Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2010 12:18:22 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: "Samuella B. Sigmann" <sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**APPSTATE.EDU>
Subject: Re: SOP for First Responders
In-Reply-To: <4D10827D.FB11.0089.1**At_Symbol_Here**waubonsee.edu>

Hi Kathy - We had a flood in our stockroom several years ago before it was renovated and I came into work that morning to find 3 physical plant workers on ladders in our main stacks of chemicals that were, at that time, on wooden shelves.  There was water pouring down from the floor above and they were trying to find the leak.  Needless to say - it was just about the scariest thing that I have ever seen.  Those workers had no idea what they might be exposed to if there was shelf failure.   On the upside - it pushed a complete stockroom renovation to the top of the small project list for the university.

What also came out of that was a "DO NOT ENTER" list for our security and physical plant personnel.  Our police and maintenance considered as "non trained" to deal with emergencies and are not allowed to enter areas housing chemicals, compressed gases, radioactive materials, etc.  Each room in the chemistry department is accounted for.  For instance, if we have a pipe break in a faculty office the physical plant personnel can enter to control or fix the leak.  If that leak is in a lab, they are to contact the departmental chair and the PI to determine hazards before entering. 

This is some of the wording in the document

For purposes of this document “non-trained” personnel would not have the knowledge or training to

Key to contact table:
Grey – non-trained personnel MAY enter to evaluate or contain event - Contact Departmental Chair only
Green – non-trained personnel MAY enter to evaluate or contain event - Contact Departmental Chair and any indicated faculty member(s)
Yellow – Non-trained personnel MAY NOT enter as hazardous conditions exist and may be made worse by the emergency – Contact the Departmental Chair and any indicated faculty member(s)

I think that if First responders and fire fighters are involved they will have definite regulations and protocols to follow.  This is mainly for our university staff responding to building issues.

Sammye

On 12/21/2010 11:33 AM, Katherine Wall wrote:
The chief of our campus police has asked me to write up a SOP for his staff when dealing with an emergency in the Chemistry labs.  I have a CHP that talks about emergency situations, but he is looking for something very specific that can be used for training.  Does anyone have something like that I could use as a guide?
 
Also, do you require the first responders (police, fire fighters, EMTs, etc.) to put on safety goggles or glasses before entering a Chemistry lab that could be full of students activity completing their experiments?
 
Thank you!
 
 
Kathy Wall
Chemistry Lab Coordinator
Office SCI 204
Waubonsee Community College
Rt 47 at Waubonsee Dr.
Sugar Grove, IL  60554
(630) 466-7900 ext 2347
email kwall**At_Symbol_Here**waubonsee.edu

 
 
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