Exposure to Personnel

  • If it is safe to do so, remove contaminated person(s) from area.
  • Call 911 for immediate medical attention or if chemical release threatens others. (Refer to the Medical Emergency tab in the guide).
  • If necessary, activate the fire alarm, and evacuate the building.
  • Remove contaminated clothing and use emergency eyewash/shower.
  • Administer first-aid as appropriate.
  • Notify Environmental Health & Safety. During work hours (8 am to 5 pm) call EH&S at (805) 893-3194. After hours and Weekends call (805) 893-3446.
  • Provide information, including Safety Data Sheets http://ehs.ucsb.edu/msds to emergency responders.

Contamination of Equipment/Facilities

  • Alert people in the immediate area to evacuate to a safe distance.
  • If a spill/release is a threat to health or safety, call 911.
  • For flammable liquids, turn off ignition sources near spill, if this can be done safely.
  • Restrict access to avoid exposure and spread of contamination.
  • Increase exhaust to outside. If the spill is in a laboratory, fully open the sash of a fume hood. Close sash if the spill is in a hood. If available, press the purge button for the fume hood.
  • Perform clean-up only if you are familiar with the material, you are properly trained and equipped, and you feel it is safe to do so. Some lab buildings have communal spill cleanup supply closets. Inquire locally, or consult EH&S.
  • If needed, request cleanup assistance from EH&S at (805) 893-3194 (24 hour phone). If material is radioactive or biological, see the Exposure to Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials/Radioactive Contamination/Spills or tabs in the guide.
  • Bag the waste and use a UCSB Hazardous Waste label. Store waste in a fume hood if material is volatile. To request a pickup complete the Hazardous Materials/Waste pickup form found at https://hazwaste.ehs.ucsb.edu/hazwasterequest.

Release to the Environment (Air, Water, Soil)

  • If safe to do so, stop the release.
  • If a spill/release is a threat to health or safety, call 911.
  • Notify EH&S. During work hours (8 am to 5 pm) call EH&S at (805) 893-3194. After hours and Weekends call (805) 893-3446.
  • Follow procedures above for contamination of equipment/facilities.

chemical incident