Spill Management & Chemical Hygiene in Laboratories

1. Spill Management
and
Chemical Hygiene
– by Sayan Ghoshal

2. Spill Management
• What is a spillage ?
The term spillage is used to describe an event that makes or causes
unintentional or accidental pouring out of substances from their
respective container’s. As a result that spreads out , fall, or flow over, so
as to result in loss or waste.

3. Spill Management
• Types of Spillage based on the category of substance :
A. Biological Spillage
B. Chemical Spillage
• Types of Spillage based on the area of spread-out :
A. Major Spillage
B. Minor Spillage

4. Spill Management
• Biological Spillage : Spillage of infected biological substances such as
blood , serum , body fluids , urine etc. in our laboratories.
• Chemical Spillage : Spillage of hazardous/flamable chemicals such as
acids, formaldehyde, xylene, testing reagents etc.
• Major Spillage : a spread over a large surface area that poses
significant threat of fire, safety, environmental & health hazard to
laboratory personnel
• Minor Spillage : a spread over a smaller surface area with a smaller
quantity of the contaminant and that can normally be handled safely
by lab personnel with appropriate personal protective equipment and
prescribed criterias for the substance spilled.

5. Spill Management
Understanding the management of biological spill management :
Every section of the laboratory shall be equiped with a spill
management kit with the following contents for combating biological
spillage.
• Freshly prepared 1% Na-Hypochlorite Solution
• Package or roll of paper towel’s
• Gloves
• Red Garbage Bag
• Forcep’s

6. SPILL KIT COMPONENTS

7. Spill Management
Procedure of managing biological spillage :
• Minor Spill : Put on gloves and a lab coat.
Cover spill with paper towels and gently apply 1% Freshly prepared
Na-Hypochlorite Soln., proceeding from the outer edge of the spill to
its center.
Leave in place for at least 20 minutes.
Pick up the towels and discard into a biohazard container.
Use forceps to pick up any broken glass and place them into a sharp's
container.
Re-wipe the spill area with disinfectant.
Remove gloves and thoroughly wash hands.

9. Spill Management
Procedure of managing biological spillage :
• Major Spill :
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND LEAVE THE ROOM IMMEDIATELY.
Warn others to stay out of the spill area to prevent spread of contamination
Post a sign on the door warning others of the biological materials spill.
Remove any contaminated clothing and put it into a biohazard bag for later autoclaving.
Wash hands and exposed skin and inform your SIC or supervisor about the spill.
Put on protective clothing (lab coat, gloves, mask, eye protection, shoe covers) and assemble clean-up
materials.
Wait 30 minutes before re-entering.
Cover the spill with paper towels and gently apply disinfectant.
Leave in place for at least 20 minutes.
Collect all materials and discard in a biohazard container/bag.
Re-wipe the spill area with disinfectant.

10. Spill Management
SPILL INSIDE BIOSAFETY
CABINET

11. Procedure of managing biological spillage :
Spillage Inside biosafety cabinets :
LEAVE THE CABINET TURNED ON.
Put on gloves and a lab coat.
Spray or wipe cabinet walls, work surfaces, and equipment with 1%
Hypochlorite Solution. If necessary, flood the work surface, as well as
drain pans and catch basins below the work surface.
Wait at least 20 minutes.
Soak up disinfectant and spill with paper towels. Lift front exhaust
grill and tray and wipe all surfaces. Ensure that no paper towels or
solid debris are blown into the area beneath the grill.
Collect all materials and discard in a biohazard container/bag.
Wash hands and any exposed surfaces thoroughly after the clean-up
procedure.

12. Chemical Spill
Procedure of managing chemical spillage :
What is MSDS ?
MSDS stands for material safety data sheet. It is a
document that contains information on the
potential hazards (health, fire, reactivity and
environmental) and how to work safely with the
chemical product. It is an essential starting point
for the development of a complete health and
safety program. It also contains information on the
use, storage, handling and emergency procedures
all related to the hazards of the material.
The laboratory shall always keep a file of MSDS
readily available to all lab personnel. The MSDS
document can be sourced from the vendor
supplying that particular chemical to the
laboratory.

13. Immediately alert area
occupants and supervisor,
and evacuate the area, if
necessary.
Attend to any people who
may be contaminated.
Contaminated clothing must
be removed immediately,
and the skin flushed with
water for no less than fifteen
minutes. Clothing must be
laundered before reuse.
If a volatile, flammable material is
spilled, immediately warn everyone,
control sources of ignition and
ventilate the area.
Wear personal protective
equipment, as appropriate to the
hazards. Refer to the Material
Safety Data Sheet or other
references & information related to
that particular material
Spill Absorbent - 1:1 mixture
of sodium bicarbonate, and
sand; This all-purpose
absorbent is good for most
chemical spills including
solvents, acids, and bases.
Procedure of managing Chemical Spill

14. Chemical Hygiene
In general, store materials and equipment in cabinets and
on shelves provided for such storage.
• Avoid storing materials and equipment on top of
cabinets
• Be sure that the weight of the chemicals does not
exceed the load capacity of the shelf or cabinet.
• Cabinets for chemical storage must be of solid, sturdy
construction, preferably hardwood or metal.
• Do not store materials on top of high cabinets where
they will be hard to see or reach.
• Do not store corrosive liquids above eye level.
• Flamable / Hazardous chemical storage area shall be
clearly labelled for easy identification

15. Chemical Hygiene
• Provide a specific storage location for each type of chemical and return the
chemicals to those locations after each use.
• Avoid storing chemicals in the workspace within a laboratory hood, except for those
chemicals currently in use.
• Do not expose chemicals to heat or direct sunlight.
• Distinguish between refrigerators used for chemical storage and refrigerators used
for food storage. Each refrigerator should be labeled "No Food" or "Food only". “DO
NOT STORE EATABLES IN LAB AREA”.
• Incompatible chemicals should not be stored together. Storing chemicals
alphabetically, without regard to compatibility, can increase the risk of a hazardous
reaction, especially in the event of container breakage.
• Keep a list of contents displayed outside the cabinet so as to indicate whats inside.
• Keep MSDS nearby for easy reference during adverse situations.

16. Questions and Answers