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Cleaning up a Chemical Spill
How to use a spill kit
Evaluating a chemical spill
Is help needed? Can this be handled with lab personnel?
•
•
•
•
Container label is legible
SDS is available
Hazards: reactive, flammable, volatile
Risks: health, physical property, or
environment
• Available spill control materials to
confine and absorb
• Physical layout of the spill
• Hazardous vapors/ dust
• Liquids can encounter ignition
sources or incompatible materials
• Nearby classrooms or offices
• Training and experience
• Available PPE
• Available spill control materials
No
Chemical Hazards
Do I know what it is?
“Complex” spill
Yes
GET HELP!
Quantity
Can I handle a spill of this
size?
No
Yes
No
Impacts
Can this spill be contained?
Yes
Training and Equipment
Can I safely clean up the
spill with the available PPE
and equipment?
if no imminent hazard
(fire or major injury) ask
for AHERPS for further
assistance.
Evacuate if needed.
No
“Simple” spill
Yes
www.jst.umn.edu
Adapted from:
Univ. of Wiscon. Environment, Health and Safety. Spill Response and Reporting
http://web.uwsa.edu/oslp/ehs/hazmaterials/spill-response-and-reporting/
Call 911,
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Can be cleaned up
promptly by researcher
Cleaning up a chemical spill
Before cleaning up a spill make sure that you can do so safely.
1. Contact DEHS for guidance
2. Look up the SDS of the chemical
• Clean up procedures
• PPE requirements – put it on!
• Remember, Do NOT use spill kits for HF, radioactive
material, or mercury spills (call DEHS).
3. Secure the area – Post do not enter signs
4. Control the spread of spill with absorbent materials (spill mats).
5. Neutralize acids and bases.
• Add neutralizer slowly from edges to center; Mix
• Test with pH (want pH from 6-8)
• For acids use sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
• For bases use citric or ascorbic acid
www.jst.umn.edu
Images: Minor spill clean up. Iowa State University, Environmental Health and
Safety http://www.ehs.iastate.edu/laboratory/spills-leaks/minor-spill
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Cleaning up a chemical spill
5. Absorb the liquid with spill mats or other absorbent
5. Be careful not to be cut by any glass shards
6. Collect and contain the cleanup residues
• Place in a plastic waste container/bucker or double
layered plastic bags.
• Label with a yellow hazardous waste label and a red
solid waste sticker.
• Contact DEHS personnel for more information.
7. Decontaminate the area and effected equipment.
• Vent the spill area (open doors/windows, use a fan
• Clean area with soap and water with a mop or
sponge
www.jst.umn.edu
Images: Minor spill clean up. Iowa State University, Environmental Health and
Safety http://www.ehs.iastate.edu/laboratory/spills-leaks/minor-spill
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Hazardous
Waste
Compatible Absorbents
Chemical
Neutralizer, Absorbent, or Spill Containment
Acids
Sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, or calcium carbonate
Acid Chlorides
Dry sand or other inert absorbent - DO NOT use water or sodium bicarbonate
Alkali Metals (Li, Na, Mg, K)
Dry sand or contents from a Class "D" fire extinguisher - DO NOT use water
Bases
Sodium bisulfate
Bromine
5% solution of sodium thiosulfate or other inert material
Flammables
Activated charcoal, sand or non-combustible absorbent pads
Hydrofluoric Acid
Neutralize with soda ash or lime (or absorb with special HF spill pillow - standard spill pads
will NOT work)
Mercury
Mercury amalgamate powder, such as Merc-sorb
Oil
Granular absorbent or oil-specific absorbent pads (oil-specific absorbents will only absorb oil)
Oxidizers
non-combustible absorbent pads
Solvents (organic)
Inert absorbent material
Thiols/Mercaptans
The odor of thiols and mercaptans may be removed with activated charcoal
White or Yellow Phosphorus
Cover with wet sand or wet absorbent
www.jst.umn.edu
How to make a spill Kit FAQs, Hazardous Waste Management Program. Vermont DEC, Waste Management
and Prevention Division http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/wastediv/rcra/SpillKitFAQ.htm
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New PIG HazMat Mat Pad
Great chemical compatibility
http://www.newpig.com/pig/US/pig-hazmat-mat-padmat301?cm_cat=item_number_search
www.jst.umn.edu
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Keep in Mind
Ventilation Fume hood < vented cabinet < lab < hall < closet
Lower risk
Higher risk
Risks
• Explosives / air, water, temperature reactive
– Dangerous, but rare; likely already reacted prior to clean up of residue
• Fire / volatile / inhalation hazards
– Tricky to evaluate; Call DEHS (911 + AHERPS)
• Contact hazards (corrosives / toxic via ingestion)
– Most likely can be handled by lab (unless at high concentration or volume)
• Delayed effect (carcinogens / environmental hazards)
– Handled by lab
www.jst.umn.edu
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