Hazardous Material Spill Identification

Major Spills

Chemical Spills Greater than 500ml/gm

A major spill is defined as a large spill that is greater than 500 grams (gm) or 500 ml (milliliters) or any amount of acutely hazardous material. An acutely hazardous material is any material that is imminently dangerous to life and health. 

Select Agent Release

Select agent release is defined as any amount of regulated select agent released into the environment that could threaten the safety and health of the building occupants.  Select agent releases are considered major spill events. Upon identifying a release, laboratory occupants must immediately implement the major spill procedures. 

Hazardous Gas Release

Hazardous gas release is defined as any amount of hazardous gas released into the environment that could threaten the safety and health of the building occupants. Hazardous gas releases are considered major spill events. Upon identifying a release, laboratory occupants must immediately implement the major spill procedures. 

Minor Spills

A minor spill is defined as a spill that is less than 500 gm or 500 ml of non-acutely hazardous material. 

Procedures for Major Spills

The following procedure applies to:

1. Laboratory personnel
2. Education personnel
3. Maintenance personnel
4. Outside Contractor personnel
5. Environmental Health & Safety personnel
6. Administrative personnel

In the event of a major spill in a college area, all laboratory, education, maintenance, outside contractor, administrative and/or environmental services personnel will implement the following plan:

1. Notify persons in the immediate area that a spill has occurred.
2. Avoid breathing vapors, mists or dust of the spilled material.
3. Turn off all ignition sources if reasonably accessible.
4. If injured or contaminated with hazardous chemicals, immediately proceed with personal decontamination procedures. 
5. Evacuate the room and close the door.
6. From a safe area, dial 2315 or 89 (Campus Security) or 2400 (Environmental Health & Safety) using any on campus telephone. 
7. In order to assess the situation be prepared to provide the following information:
   1. Name and call back number
   2. The location of the spill (campus, building and room number)
   3. Type of material spilled
   4. The amount of material spilled
8. Remain at or near the telephone until you have received instructions from the Public Safety and Security Department or Environmental Health & Safety. 

Procedures for Minor Spills

In the event of a minor spill, the following emergency procedures shall be implemented:

1. If injured or contaminated with hazardous substances, immediately proceed with personal decontamination procedures.
2. Laboratory personnel will be responsible for the containment and clean up of all minor spills.
3. Proper personal protective equipment shall be donned during the cleanup of all minor spills.
4. All non-disposable personal protective equipment shall be decontaminated and stored.
5. All disposable personal protective equipment and clean up material shall be disposed of as hazardous waste.
6. If the material spilled is not covered under the minor spill definition (less than 500 gm or 500 ml of non-acutely hazardous material), then laboratory personnel shall implement the major spill procedures.

Education and Vacant Laboratories:

If a minor spill occurs within a vacant or education/prep laboratory, or in any other college area, inform Environmental Health & Safety at extension 2400 to assist with the response. 

Personal Decontamination Procedures

Please be advised that these procedures are general decontamination procedures. These procedures might not be appropriate for certain types of materials. In an effort to ensure proper decontamination, consult all relevant Material Safety Data Sheets prior to using any chemicals or conducting any experiments. 

If injured or contaminated with a hazardous substance, these procedures will be implemented immediately and prior to cleaning up or reporting a spill.

For spills contacting the skin, follow these procedures:

1. Immediately flush with flowing water for at least 15 minutes (i.e. sink or safety shower).
2. If there is no visible burn, wash with warm water and soap, removing any jewelry to facilitate clearing of any residual material. 
3. Check the Material Safety Data Sheet to see if any delayed effects should be expected. If the MSDS is not immediately available, go to www.hazard.com.
4. Seek medical attention for even minor chemical burns. Bring a copy of the MSDS sheet or provide the chemical identity to the medical personnel. 
5. Do not use creams lotions or salves. 

For spills on clothing, follow these procedures:

1. Do not attempt to wipe the clothes.
2. Quickly remove all contaminated clothing, shoes and jewelry while using the safety shower. 
3. Seconds count, so do not waste time because of modesty.
4. Take care not to spread the chemical on the skin or, especially, in the eyes. 
5. Use caution when removing pullover shirts or sweaters to prevent contamination of the eyes; it may be better to cut the garments off. 
6. Immediately flood the affected body area with warm water for no less than 15 minutes. Resume if pain returns. 
7. Get medical attention as soon as possible. Bring a copy of the MSDS sheet or provide the chemical identity to the medical personnel. 
8. Discard contaminated clothes as hazardous waste of have them laundered separately from other clothing. 

For splashes into the eyes, take these steps:

1. Using an eyewash station, immediately flush for a minimum of 15 minutes.
2. Hold the eyelids away from the eyeball, and move the eye up and down and sideways to wash thoroughly behind the eyelids. 
3. Get medical attention immediately. Follow first aid by prompt treatment by medical personnel or an ophthalmologist who is acquainted with chemical injuries. 

Spill Clean-Up Procedures

In the event of a spill, the laboratory personnel will implement the following clean up procedures.

1. Proper personal protective equipment will be donned during clean up of all hazardous materials. Personnel protective equipment compatibility charts will be referenced prior to cleaning up any spilled material(s). 
2. Contain spilled material(s) using absorbent pads and/or socks. Paper towels will not be used for containment of the spill, nor will they be used for clean up. 
3. Neutralize spilled material(s) utilizing the appropriate neutralizing agent. 
4. Clean up neutralized material using a dustpan or plastic scoop. 
5. Place neutralized material in hazardous waste bags. Dispose of as a hazardous waste, if necessary. 
6. Wash area where spill occurred with distilled water several times making sure no residue was left behind. Appropriately dispose of any materials used. 
7. All emergency equipment shall be decontaminated and stored.
8. All disposable personal protective equipment and clean up materials shall be disposed of as hazardous waste.
9. Always use extreme caution when cleaning up hazardous substances. 

Procedures for Pesticide Exposure, Spills and Operations

1. Requirement for Central Location for Pesticide Information: In an easily seen central location at each agricultural establishment, the following must be displayed:

a. EPA worker protection standards safety poster.
b. Name, address and telephone number of nearest emergency medical facility.
c. Spray application records for the last 30 days that includes the product name, EPA registration number, active ingredient, re-entry interval, date, time and location of the application.

2. Pesticide Safety Training: Pesticide handlers and workers must be trained within 5 days from the start of employment and at least once every 5 years thereafter. The training must be done by a certified applicator or a certified WPS trainer using written or audiovisual materials.

3. Restrict entry Intervals: During any restricted entry intervals, do not allow workers to enter a treated area and contact anything treated with pesticides. Orally warn works AND post the treated areas if the pesticide label requires it. The use of EPA approved 14" X 16" WPS designed signs are to be posted at the entrance to each field/greenhouse where a pesticide application has been made. The sign is to be posted just before application and kept up no later than 3 days after the end of the restrict entry interval.

4. Decontamination Site: A decontamination site must be established within 0.25 miles of all workers and handlers. It must include enough water for routine and emergency whole body washing and eye flushing, soap, and single use towels, a clean coverall, and a pair of disposable gloves.

5. Emergency Assistance: When any handler or worker may have been poisoned injured by pesticides the following procedures will be adhered to:

a. Immediately make transportation available to an appropriate medical faculty.
b. Immediately provide a copy of spray application record, a copy of the pesticide label that includes first aid and medical information.
c. Describe how the pesticide was used and information about the victim's exposure.

Specifics to Delaware Valley College

1. The following people are licensed and responsible for pesticide application and safety in their departments. It is the responsibility of the area supervisors to keep the pertinent information needed in the event of a medical emergency readily available.

Orchard/Vegetable Fields: Horticultural Production Manager
Greenhouses: Ornamental Production Manager
Grounds: Ground Superintendent & Grounds Foreman
Agronomic Crops: Crop Production Manger

Pesticide Exposure

1. Follow first aid guidelines listed on the pesticide label. Locate and use one of the decontamination sites for the areas involved.

2. The Public Safety and Security Department is to be notified immediately at extension 2315.

3. The Public Safety and Security Department will contact the appropriate emergency services for transport to a medical facility.

4. The responding Security Officer must either contact the areas supervisor where the acute pesticide exposure took place to get the proper spray application records and pesticide labels; or in the event the area superior is the exposed person and is unable to get the information, the Security Officer must go to the Central Information site for that area and get the appropriate information.

Location of Central Information Sites

a. Orchards: Feldstein Horticulture Building basement posted on wall next to production manager's office door.

b. Greenhouses: Arthur Poley Green house Complex, greenhouse manager's desk in yellow 3 ring binder.

c. Grounds: Home Barn, grounds superintendents' office.

d. Agronomic Crops: Agricultural Machinery Building, crop production manger's office.

Location of Decontamination Sites

a. Pesticide Building.
b. Vehicle assigned to Horticultural Production Department.
c. Arthur Poley Greenhouse.
d. Public Safety and Security Building.

Pesticide Spills

1. All area supervisors should have spill containment materials readily available in their area in case of a spill.

2. In case of a pesticide spill, area supervisors should immediately follow the label for guidelines on containing the spill. The pesticide label will give specific instructions on proper personal protective clothing to wear, as well as how to contain and dispose of the material.

3. If the area supervisor determines the spill to be too large to handle alone, the Public Safety and Security Department should be notified. They will call the national chemical emergency hotline: CHEMTREC at 1-800-424-9300 which will alert the local hazardous materials team.

Pesticide Fire

A fire involving pesticides shall be considered a major emergency because of the potential for harmful fumes generated and the flammable nature of specific pesticides. All area supervisors should provide the Public Safety and Security Department with MSDS sheets of all pesticides stored in their pesticide storage areas.

1. In the event of a fire involving pesticides or pesticide storage areas no one should attempt to contain or extinguish the fire without the proper personal protective equipment.

2. If the fire appears uncontrollable, the Public Safety and Security Department will call the local fire company and alert them that the fire involves pesticides. The responding Security Officer should have the MSDS sheets of the pesticides involved available for the fire company upon arrival at the campus so that a the emergency personnel can determine the proper course of action to control the fire and contain the water runoff caused by fighting the fire.

3. The Public Safety and Security Department will evacuate any persons with 1/4 mile of the fire.

4. All procedures in the emergency response plan for fire should be observed.

Location of Pesticide Storage Areas

a. Pesticide Building
b. Home Barn - pesticide storage cabinets
c. Arthur Poley Greenhouse - pesticide storage cabinets