UK Chemical Hygiene Plan

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Instructions Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Appendix I Appendix II Appendix III Appendix IV Appendix V Appendix VI Appendix VII Appendix VIII Appendix IX Appendix X Appendix XI Forward >> << Backward		CHAPTER 11 PLANNING FOR EMERGENCIES Planning and practicing for emergencies is an essential component of laboratory safety. Workers in labs should have the knowledge necessary to assess their risks from a small spill or release of a chemical or a small trash can fire, if they have received proper training. The most important aspect of this training is being able to differentiate between an incidental situation and an emergency. Practice in emergency procedures and evacuation drills will provide lab workers with the insight they need to make this differentiation. Contact the Fire Marshal (257-6326) for information on fire extinguisher training. An incidental release is one that does not cause an imminent health or safety hazard to lab workers and does not have to be cleaned up immediately in order to prevent death or serious injury to employees. Lab workers should prepare for and handle their own incidental spills or releases. If an accident does occur please refer to Appendix IX for appropriate reporting procedures. The following is a list of life threatening situations. If any of these situations occur the emergency procedures of the following section need to be followed. High concentrations of toxic substances Situation that is life or injury threatening Imminent danger to life and health (IDLH) environments Situation that presents an oxygen deficient atmosphere Condition that poses a fire or explosion hazard A situation that requires immediate attention because of the danger posed to employees in the area EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR SELECTED EMERGENCIES Fires and Other Life Threatening Situations The four actions below must be taken by whoever discovers a fire that cannot be put out safely by someone who knows how to use a fire extinguisher or other life threatening situation. Actual emergency conditions may require the procedures to be followed in a different order, depending on the layout of the laboratory, time of day, the number of people present and the location of the emergency relative to doors and alarm stations or telephones. Alert personnel in the immediate vicinity. Tell the nature and extent of the emergency. Give instructions to sound the alarm, call for assistance. Turn off heat source. Confine the fire or emergency without endangering yourself. Shut hood sash if possible. Close doors to prevent spread of vapors, gases or fire. Evacuate the building or hazardous area. Use the evacuation alarm system. Follow posted evacuation procedures. Assemble at designated meeting point. Practice evacuation and assembly in drills. Summon aid from a safe location. Call 911. Give location and type of emergency. Clothing Fire and Severe Thermal Burns Thermal burns from a clothing fire or large splash of hot material can be life threatening if they are deep, extensive or located on critical areas of the body. Severe burns of the hands, feet, face and genital areas are considered critical. To extinguish a clothing fire: Stop the person on fire from running! Drop the person to the floor. Standing will allow flames to spread upward to eyes and nose Roll the person to snuff out the flames Cool the person. Remove smoldering clothing. Use cold water or ice packs to cool burns and minimize injury Get medical assistance immediately Chemical Splash to the Eyes or Skin The most important emergency measure if chemicals are splashed to the eyes or skin is immediate flushing with water in the emergency eyewash and/or shower. Most splashes need at least 15 minutes of washing. Get medical assistance immediately after flushing. Please insert any lab specific procedures for emergencies here.

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Last Modified on 09-13-2002
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