All accidents, hazardous materials spills or other dangerous incidents should be reported. A list of telephone numbers must be posted near entrances to each laboratory and storeroom and beside every telephone in the labs. Telephone numbers must include the Principal Investigator (or Laboratory Supervisor), Emergency Medical Services (generally 9-911), UT Police Department (911 or 1-4441), and Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Hazardous Materials Division (1-3511). Callers should explain any emergency situation clearly, calmly, and in detail.

1. Primary Emergency Procedures for Fires, Spills and Accidents:
   1. In the event of a fire, pull the nearest fire alarm. If you are unable to control or extinguish a fire, follow the building evacuation procedures.
   2. Attend to any person(s) who may have been contaminated and/or injured if it is safe to reach them. Use safety showers and eyewashes as appropriate. In the case of eye contact, promptly flush eyes with water for a minimum 15-minute period and seek medical attention immediately. For ingestion cases, contact the Poison Control Center at 1-800-POISON1. In case of skin contact, promptly flush the affected area with water and remove any contaminated clothing or jewelry. If symptoms persist after washing, seek medical attention.
   3. Notify persons in the immediate area about the spill, evacuating all non-essential personnel from the spill area and adjoining areas that may be impacted by vapors or a potential fire.
   4. If the spilled material is flammable, turn off all potential ignition sources. Avoid breathing vapors of the spilled materials. Be aware that some materials either have no odors or create olfactory fatigue, so that you stop smelling the odor very quickly.
   5. Leave on or establish exhaust ventilation if it is safe to do so. Close doors to slow down the spread of odors.
   6. Notify EH&S Hazardous Materials Division (1-3511).

If there is an immediate threat to life or health:

Call City of Austin Emergency Services at 9-911 (campus phone) for assistance with injured, in case of fire, or for performing rescues. Give the nature and the extent of the emergency; be as specific and detailed as possible. An ambulance, fire truck, or police vehicle will respond upon your request.

Notify the UT Police Department (911 on campus) if you have dispatched any City of Austin Emergency Services that will be entering the campus.

If the spill is minor:

7. Use a spill control kit appropriate to control material spilled, if appropriately trained to respond.
8. If the spill is minor and of known limited danger, clean up immediately. Determine the appropriate cleaning method by referring to the MSDS. During cleanup, wear appropriate protective apparel. The protective clothing required will depend upon the material spilled, the amount, and the airborne concentration. At a minimum, chemical resistant gloves and goggles should be worn.
9. Cover liquid spills with compatible absorbent material such as spill pillows or a kitty litter/vermiculite mix. Be sure to check compatibility. Powdered materials should be covered with wet paper towels (if compatible) to avoid dispersal. If appropriate materials are available, corrosives should be neutralized prior to absorption. Clean spills from the outer areas first, cleaning towards the center.
10. Place the spilled material into an impervious container, seal, and contact EH&S for disposal.
11. If appropriate, wash the affected surface with soap and water. Mop up the residues and containerize for disposal.
12. A solvent, e.g. xylene, may be necessary to clean surfaces contaminated with a non-water soluble chemical. Be sure to check the solubility of the spilled material and use the least toxic effective solvent available. Be sure to wear appropriate protective equipment.

Supplies and equipment must be assembled and kept on hand to deal with any potential spill. The extent to which spill equipment is available depends on the chemicals, the process, and the personnel working in the lab. Assistance in assembling chemical spill control kits is available from the EH&S, Hazardous Materials Division, at 1-3511.

2. Special Procedures for Radioactive Hazards

   (In addition to these guidelines, refer to The University's Radiation Safety Manual.)

   1. Do not take any action unless you have been trained to respond, except to summon assistance.
   2. If it is safe to do so, attend to anyone who may have been contaminated and/or injured. Use safety showers and eyewashes as appropriate. Notify EH&S Radiation Safety Section (1-3511) and obtain appropriate radiation meters and assistance. Call City of Austin Emergency Services at 9-911 (on campus) for assistance with injured, in case of fire, or for performing rescues. Describe the nature and the extent of the emergency; be as specific and detailed as possible. An ambulance, fire truck, or police vehicle will respond upon your request.
   3. Notify the UT Police Department (911 on campus) if you have dispatched any City of Austin Emergency Services that will be entering campus.
   4. Remove all personnel from the immediate spill area to a safe meeting location in or near the lab.
   5. Shut off ventilation, close windows and doors, and turn off hoods if possible. Do not do this if radioactive gas is involved, as release to the environment is preferable in that case.
   6. With the assistance of the EH&S Radiation Safety Section, check all personnel for skin and clothing contamination.
   7. Under the guidance of the EH&S Radiation Safety Section, decontaminate personnel and re-survey until radiation levels are at background.
3. Special Procedures For Biological Hazards
   1. Do not take any action unless you have been trained to respond, except to summon assistance.
   2. Attend to anyone who may have been contaminated and/or injured if it is safe to reach them. Use safety showers and eyewashes as appropriate. Call City of Austin Emergency Services at 9-911 (on campus) for assistance with injured, in case of fire, or for performing rescues. Describe the nature and the extent of the emergency; be as specific and detailed as possible. An ambulance, fire truck, or police vehicle will respond upon your request.
   3. Notify the UT Police Department (911 on campus) if you have dispatched any City of Austin Emergency Services that will be entering campus.
   4. If the room is equipped with ultraviolet lights, turn them on.
   5. Notify persons in the immediate area about the spill. Evacuate non-essential personnel from the spill area.
   6. Leave the laboratory and close all doors to prevent re-entry.
   7. Notify the EH&S Hazardous Materials Division (1-3511).
   8. If your clothing is contaminated, remove it and place it in a properly labeled impervious container. Avoid close contact with other people to prevent additional exposures. Take a shower.
   9. Put on protective clothing and equipment.
   10. Wait at least 30 minutes for the aerosol to settle before entering the contaminated room. Turn off ultraviolet lights and check for visible mists in the air before entering.
   11. Apply appropriate disinfectant to the spill with a gentle flooding action to avoid secondary aerosols. Allow sufficient contact times.
   12. Cover excess liquids with absorbent material. Dry material should be covered with wet paper towels to avoid dispersal.
   13. Place the spill clean-up material into a container and autoclave it or call EH&S for disposal.
   14. Wash the affected surface with strong disinfectant.
   15. For a spill in a biological safety cabinet: clean immediately, keep the cabinet running, and use a chemical disinfectant such as bleach or alcohol and paper towels.
   16. For a minimally hazardous material without aerosol, and in small volume: clean with paper towel soaked in a disinfectant.

Note: For additional information regarding biological spills refer to Emergency Procedures of the Biological Hazards and Control, Chapter F of this manual.

4. Building Evacuation Procedures
   1. Building evacuation may be necessary if there is a chemical release, fire, explosion, natural disaster, or medical emergency.
   2. Be aware of the marked exits from your area and building.
   3. The evacuation alarm is a loud continuous siren or horn.
   4. To activate the building alarm system, pull the handle on one of the red boxes located in the hallway. If there is a fire, call Austin Fire Department at 9-911, give your name, and describe the exact location (building name, building location, and room number) and size of the fire, then call UTPD at 911.
   5. Whenever the building evacuation alarm is sounded or when you are ordered to leave by the UTPD, EH&S, or emergency response personnel, walk quickly to the nearest marked exit and ask others to do the same.
   6. Outside, proceed to a clear reassembly area that is at least 150 feet from the affected building. Keep walkways clear for emergency vehicles.
   7. To the best of your ability and without reentering the building, be available to assist UTPD and EH&S in their attempts to determine that everyone has been evacuated safely.
   8. An Emergency Command Post will be set up near the emergency site by the emergency responders. Keep clear of the post unless you have important information to report.
   9. Do not return to the building until you are told to do so by the UTPD, EH&S, or City of Austin responders.

(Also refer to Appendix VI for Emergency Procedures poster.)