If handled properly, a spill may only be a nuisance. If handled improperly, a spill can disrupt work. At worst, a spill can cause bodily harm or property damage. In most cases, laboratory spills involve small quantities of materials and, if precautions are taken, will present minimal hazards.
Laboratory workers are often the most appropriate people to clean up the spills because they are more likely to be familiar with the hazardous characteristics of the spilled material and can respond quickly. If personnel are unsure of whether a spill can be cleaned up safely, immediately call SRM Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) for assistance at (804) 828-9834.
EHS staff are trained and certified to help laboratories manage small chemical spills and can dispatch emergency response vendors for large spills, as necessary. EHS staff is available 24/7 for both the university and the health system to assist with chemical spill emergencies.
Small Spills and Large Spills
Any spill of 500 ml or less is usually considered small. However, spills of less than 500 ml may be considered dangerous if the spilled material is hazardous.
Be prepared for spills in the laboratory by reviewing the lab-specific chemical hygiene plan, standard operating procedures and the safety data sheet for the material(s) used in your experiments. Know how to contain and clean up spilled material. Accidents can happen at any time; make sure you are prepared with spill kits and contact information.
Spills involving biohazardous material are handled differently and labs should make plans based on biosafety level status and risk level the hazard represents. Contact Biological Safety staff for more information.
Spill Kits
Purchase or create a spill kit if the laboratory or area does not have one. However, when purchasing a spill kit, be sure to choose one that is best suited for the lab and the hazards in it. Some labs may need multiple kits to address the hazards present in the lab. Chemical and biological spill kits are available to purchase from most vendors. Make sure spill kits are in a location that everyone can access and is properly labeled. Contact EHS for additional advice on spill kit items.
Spill Response Guidelines
Emergency Preparedness
Prepare for spills by:
Learning about the chemicals hazards present in your laboratory
Writing response procedures to address the hazards
Having the equipment and training necessary to follow those procedures
Having all new members review these procedures
Know the Hazards
It is important to identify hazardous or potentially hazardous properties of all chemicals used or produced in a laboratory. If you need assistance, contact EHS staff.
Write Spill Response Procedures
Every laboratory should develop written spill response standard operating procedures (SOP) to include the initial steps to take when a spill occurs as well as staff responsibilities, communication methods, instructions for using spill response equipment, and spill cleanup and residue disposal.
The SOPs should be shared with everyone who uses the chemicals or might help with spill cleanup. Periodically review and update these SOPs, as necessary. As they are updated, communicate the changes to laboratory workers.
Make sure that the necessary safety equipment and spill cleanup materials are available and in proper working condition.
Make sure individuals involved in spill response are properly trained in equipment use and spill cleanup procedures.
Regularly inspect all materials and equipment to check that they are working properly.
Spill Response
There are two types of spills:
A simple spill, which anyone can clean up, is a spill that does not spread rapidly, does not endanger people or property except by direct contact, and does not endanger the environment.
Notify the principal investigator or EHS staff, regardless of the size of the spill.
Determine whether it is a simple or complex spill by considering:
Type of materials(s) spilled
How much material has been spilled
Location of the spilled material
Risks/hazardous characteristics of the spilled material
Potential impact of the spilled material
Proper method for cleaning up the spill, if it is a simple spill
Whether the appropriate personal protective equipment is available to clean up the spill and personnel are trained on how to properly clean up material
For larger or more hazardous spills, or if laboratory personnel are not comfortable with cleaning up a simple spill, immediately call EHS for assistance at (804) 828-9834.
Recommended Procedures for Small Spill Clean Up
Alert others in the area where the spill occurred. Block off the area if necessary.
Wear appropriate attire and personal protective equipment (laboratory coat, appropriate eye protection, appropriate gloves, and appropriate footwear or shoe covers).
Prevent the spread of dust and vapors.
Neutralize acids and bases, if possible. Neutralize acids with soda ash or sodium bicarbonate. Neutralize bases with citric acid or ascorbic acid. Use pH paper (if available) to determine whether acid or base spills have been neutralized.
Control and contain the spread of the liquid. Make a dike around the outside edges of the spill. Use absorbent materials such as vermiculite, cat litter or spill pads/pillows. If a larger drum is actively leaking, first attempt to stop the leak at the source, if safe to do so.
Absorb the liquid. Add absorbents to the spill, working from the spill's outer edges toward the center. Absorbent materials (e.g., cat litter or vermiculite) work well but are messy. Spill pillows/pads are not as messy as other absorbents but they are more expensive.
Collect and contain the cleanup residues. The neutralized spill residue or the absorbent should be scooped, swept or placed into a plastic bucket or other container. For dry powders or liquids absorbed to dryness, double bag the residue using plastic bags.
Dispose of the waste. Keep cleanup materials separate from normal trash. Contact EHS staff for guidance on packaging and labeling cleanup residues. If clean-up materials need to be removed from the spill site as soon as possible, contact EHS.
Decontaminate the area and affected equipment. If the spill area needs to be ventilated, open windows or use a fan.
Replace any spill kit material that was used.
Special Precautions
Mercury Spills
Mercury spills rarely present an imminent hazard unless the spill occurs in an area with poor ventilation. The main exposure route of mercury is via vapor inhalation. Consequently, if metallic mercury is not cleaned up adequately, the tiny droplets remaining in surface cracks and crevices may yield toxic vapors for years.
If a mercury spill occurs:
First, isolate the spill to prevent contamination in uncontaminated areas.
Clean up the spill using a mercury vacuum cleaner, NOT a regular vacuum cleaner.
If a mercury vacuum cleaner is not available, contact EHS at (804) 828-1392 for assistance.
Unknown Chemical Spills
If a spill has already occurred and the material cannot be identified, contact EHS for guidance at (804) 828-1392).
Documentation
After a spill is cleaned up, prepare a simple write up about what happened, why, how the spill was cleaned up and any lessons learned, which can be referenced to avoid similar situations in the future.
Worker Safety and Training: All workers entering a laboratory must be trained (or be accompanied by a trained person) on the chemical risks in the laboratory and how to respond in the event of an emergency. Workers who clean up their own spills must be trained according to the Chemical Hygiene Plan in the laboratory. Workers who assist with spills in other work areas must be documented as having received
Disposal of Spill Cleanup Materials: Clean-up materials from hazardous substance spills are regulated as hazardous waste. Follow VCU's guidelines for packaging, labeling and disposing of these materials.
Additional information about spill preparedness can be found in the VCU Chemical Hygiene Plan in the Emergency Responses and Spill Clean up section.
VCU EHS Spill Response Team
The EHS Spill Response Team is trained to handle or consult outside experts for hazardous chemical spills at the university and health system, as necessary.