From: "Arvedson, Steve" <stephena**At_Symbol_Here**amgen.com>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] How big of a spill before you call for help?
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 21:45:52 +0000
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 365ED04AC901D4438C6C090B2A121824518C552C**At_Symbol_Here**usso-pmsg-mbx02.am.corp.amgen.com
In-Reply-To <1413319030.5107.YahooMailNeo**At_Symbol_Here**web120802.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>


In my opinion, the size of the spill is less of a determinant than the ability of the responder to protect themselves from exposure to the material spilled, especially from inhalation.  I find that most lab researchers are pretty aware of liquid contact, but usually overlook the inhalation hazards.  Thus, if it can’t be cleaned up in a few seconds with a few paper towels and the cleanup supplies moved to a hood, it’s probably better to bring in someone who is trained to use the appropriate respiratory protection.

 

At my company we put a 4L limit on spill cleanup in general (for anything other than water or benign aqueous spills), since people can’t determine %LEL without a meter.  However, we also ask people to call for help for smaller spills where they can’t protect themselves as outlined above.

 

Steve Arvedson

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Phil McKittrick
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 1:37 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] How big of a spill before you call for help?

 

Someone asked me how large of a spill they could clean up themselves without calling our internal emergency spill team.  I realize it depends a lot on what was spilled, but let's assume it is something nasty like methylene chloride or benzene.  Is there a good rule of thumb for how large of a spill (outside a hood) can be cleaned up safely?

 

Phil McKittrick

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