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Hazardous Material Spill or Release

Hazardous materials may include chemicals, gases, biological materials, fuels, laboratory substances, cleaning products, and other materials capable of causing injury, fire, environmental damage, or unsafe conditions.

Do not touch, smell, walk through, or attempt to identify an unknown spilled material. Move away from the affected area and report the incident from a safe location.

Reporting a Spill, Release, Gas Leak, or Suspicious Odor

Report hazardous-material spills or releases, suspected gas leaks, and unusual or suspicious odors to Campus Safety at extension 3300.

Call 9-1-1 immediately when:

  • Someone has been injured or exposed;

  • Fire, smoke, or an explosion has occurred;

  • There is an immediate danger to building occupants;

  • The material is unknown or highly hazardous;

  • A large quantity has been released;

  • Dangerous vapors or fumes are present; or

  • The release cannot be safely controlled by trained personnel.

When reporting an incident, provide:

  • Your name and callback number;

  • The building and room or specific location;

  • The name of the material, if known;

  • The approximate amount released;

  • Whether anyone has been injured or exposed;

  • Whether fire, smoke, fumes, or unusual odors are present; and

  • Any other known hazards.

Do not endanger yourself to gather this information.

Spill or Release Inside a Campus Building

If a hazardous-material spill or release occurs inside a building:

  1. Leave the immediate area and warn others nearby.

  2. Assist anyone in immediate danger only when you can do so without exposing yourself or others.

  3. Close the door to the affected room or area as you leave, if this can be done safely.

  4. Do not touch the material, breathe vapors, or attempt cleanup unless you are trained, authorized, and equipped to do so.

  5. Call 9-1-1 and Campus Safety from a safe location when the release presents an immediate danger.

  6. Follow instructions to evacuate, shelter-in-place, or take another protective action.

  7. Keep others away from the affected area and do not re-enter.

If a building evacuation is ordered:

  • Use the nearest safe exit.

  • Avoid any area containing vapors, fumes, smoke, or spilled material.

  • Do not use elevators.

  • Move well away from the building and the affected area.

  • Move upwind and uphill from the release when possible.

  • Keep roads, fire lanes, entrances, and walkways clear.

  • Report anyone believed to remain inside and provide their last known location.

  • Follow directions from Campus Safety and emergency responders.

Do not automatically report to the building’s usual assembly area if doing so would require moving toward or through the release. Follow the instructions provided through CSC ALERT or by emergency personnel.

Return to the building or affected area only after Campus Safety or emergency responders issue an all-clear.

Fire, Explosion, or Immediate Building-Wide Danger

If a spill or release causes a fire, explosion, smoke, or another immediate danger:

  • Activate the building fire alarm as you leave, unless a flammable gas leak is suspected.

  • Evacuate using the nearest safe exit.

  • Call 9-1-1 from a safe location.

  • Notify Campus Safety.

  • Do not attempt to fight a chemical fire unless you are specifically trained, authorized, and equipped to do so.

Suspected Gas Leak

If you smell gas, hear escaping gas, or suspect a flammable-gas leak:

  • Leave the area immediately.

  • Warn others verbally as you leave, when it is safe to do so.

  • Do not activate a fire alarm pull station in the affected area.

  • Do not turn electrical switches or equipment on or off.

  • Do not use a telephone or cellphone until you are outside and safely away from the suspected leak.

  • Do not light a match, smoke, or create another possible ignition source.

  • Call 9-1-1 and Campus Safety from a safe location.

  • Do not re-enter the building.

Hazardous-Material Release Outside College Property

An accident, fire, transportation incident, or industrial release near campus may produce an airborne chemical hazard. Depending on the material and conditions, the safest action may be to shelter-in-place rather than evacuate.

When instructed to shelter-in-place:

  • Go inside the nearest safe building.

  • Close exterior doors and windows.

  • Move away from exterior doors, windows, and outside-air intakes.

  • Go to an interior room when directed.

  • Do not go outside to observe the incident.

  • Do not leave the building unless instructed to evacuate.

  • Do not independently operate building ventilation controls unless authorized and trained to do so.

  • Monitor CSC ALERT, the College website, and other official College communications.

  • Follow instructions from Campus Safety and emergency responders.

Campus Safety will coordinate with Facilities regarding the shutdown or adjustment of building ventilation systems when appropriate.

Remain sheltered until an all-clear or additional instructions are issued.

Minor or Incidental Spills

A minor or incidental spill may be cleaned up only by employees who are trained and authorized to handle the specific material.

Cleanup may be considered only when:

  • The substance is known;

  • The hazards are understood;

  • The spill is small and within the employee’s training and capabilities;

  • No one has been injured or exposed;

  • There is no fire, explosion, inhalation, or uncontrolled-reaction hazard;

  • The material has not entered a drain, soil, or waterway;

  • Appropriate personal protective equipment and spill-control materials are immediately available; and

  • The applicable Safety Data Sheet and departmental spill procedure authorize the cleanup.

Trained personnel should:

  • Review the Safety Data Sheet before beginning cleanup.

  • Use the required personal protective equipment.

  • Prevent the material from spreading when this can be done safely.

  • Use cleanup materials specifically intended for the substance.

  • Place contaminated materials in properly labeled containers.

  • Dispose of the waste through the College’s approved hazardous-waste procedures.

  • Report the spill as required by departmental procedures.

When any of these conditions cannot be met, leave the area and report the spill to Campus Safety. Do not attempt cleanup.

Chemical Exposure

If someone is exposed to a hazardous material:

  • Call 9-1-1 and Campus Safety.

  • Move the person away from the hazard only when this can be done safely.

  • Use an emergency eyewash or safety shower immediately when appropriate.

  • Remove contaminated clothing only when it can be done safely.

  • Follow the first-aid directions in the Safety Data Sheet.

  • Do not provide treatment beyond your training.

  • Provide responders with the chemical name and Safety Data Sheet, if available.

Anyone who may have inhaled, swallowed, or had skin or eye contact with a hazardous material should be evaluated as directed by emergency or medical personnel.

Safety Data Sheets

Safety Data Sheets provide information about a chemical’s hazards, protective equipment, safe handling, storage, first aid, firefighting measures, spill response, and disposal considerations.

Before using a hazardous chemical:

  • Review the product label and Safety Data Sheet.

  • Understand the hazards and required precautions.

  • Use the specified personal protective equipment.

  • Follow all storage, handling, and disposal requirements.

  • Know the location of emergency eyewashes, safety showers, spill kits, alarms, and exits.

Safety Data Sheets for materials used in the Curtis Ivey Science Center may be located through the Ivey Safety Data Sheet Search.

Search by the chemical name or Chemical Abstracts Service-CAS-number. Departments must also maintain access to required Safety Data Sheets for hazardous chemicals used in their work areas.