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Environmental Health & Safety

Chemical Spill

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In an academic setting, chemical spills and accidental releases are inevitable due to the large number of chemical containers handled by faculty, staff, and students. The high volume of usage increases the likelihood of such incidents. Therefore, it is essential to understand and follow proper spill cleanup and disposal procedures. Texas Christian University (TCU) will manage chemicals in a responsible manner that minimizes potential environmental and health impacts and fully considers all legal regulations and requirements, and governmental policies.

Faculty, staff, and students working in areas where chemicals are used must receive training on the hazards associated with the chemicals and the appropriate methods for responding should a spill occur, including proper clean up and disposal of chemical spills.

Spill Kit Guidance
Labs are required to have a spill kit accessible in their work area. Many safety equipment providers, such as VWR, Grainger, and New Pig, offer spill cleanup supplies or kits. Each lab should tailor their kit to their specific operations. A spill kit should include, at a minimum, the following items:

Item Description
Absorbent Spill pads, university for acid, base, oil, solvents
Neutralizer Box baking soda for neutralizing acids
Brush, dustpan One snap together dustpan and whisk broom
Plastic bags Yellow hazardous material heavy duty waste bags, 4-6 mil
Plastic drum Reusable plastic drum or container to store kit supplies and hold bagged spill waste
Goggles Chemical splash protection goggles
Gloves (impervious) Silvershield gloves (multi-layer construction, impervious to most chemicals)
Gloves (lightweight) Powder-free nitrile gloves, various sizes
Labels Hazardous waste labels

For additional assistance, contact Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) at safety@tcu.edu or 817-257-5395.

Types of Spills

Chemical Spill General Guide

  • Isolate the spill area and alert others in the area.
  • Determine the identity of spilled material and consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to determine potential hazard(s).
  • Avoid breathing vapors, get as much fresh air into the area as safely possible.
  • Establish ventilation to the outside if it is safe to do so and this action does not spread the contaminant through the building.
  • Use absorbents and neutralizing agents that are compatible with the spilled chemical.
  • Prevent spilled chemicals from going down drains to avoid affecting the environment.
  • Dispose of cleanup materials as chemical hazardous waste; small volumes (<100ml) of dilute acids and bases may be neutralized (pH 6-8) and sewered.
  • Contact EHS for hazardous waste pickup or for guidance on cleanup or air monitoring.

Simple Spills - Liquid

  1. Alert people in the area.
  2. Wear protective equipment.
  3. Contain the spill with the appropriate absorbent.
  4. If flammable, remove ignition sources (burners, motors, anything that could cause a spark); use plastic or nonmetallic cleanup equipment.
  5. Absorb or neutralize with the appropriate agent working from outside edges inward; absorbents do not remove toxic or flammable hazards; neutralization can produce heat causing boiling and splattering.
  • Acid - use sodium bicarbonate or acid spill kit
  • Base - use sodium bisulfate, citric acid, or base spill kit
  • Formaldehyde - absorb or use polymerizer

Simple Spills - Dry

  1. If not water reactive, dampen to prevent airborne dust.
  2. Control water reactive dust with sweeping compound.
  3. Carefully brush solids into a dust pan or container.
  4. Keep dust generation down to prevent creating an inhalation hazard.

Compressed Gas Leak - Simple (presents no or only minimal inhalation or fire hazard)

  1. Remove ignition sources.
  2. Restrict access.
  3. Place in or next to fume hood if possible; tighten fittings.
  4. Locate leak with soapy water (at or below freezing temperatures, use 50% glycerin solution).
  5. If cylinder still leaks, contact supplier.
  6. Notify your Principal Investigator (PI)/supervisor.

Compressed Gas Leak - Major
Large or uncontrollable leak or fire hazard, involves acutely toxic gas, and or/more than minimal personal risk:

  1. Alert others to evacuate.
  2. Call TCU Police at 817-257-7777.
  3. Turn off ignition sources.
  4. Leave fume hoods running; ventilate the affected area prior to leaving the area (only if it can be done safely and only to the outside).
  5. Evacuate; assemble in a remote location; account for people.
  6. Provide information to emergency responders.

Mercury
Large or heated spills can be an inhalation hazard.

  1. Isolate the area to prevent tracking.
  2. Wear glove and shoe covers (if on floor)
  3. Consolidate and collect droplets using a scraper, cardboard, wet paper towel, aspirator bulb, tape, or special sponge (can be purchased from the Chemistry Stockroom).
  4. Place all waste in a sealed container; contact EHS for hazardous waste pickup at safety@tcu.edu. 

Major Spills

  • Evacuate, call TCU Police at 817-257-7777, and wait for responders.

Injuries and Illness

  • Employees and students must notify their immediate supervisor or instructor of any illness and/or injury related to exposure to hazardous chemicals.
  • Contact TCU Police at 817-257-7777 and await emergency assistance.
  • Do not move seriously injured or ill persons unless they are in further danger.
  • Supervisors or instructors should pull the chemical safety data sheet (SDS) and be prepared to provide the following basic information to emergency personnel: Name, location and nature of emergency, name of the chemical involved, amount of the chemical, area involved, and symptoms. 
  • Once the immediate danger has passed, contact Risk Management at 817-257-7815, extension 6.
  • For employee injuries, the department supervisor shall notify Risk Management at 817-257-7815, extension 6.
  • For student injuries, instructors shall notify the TCU Police.

Resources & Forms
TCU Hazard Communication Program (HazCom) (work in progress) 
OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
OSHA Hazard Communication Standard Pictogram

Training
Individuals who use hazardous chemicals in their workplace shall be trained. They will be informed of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard and measures they can take to protect themselves and others from the hazards. Assignments of the online training courses listed below are administered by EHS. For further training information, contact safety@tcu.edu. 

Access HSI/SafetySkills Learning Portal
Hazard Communication - HZC-1.2
This online course addresses the purpose and requirements of a hazard communication (HAZCOM program), and informs how to identify chemical hazards, controls in the workplace, sources of information for workplace chemical hazards, and requirements for medical recordkeeping.

Laboratory Safety in Research and Education - UNV-8.2
The online course teaches individuals to identify common physical and chemical laboratory hazards and related safe work practices required as recommended by OSHA. Additionally, it addresses standard emergency response procedures for individuals engaging in campus laboratories.