I feel the most immediate concern is someone using the elevator  and think the best way to prevent and at the same time get the building evacuated would be immediately pull the fire alarm. 

 

Steven S. Funck, MS, CSMM

Natural Sciences Laboratory Program Manager

Messiah College

One College Ave.

Suite 3049

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

 

Phone:  (717) 796-1800 (ext. 2079)

Fax: (717) 691-6046

SFunck**At_Symbol_Here**messiah.edu

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Allen Niemi
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 10:54 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Methylene Chloride Spill Response

 

I'd like to get some feedback from those of you with chemical spill response backgrounds. Given a busy 7-story mixed classroom and laboratory building with a single central hallway running the full length of the building (long rectangular building), and someone spills four liters of methylene chloride on the hallway floor during regular business hours, right in front of the elevators - some of the liquid and much of the vapor is running down the elevator shaft. Is there anyone out there who would not immediately evacuate the building? Would you use the fire alarm pull station to initiate an evacuation? If not, would you take other immediate actions to shut down the elevators?

There are several other response actions that would, obviously, be taken but I'm mostly interested in the building evacuation and elevator aspect.

I'm working on a spill response procedure and would like to hear from others before I make a final recommendation.

--
Allen Niemi, PhD
Director
Occupational Safety and Health Services
Room 322 Lakeshore Center
Michigan Technological University
Phone: 906-487-2118
Fax:     906-487-3048