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CHEMICAL SPILL

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PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

Confine the chemical, biological or radiation spill to the immediate area in which is started.

If a spill should occur, the greatest danger is panic caused by fear of the unknown. It is the duty of every employee to prevent patients from being unnecessarily frightened in any emergency.

Every effort should be made to keep the facility clean, safe and in good repair.

In all cases, if there are casualties or a threat to patient or staff safety at any time during the event, the Spill Response Team leader will call X122-6000, state it is related to the X125-2280, X122-7391 or X122-7077 call and request that the medical code team and disaster team report to the disaster site or another designated safe area.
In the event of a spill that cannot be controlled by MSKCC personnel, the New York City Fire Department should be notified immediately. The NYCFD Hazardous Materials Unit should be requested.

Upon arrival, the New York City Fire Department shall take charge of the incident while the MSKCC Spill Response Team shall assume an assistance and/or advisory role.

DESCRIPTION OF FAILURE
A. Chemical Spill

1. The range and quantity of hazardous substances used in laboratories require preplanning to respond safely to chemical spills. The cleanup of chemical spill should only be done by knowledgeable and experienced personnel. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available in individual departments, in the Safety Department Office (Z-306), or electronically through the MSKCC intranet.

2. A minor chemical spill is one that the laboratory staff is capable of handling safely without the assistance of safety and emergency personnel.

3. Spill kits with instructions, absorbents, reactants, and protective equipment should be available to clean up minor spills.

4. All other chemical spills are considered major.

B. Biological Spill

1. Biological spills outside biological safety cabinets will generate aerosols that can be dispersed in the air throughout the laboratory. These spills are very serious if they involve microorganisms that require biosafety containment (infectious agents handled in a Biological Safety Cabinet), since most of these agents have the potential for transmitting disease by infectious aerosols.

2. To reduce the risk of inhalation exposure in such an incident, occupants should hold their breath and leave the laboratory immediately.

3. The laboratory should not be reentered to decontaminate and clean up the spill for at least 30 minutes. During this time the aerosol will have been removed from the laboratory by the exhaust air ventilation system.

4. Appropriate protective equipment is particularly important in decontaminating spills involving microorganisms, even when handled on an open work bench. This equipment includes lab coat with long sleeves, back fastening gown or jumpsuit, disposable gloves, disposable shoe covers, and safety goggles and mask or full face shield. Use of this equipment will prevent contact with contaminated surfaces and protect eyes and mucous membranes from exposure to splattered materials.

C. Radiation Spill

1. Spreading of radiation beyond the spill area can easily occur by the movement of personnel involved in the spill or cleanup effort. Prevent spread by confining movement of personnel until they have been monitored and found free of contamination.

2. A minor radiation spill is one that the laboratory staff is capable of handling safely without the assistance of safety and emergency personnel.

3. All other radiation spills are considered major.

INITIAL RESPONSE TO INCIDENT

A. Chemical Spill

1. Attend to injured or contaminated persons and remove them from exposure.

2. Alert people in the laboratory to evacuate. If safe to perform, make an attempt to quickly contain the spill.

3. If spilled material is flammable, turn off ignition and heat sources.

4. Call Chemical Spill Emergency Response number (X125-2280, 122-7077).

5. Close door to affected area. Obtain Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).

6. Have person knowledgeable of incident and laboratory assist emergency personnel.

B. Biological Spill

1. Attend to injured or contaminated persons and remove them from exposure.

2. Alert people in the laboratory to evacuate.

3. Close doors to affected areas.

4. Call Biological Spill Emergency Response number (x125-2280, X122-7077).

5. Have person knowledgeable of incident and laboratory assist emergency personnel.

C. Radiation Spill

1. Attend to injured or contaminated persons and remove them from exposure.

2. Alert people in the laboratory to evacuate.

3. Have potentially contaminated personnel stay in one area until they have been monitored and shown to be free of contamination.

4. Call Radiation Spill Emergency Response number (X122-7391, operator).

5. Close doors and prevent entrance into affected area.

6. Have person knowledgeable of incident and laboratory assist emergency personnel.

PROCEDURE TO RESOLVE IMMEDIATE DISASTER
A. The Incident Commander (IC), Biosafety or Radiation Safety Officer, will establish and secure the accident area into hot and warm zones with spill barricade tape by monitoring spill conditions and/or radiation contamination. The IC will select personal protection equipment (PPE) that will be used by spill response personnel and call for the necessary spill cleanup equipment, including fire extinguishing equipment.

B. Spill Response Team will suit up with all chosen PPE, establish a decontamination corridor, and enter the “hot zone” to monitor the environment for spill conditions and possible radiation exposure. They will then move or assist hazard exposed victims to the “warm zone” where he/she will be decontaminated and turned over to emergency medical personnel.

C. The Spill Response Team will secure all doors to laboratories and chemical storage rooms. A complete search will be made for other victims or trapped personnel.

D. A complete spill cleanup will be performed.

E. Spill Response Team members will enter the “warm zone” for “decontamination”.

F. The IC will inspect the spill area and announce it safe to enter.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF KEY PERSONNEL DURING DISASTER
A. Chemical and Biological Spills: Biosafety Officer Cynthia Padin, X125-2280.

B. Radiation Spills: Radiation Safety Officer: Jean St. Germain, X122-7390

1. Responds to the scene.

2. Establish and secure the accident area into hot and warm zones.

3. Select personal protection equipment that will be used by spill personnel and call for necessary spill equipment.

4. Coordinates and oversee department disaster plan for Radiation Accident or Environmental Health and Safety Disaster Plan for biological and/or chemical spills.

5. The IC will inspect the spill area and announce it safe to enter.

https://secure.fastcommand.com/dp_mskcc_ny/forms/?formID=7267

US Patent Numbers 7,720,998 B2, 7,836,207