Emergency Guide University of California, San Diego

Chemical Spill

Planning is key for responding safely to a chemical spill. Assemble a spill kit tailored to clean up small spills of chemicals commonly used in your lab. Make sure personnel know where the kit is located and how to use it.

Incidental Chemical Spill (An incidental chemical spill is one that staff can clean up without putting themselves or others in danger)

• Alert people in the area. Avoid breathing vapors and try to determine what has spilled.
• If someone is splashed with chemical, use an eye wash or emergency shower to immediately flush the affected area with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes.
• Call California Poison Control System at (800) 222-1222 for advice. Seek medical attention as required.
• Clean up incidental spills only.
• Wear safety goggles, gloves, and long-sleeve lab coat during cleanup.
• Confine the spill to a small area. Use a commercial kit or absorbent material from your spill kit to absorb spilled materials. Place the saturated absorbent in a double, clear plastic bag. Label the bag with a UCSD waste tag and request a hazardous waste collection.
• Clean the spill area with water.

• Avoid breathing vapors. Quickly identify the spilled material, if it can be done safely.
• If the spill involves a flammable liquid, turn off all ignition sources if it can be done safely.
• Evacuate the area immediately, closing all doors.
• If someone is splashed with chemical, use an eye wash or emergency shower to immediately flush the affected area with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes.
• Call California Poison Control System at (800) 222-1222 for advice. Seek medical attention as required.
• Call EH&S immediately: (858) 534-3660. After business hours call (858) 534-HELP (4357).
• Keep all personnel away from the spill area until EH&S arrives to evaluate and control the situation. Post Do Not Enter signs on doors to the spill location.
• Provide incident-specific information to arriving emergency responders.