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4.0 EMERGENCY / MEDICAL PROCEDURES

4.1 BASIC STEPS FOR EMERGENCY AND SPILL RESPONSE

Releases of hazardous substances that pose a significant threat to health and safety or that, by their very nature, require an emergency response regardless of the circumstances surrounding the release or the mitigating factors are emergency situations. The following definitions designate an emergency situation:

1. The situation is unclear to the person causing or discovering the spill.

2. The release requires evacuation of persons.

3. The release involves or poses a threat of

   1. Fire, suspected fire, explosion or other imminent danger

   2. Conditions that are Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH)

3. High levels of exposure to toxic substances.

4. The person(s) in the work area is uncertain they can handle the severity of the hazard with the personal protective equipment (PPE) and response equipment that has been provided and/or the exposure limit could easily be exceeded.

Conversely, releases that do not pose significant safety or health hazards to person(s) in the immediate vicinity or to the person(s) cleaning releases, do not have the potential to become emergencies within a short time frame are not emergency situations. The following situations ARE NOT emergency situations:

1. The person causing or discovering the release understands the properties and can make an informed decision as to the exposure level.

2. The release can be appropriately cleaned up by the lab personnel using authorized (certified) spill kits.

3. The materials are limited in quantity, exposure potential, or toxicity and present minor safety or health hazards to persons in the immediate work area or those assigned to clean up the activity.

4. Incidental releases of hazardous substances that are routinely cleaned up by ORCBS or trained custodians from outside the immediate release area need not be considered an emergency.

4.1.1 Emergency Situation - Fire. The following steps are basic protocol for handling a fire or fire-related emergency situation in the laboratory:

1. Pull the fire alarm.

2. Call 9-1-1 from a safe location.

3. Notify the unit emergency coordinator.

4. Evacuate.

4.1.2 Emergency Situation - Spill. If the spill is of high toxicity or flammability or you are unsure of how to proceed or is more than one liter, execute the following:

1. Call 9-1-1.

2. Evacuate personnel from the spill area and alert neighbors to the spill.

3. Isolate the spill area and close doors to the room where the spill occurred.

4. Remove ignition sources and shut down equipment

5. Establish exhaust ventilation to the outside of the building only. Turn on exhaust equipment. Open windows.

Evacuation of the building is mandatory if chemicals or contaminants could enter the air circulation system of a building.

Attend to victims for a body splash:

1. Remove person(s) from spill area to fresh air only if attempts to rescue victim(s) does not present a danger to the rescuers.
2. Remove contaminated clothing while under an emergency shower.
3. Flood affected area with cold water for at least 15 minutes or longer if pain persists.
4. Wash skin with mild soap and water - do not use neutralizing chemicals, unguents, creams, lotions or salves.
5. Contact emergency response personnel and assure they know the chemical(s) involved.

Attend to victims for an eye splash:

1. Remove victim(s) from spill area to fresh air only if attempts to rescue victim(s) does not present a danger to the rescuers.
2. Lead the victim(s) immediately to an emergency eye wash facility.
3. Hold eye lids open.
4. Flush eyes for at least 15 minutes or longer if pain persists.
5. Contact emergency response personnel and assure they know the chemical(s) involved.

4.1.3 Mercury Spills. For very small spills, less than 1 cc, such as a broken thermometer, use a trapped vacuum line attached to a tapered glass tube, similar to a medicine dropper, to pick up mercury droplets.

1. Do not use a domestic or commercial vacuum cleaner.

2. Cover small droplets in accessible areas with one of the following:

• sodium polysulfide solution
• powdered sulfur
• silver metal compounds
• dry ice to freeze the mercury droplets

3. Place residue in container for hazardous waste collection.

For large spills, i.e. greater than 1 cc, contact the ORCBS for spill cleanup, instructions or assistance.

4.1.4 Spill Kits. Ready access to a chemical spill kit is required in laboratories that work with hazardous chemicals. Minimally, such a kit should contain:

• splash resistant goggles
• chemical resistant gloves
• plastic bags
• multi-chemical sorbent (enough for 2 gallon spill)
• scooper

Most spills greater than 1 liter in volume require assistance from trained personnel from the ORCBS.

Some sorbents are chemically specific. The best sorbents are those which can be used to clean up all types of chemical spills. Check absorbents in spill kits for their absorbency range.

Each laboratory's spill kit should be kept in a readily accessible location and each employee should be trained on how to use the spill kit.

4.1.5 Non-Emergency Situation - Spill. If the spill is less than one liter and the chemical involved is of low toxicity and a low flammable hazard, handle it in the following manner:

If there are questions about proper spill response techniques, call the ORCBS at 355-0153.

1. Locate the spill kit.

2. Choose the proper protective equipment:

• Always wear gloves and protective eye wear
• Use additional protective equipment such as an apron, coveralls, or boots
• Use a fitted respirator if there is an inhalation hazard above the permissible exposure limit.

3. Confine or contain the spill.

For non-reactive spills:

1. Cover liquid spills with spill kit absorbent and scoop into a plastic disposal bag.
2. Sweep solid materials into a dust pan and place in a sealed container.
3. Dispose of waste as normal trash as long as substance is non-volatile, non-hazardous.

For reactive or potentially reactive spills:

1. Cover liquid spill with spill kit absorbent and scoop into an appropriate disposal container.
2. Wet mop dry substances to avoid spreading hazardous dust, provided it is non-water reactive.
3. If spilled chemical is a volatile solvent, transfer disposal bag to a hood for evaporation of solvent.
4. Follow the MSU Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide for disposal.

4.1.6 Power Outages. If emergency lighting and fire alarms ARE NOT operable, evacuate the building after the following steps have been taken:

• Place lids on all open containers of volatile chemicals
• Lower the sash on chemical fume hoods
• Shut down all equipment (leave cooling water and purge gases on as necessary)
• Turn off ignition sources
• Secure or isolate reactions that are underway (boiling liquid on a hot plate, distillations)
• Close fire doors
• Take your books, coats, purse/wallet, keys, etc.
• Lock outside door to lab

In anticipation of possible power outages, do the following:

• Have a flashlight conveniently located or other emergency lighting
• Make sure that all emergency contact numbers on the door are accurate and updated

4.2 INJURY AND ILLNESS

For medical treatment, under current MSU policies and procedures, affected employees must seek care from one of the approved medical care facilities:

The supervisor or instructor must ensure the appropriate injury report forms are completed. See MSU Human Resources for copies of the appropriate forms. The web link to Human Resources form titled AUTHORIZATION TO INVOICE MSU is below. This form contains instructions for employees seeking medical attention.

Authorization to Invoice MSU (pdf)

If you have any questions regarding injury and illness procedures, contact your supervisor, instructor or Human Resources.

Minor First Aid

First Aid Kits. First aid kits are not recommended except for remote operations where emergency care is not readily available. If a unit desires a first aid kit, it must be maintained with essential supplies at all times. See the General Stores Catalog for a list of essential supplies.

Do not dispense or administer any medications, including aspirin.

Do not put any ointments or creams on wounds or burns. Use cool water.

The MSDS contains specific first aid information for a given chemical.

For specific first aid information, contact your supervisor, Olin Health Center or MSU Police and Public Safety.

4.3 MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS AND EXAMINATIONS

1. Health assessments prior to work assignment for new employees will be performed under the following conditions:

1. When conditions specified by the Exposure to Health Risks form (available from department & Appendix M) are met, the employee must send the completed form to the MSU Occupational Health Service and then contact the MSU Olin Health Services to schedule an appointment for a medical examination prior to work assignment. Note that there are separate forms for full-time employees and student employees.

2. Units must provide all employees who work with hazardous chemicals an opportunity to receive medical attention, including any follow-up examinations which the examining physician determines to be necessary, under the following circumstances:

1. When an employee develops signs or symptoms associated with a hazardous chemical to which the employee may have been exposed in the laboratory, the employee must be provided an opportunity to receive an appropriate examination.

2. Where exposure monitoring reveals an exposure level routinely above the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the Permissible Exposure Limit) for an OSHA regulated substance for which there are exposure monitoring and medical surveillance requirements, medical surveillance shall be established for the affected employee as prescribed by the particular standard.

3. Whenever an event takes place in the work area, such as a spill, leak, explosion or other occurrence resulting in the likelihood of a hazardous exposure, the affected employee shall be provided an opportunity for a medical consultation. Such consultations shall be for the purpose of determining the need for a medical examination.\

4. All medical consultations and examinations must be performed by or under the direct supervision of a licensed physician and must be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay and at a reasonable time and place.

3. The unit shall provide the following information to the physician:

1. The identity of the hazardous chemical(s) to which the employee may have been exposed.

2. A description of the conditions surrounding the exposure, including available quantitative exposure data.

3. A description of the signs and symptoms of exposure that the employee is experiencing, if any.

4. The unit shall obtain a written opinion from the examining physician which shall include the following:

1. Any recommendation for further medical follow-up.

2. The results of the medical examination and any associated tests.

3. Any medical condition which may be revealed in the course of the examination which may place the employee at increased risk as a result of exposure to a hazardous chemical found in the workplace.

4. A statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of the results of the consultation or medical examination and any medical condition that may require further examination or treatment.

1. The written opinion of the physician shall not reveal specific finding of diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure.

5.0 Standard Laboratory Facility Requirements

Chemical Hygiene Plan Table of Contents