Chemical Spill Response
Chemical spills can happen even in well-managed laboratories. Knowing how to respond quickly and appropriately helps protect yourself, your coworkers, and the research environment.
If a Chemical Spill Occurs
- Protect yourself first. Avoid contact with spilled materials and move away if there is a risk of exposure.
- Alert others in the area. Notify nearby personnel and prevent others from entering the spill area.
- Assess the situation. Determine whether the spill can be safely managed by trained laboratory personnel or if additional assistance is needed.
- When in doubt, stop work and seek assistance.
Never attempt to clean up a spill if you do not know what was spilled, do not have appropriate training or PPE, or are unsure how to safely respond.
Can I Clean Up the Spill?
Laboratory personnel may clean up a chemical spill only when all of the following conditions are met:
| Minor Spill – May Be Managed by Trained Personnel | Major Spill – Requires Assistance |
|---|---|
| You know what chemical was spilled | Chemical identity is unknown |
| You understand the hazards of the chemical | Chemical presents significant health, fire, or reactivity hazards |
| You have appropriate PPE and spill supplies | Appropriate PPE or spill supplies are not available |
| The spill is small and manageable (<1L) | Spill is large or spreading (>1L) |
| No one has been exposed or injured | Someone has been exposed or injured |
| No hazardous vapors, fire, explosion, or other hazards are present | Fire, explosion, toxic vapors, or other serious hazards exist |
If you are unsure whether a spill is safe to clean up, treat it as a major spill and contact the Safety Coordinator or Environmental Health & Safety.
Spill Cleanup Procedures
If you have determined that you can safely clean up a minor spill:
- Notify others in the area.
- Put on appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for hazard and cleanup information.
- Use the appropriate spill kit materials.
- Collect contaminated cleanup materials and place them in a properly labeled hazardous waste container.
- Decontaminate reusable equipment and tools.
- Report the spill to the Safety Coordinator.
Spill Kits
Laboratories should maintain appropriate spill response supplies based on the chemicals used in the area.
Typical spill kit supplies may include:
- Chemical absorbent materials
- Disposable gloves
- Safety goggles or splash protection
- Disposable tools for cleanup
- Waste collection bags or containers
- Hazardous waste labels
Laboratories should review spill kit supplies regularly and replace materials after use.
Special Spill Situations
Do not attempt cleanup without specific training and appropriate resources for spills involving:
- Unknown chemicals
- Mercury
- Hydrofluoric acid (HF)
- Pyrophoric materials
- Highly toxic chemicals
- Chemicals that generate hazardous vapors
- Radioactive materials
- Biological materials
Contact the appropriate safety personnel for assistance.
Preventing Chemical Spills
The best spill response is spill prevention. Good laboratory practices reduce the likelihood of accidents and exposures.
Prevent spills by:
- Planning procedures before beginning work.
- Reviewing chemical hazards and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs).
- Keeping work areas clean and organized.
- Using appropriate secondary containment.
- Keeping chemical containers closed when not in use.
- Transporting chemicals safely.
- Storing chemicals according to compatibility requirements.
Reporting Chemical Spills
All chemical spills should be reported, even when cleanup is completed successfully.
Reporting helps us:
- Identify recurring hazards.
- Improve procedures and training.
- Maintain adequate spill response supplies.
- Prevent future incidents.
If you are unsure whether an event should be reported, please report it. Early reporting helps the department address hazards before they become more serious.
Report a Spill, Incident, or Close Call
Related Safety Resources
- Training– Required safety training and Learning Central courses
- Report a Safety Concern – Report incidents, near misses, spills, or unsafe conditions
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) – Laboratory-specific procedures and safe work practices
