DCHAS-L Archives, Oct 15 2014 - Re: [DCHAS-L] How big of a spill before you call for help?

If you have been properly trained by your supervisor, you may clean up a small chemical spill with the assistance of other personnel in your area.

A small spill is defined as a spill where:

1. There is little threat to human health personnel property or to the environment, and;

2. There are no injuries beyond what simple first aid can manage, and;

3. The characteristics and the hazards of the material are known, and;

4. You have both the supplies and the knowledge necessary to clean up the materials.

If your spill does not fit all of the specifications above, you have a Large Spill.

1. Report injuries to the University Police at (915)-4911 immediately.

2. Contact Health and Safety at (915)-5433.

3. Tend to injured personnel if you can do so without causing harm to yourself.

4. Leave the area of the spill.

Edward M. Movitz

Health & Safety Officer / FSO

The University of Mississippi

Department of Health and Safety

100 Health and Safety Building

P.O. Box 1848

University, MS 38677-1848

U.S.A.

O:+1-662-915-5433 | F: 662-915-5480

movitz**At_Symbol_Here**olemiss.edu | www.olemiss.edu | Health & Safety Web Site

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From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] on behalf of Phil McKittrick [phil_mckittrick**At_Symbol_Here**YAHOO.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 3:37 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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