Technical information

Centrifuge Standard Operating Procedure 10
Health and Safety Office is also available to provide guidance at ext. 2874. The
guidelines below are summarized from the WLU Laboratory Health and Safety
Manual.
Determine if the spill is a major or minor spill (see Table 4-1).
1) For major spills:
a) Evacuate the lab, close the doors, restrict the area, and notify others in
the area of spill, including your supervisor and the Instrumentation
Technician if possible.
b) Call ext 3333 (Community Safety and Security).
c) Activate the fire alarm if there is risk to the safety of other people in
the building.
d) Be available to provide technical information to emergency responders.
2) For minor spills:
a) Attend to injured or contaminated personnel.
b) Restrict the area and notify others in the lab of the spill, including your
supervisor and the Instrumentation Technician if possible.
c) Take action to minimize the extent of the spill.
d) If flammable material is involved, turn of ignition sources (power,
Bunsen burners).
e) Select and wear all appropriate personal protective equipment.
f) It is the responsibility of the user of the hazardous material to clean up
the spill if he/she feels it is safe to do so.
g) All personal protective equipment must be disposed of correctly, and
must not be worn outside the laboratory.
h) Apply spill pillow/pads or other absorbent material, first around the
outside of the spill, encircling the material, then absorb to the center of
the spill.
i) Dispose of all materials used to clean up the spill in a sealed container.
j) Label and dispose of all bags or containers as hazardous waste.
3) For chemical spills on the body:
a) Remove all contaminated clothing.
b) Flood exposed area with running water form a safety shower for at least
15 minutes.
c) Have another individual contact 9-911 and ext 3333 to obtain medical
attention.
d) Report the incident to your supervisor and the Instrumentation
Technician.
4) For chemicals splashed in the eye(s):
a) Immediately rinse eyeball and inner surface of eyelid with water
continuously for 15 minutes. Forcibly hold eye lid(s) open to ensure
effective wash behind eyelids.
b) Have another individual contact 9-911 and ext 3333 to obtain medical
attention.