Department
of
Applied Biology and Chemical Technology
Emergency Procedures
Aug 2013
Index of Content
1. Things You Should Know &
Pg. 1
Emergency Numbers
2. Personal Injury & Electric Shock
Pg. 2
3. In The Event of Fire
Pg. 3
4. Chemical Spillage
Pg. 4
5. Biological Spillage
Pg. 5
6. Accident/Incident Reporting
Pg. 6
Emergency Procedures
You Should Know:
 Person-In-Charge of the laboratory/workshop/office that you are working in
 First aid box locations
 Emergency escape routes
 Fire alarm locations
 Fire extinguisher and blanket locations
 Emergency telephone locations and numbers
 Emergency eye washes/showers locations
Emergency Numbers
In an emergency, get assistance from the Campus Security
Control Centre by:
♥ Using one of the emergency telephones or
♥ Calling ext. 7999 from any phone on campus.
Emergency
Telephone
Other Useful Numbers
♥ Campus Security Control Centre
ext. 7666 (24 hours)
ext. 7999 (emergency line)
♥ University Health Service
ext. 5433 (during office hours)
♥ Health, Safety and Environment Office
ext. 8396 (during office hours)
1
Personal injury
1.
For minor injury, apply first aid using materials
contained in the first aid box.
2.
Call for help or ask someone to do so in case of a serious
First aid box
injury:
 Campus Security Control Centre, ext. 7999.
 University Health Service, ext. 5433 (during office hours).
 Check that you and the casualty are in a safe place while waiting for help.
 If danger is imminent, move the casualty to a safe place.
Electric Shock
Action
The electric current should be turned off before touching the casualty. Do not
touch the casualty if he is in contact with live current.
2. If current cannot be turned off, the followings can be attempted to free the
casualty:
 Stand on some dry insulating material such as wooden box, a rubber or
plastic mat, a telephone directory or a thick pile of newspaper.
 Push the casualty’s limbs away from current with a dry nonmetallic pole
such as broomstick, wooden chair or stool or push the source away from the
casualty, whichever is easier.
 If absolutely necessary, pull the casualty free by pulling at his loose, dry
clothing. Do this only as a last resort.
1.
Treatment
As soon as the casualty is separated from the electrical source, check if the
casualty is unconscious. Summon help.
 Campus Security Control Centre, ext. 7999
 University Health Service, ext. 5433
2
In the event of FIRE
Upon hearing the fire alarm:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Keep calm.
Stop your work immediately.
Switch off power / fuel supply to machinery and plant.
Exit the building.
Urge and assist other people in the building to leave.
Do not use lifts, use staircases and leave the building as quickly as possible.
Do not return for valuables or for any reason until the area is declared safe by
firemen.
Upon discovering a fire or if a fire starts at your workplace:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Do not panic, keep calm.
Sound the fire alarm by activating the break-glass alarm in the corridor.
Call Campus Security Control Centre, if time permits, by dialing 7999 or
using the nearby emergency telephone.
Switch off power / fuel supply to machinery and plant if it is safe to do so.
Only tackle the fire if you are absolutely sure that danger is not imminent.
Close doors to contain fire and smoke.
Exit the building.
Do not use the lifts, use the staircases and leave the building as quickly as
possible.
Do not return for valuables or for any reason until the area is declared safe by
firemen.
3
Chemical Spillage
Minor Spillage
1.
Stay away from the area of spills.
2.
Alert others around the area.
3.
Open the windows if the spilt chemical or the
leaked gas is flammable.
4.
Do not turn on or off any electrical switches, or
use the telephone in the area.
5.
If you are trained in handling spills, try to clean up the spill by using the
provided spill-response kit in the laboratory/workshop. Make sure that you
wear all the necessary personal protective equipment. Otherwise, notify the
Person-In-Charge of the laboratory/workshop.
Spill-response kit
Major Spillage
1.
Stay away from the area of spills.
2.
Alert others around the area.
3.
Open the windows if the spilt chemical or the leaked gas is flammable.
4.
Do not turn on or off any electrical switches, or use the telephone in the area.
5.
Evacuate the area and fence off the affected area to disallow entry.
6.
Call the Campus Security Control Centre, ext. 7999 and HSEO, ext. 8396 for
assistance.
7.
Notify Person-In-Charge of the laboratory/workshop.
4
Biological spillage
Minor Spillage (less than 500 mL of Biohazard Class 1 or 2 materials or
organisms)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Warn personnel working nearby and notify the Person-In-Charge of the
laboratory.
Put on appropriate Personal Protective Equipment such as gloves, splash
guards and respirators.
Always work in a team during the clean up. Keep at least one personnel
around to observe the response of the clean up staff.
Pour disinfectants such as 0.5% hypochlorite carefully around the outside of
the spill and allow the disinfectants to flow into the spill. Lay paper towels
wetted with disinfectant over the spill.
Wait for 20-30 minutes to allow the disinfectant to work.
Transfer the soaked materials into double waste bags labeled with biohazard
signs for disposal. Equipments reclaimed should be washed thoroughly to
remove hypochlorite solution before autoclaving if such is required.
Plastic-wares reclaimed should be washed and soaked with fresh hypochlorite
solutions again.
Wash and mop the adjacent area as well as the spill area with a fresh
disinfectant solution.
Wash gloves before removal and leaving the area. Other protective
equipments used should also be disinfected.
Major Spillage (more than 500 mL or involving Biohazard Class 3 materials or
organisms)
In the occurrence of a major biological spillage, FMO and HSEO should be called
immediately to provide assistance.
1.
All personnel in the same laboratory must hold their breath and leave the
premises immediately.
2.
Close the laboratory door and place “Do Not Enter” and “Biohazard” signs on
or outside the door.
3.
Use the nearby emergency telephone or dial 7999 to contact Campus Security
Centre and HSEO at ext. 8396.
4.
Wait for the arrival of security guards and/or emergency response personnel
from the authority to carry out the disinfection procedures.
5.
Wash hands and face. Wash body if contaminated.
5
Accident/Incident Reporting
1.
All accidents and incidents must be reported and accident/incident
investigations carried out to determine the causes and to recommend
corrective actions in order to prevent future recurrence.
2.
After an incident/accident, the supervisor of the injured person or the staff
member responsible for the area in which the accident/incident took place
should complete an Accident/Incident Report Form (HSO Form 2) and send it
to Health, Safety and Environment Office through Head of Department within
72 hours of the accident/incident.
3.
In case of work related accidents involving university staff, Head of
Department shall ensure that the Director of the Human Resources Office is
informed of such cases immediately after such accidents by completing HRO
Form 67 and copies of the forms should be sent to the Health, Safety and
Environment Office in sealed envelopes.
4.
In case of an accident that involves an insurance claim of damage/loss to
property and/or equipment, the Finance Office should be contacted
immediately at extension 5263 for insurance claim processing with the
University’s insurer.
===============================================================
Dr. Kwok Wing-ming
DHSO, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology
Aug, 2013
6