affected area until emergency medical responders arrive, using copious amounts of water. Remove contaminated clothing and footwear while rinsing.
2. Call or have a co-worker call for medical assistance (911 from any Yale phone). Be sure to indicate that you were exposed to hydrofluoric acid.
3. Gently rub calcium gluconate ointment onto the affected area. Continue applying until emergency medical responders arrive.
4. Inform responders and all others that the exposure involved hydrogen fluoride/hydrofluoric acid.

Eye or Inhalation Exposures to HF:

1. Flush eyes with plenty of cool tap water for 15 minutes.
2. Move inhalation exposure victim to clean air.
3. Call or have a co-worker call for medical assistance (911 from any Yale phone).
4. Await emergency medical responders, informing them and all others that the exposure involved hydrogen fluoride/hydrofluoric acid.

Hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid cause severe, deeply penetrating burns to the skin, eyes and lungs. Although concentrated forms of these compounds are readily perceived by a burning sensation, more dilute forms are often imperceptible for many hours. This potential time delay between exposure recognition and treatment can lead to insidious and difficult to treat burns.

If you work with hydrogen fluoride or hydrofluoric acid, make certain you and your co-workers familiarize yourselves with these first aid procedures, and keep an updated supply of 2.5% calcium gluconate ointment in the work area. This ointment is available free-of-charge from the OEHS.