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Planning for Emergencies

 

Laboratory emergencies may result from various factors that can result in serious injuries, fires, explosions, spills, or potential exposures.  All laboratory employees shall be trained and familiar with the location of their laboratory’s emergency response equipment and operating procedures. The Principal Investigator/Laboratory Supervisor of is responsible for ensuring this is completed.  The Lab-Specific Training Record Template provided in the "Training Requirements" portion of this website documents the review with lab personnel of the location of safety equipment, including first aid kits, eye washes, safety showers, fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations, and spill kits.  This training must be maintained for all lab personnel in the lab-specific CHP. 

 

In general, the hazards within the laboratory shall be assessed by the PI/Laboratory Supervisor and lab-specific emergency plans established that cover the procedures and materials of the lab regarding: 

  • Handling small and large chemical spills 
  • Procedures for responding to fires, including the need for the use of any special extinguishers 
  • Response procedures for when equipment or instruments fail 
  • Response for if ventilation systems fail 
  • Responses to local equipment alarms  

 

Principal Investigators and/or lab supervisors must report any incident involving personal injury, exposure or illnesses, unintended fire, property damage or incidents involving an environmental release of hazardous materials directly to UK Environmental Health and Safety after emergency evacuation and/or First Aid has been completed. 

Laboratory Posting Requirements

Door signs must be placed on ALL entry doors to spaces that contain hazardous materials and/or equipment.  Door signs shall be reviewed and revised, as necessary, on no less than an annual  

basis.  A compliant door sign shall accurately display: 

  • PI/Lab Supervisor or responsible individual and accurate emergency contact information 
  • Symbols for materials stored or used within the space (i.e., universal biological or radiological hazard symbols, GHS pictograms for chemicals and compressed gas cylinders) 
  • Text or symbols indicating any other present hazards such as electrical, strong magnetic, noise, etc. 
  • Required PPE and precautions required for or upon entry 

 

Instructions for generating a door sign are in the SciShield System, under the Research Tools menu, in the Document Library. For more information, please visit researchsafety.uky.edu or contact labsafety@uky.edu .

 

All labs are required to post emergency phone numbers and injury reporting procedures in a readily accessible location known to all lab workers. 

Alarms and Equipment Monitors

All types of monitors and alarms are used to warn personnel of an unsafe condition. If an alarm is activated, appropriate response is mandatory by all personnel. Report equipment alarms to the Principal Investigator, Laboratory Supervisor, and/or Facility Supervisor. If the alarm or monitoring system is facility-specific, follow the established specific emergency response procedures. Alarms on Chemical Fume Hoods or other engineering control devices shall be brought to the attention of those responsible for repair as soon as they are discovered.  Alarms shall not be tampered with or silenced without ceasing procedures with the equipment.  For Chemical Fume Hood alarms and concerns, please contact the UK Department of Occupational Health and Safety. 

First Aid and Medical Treatment

FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES CALL 911 OR GO TO THE UK CHANDLER HOSPITAL (OR CLOSEST) EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT 

 

As part of the university’s Occupational Health Program, the opportunity for Laboratory Workers to receive medical evaluation must be provided under the following circumstances:  

  • If an employee develops any symptoms thought to arise from exposure to a hazardous chemical.  Please note: Individuals exhibiting the acute onset of symptoms due to known exposure should seek immediate medical attention.  
  • After an incident such as a spill, leak or explosion which may have resulted in an exposure.  
  • When an over exposure is identified through evaluation or assessment. 
  • There is an existing medical surveillance program in place for the work conducted. 

 

Any medical examination required from the above listed situations must be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay and at a reasonable time and place. Records of any medical examination will be maintained at the medical facility providing service or with appropriate medical personnel at the University.  

 

All workplace incidents, and workplace acquired injuries or illnesses sustained by UK personnel shall be reported by the Principal Investigator/Laboratory Supervisor to Workers Care by calling (800)440-6285.* 

 

UK students may contact University Health Services (859) 323-APPT during business hours, or (859) 323-5321 after business hours, on weekends or holidays.* 

 

*If known, the following information should be presented to the clinician when being seen for evaluation/treatment:  

  • Identity of the hazardous chemical(s) to which the individual may have been exposed  
  • A description of the conditions under which the exposure occurred.  
  • A copy of the chemical’s SDS  

Chemical Specific First Aid

Work environments with specific potential health hazards with known recommended immediate first aid beyond what is available in most first aid kits, shall be equipped with any known, and accessible immediate first-aid treatment needed for dermal exposures and lab personnel trained (with documentation maintained in the lab specific CHP) on its applicable use and location. 

 

 Two common examples of these types of chemical-specific first aid treatments are :  

  • Calcium gluconate gel for treatment of dermal exposure to Hydrofluoric acid.   
  • A 50% solution of PEG-300/400 for treatment of dermal exposure to phenol.   

 

If the laboratory stores and/or utilizes a hazardous chemical with a known dermal first aid product: 

  1. The product shall be mentioned on a documented lab SOP for the procedures with the chemical. 
  1. The product shall be made available and  maintained in a lab first aid kit in a location known to all lab personnel, regularly checked, and replaced when expired. 
  1. Lab personnel shall be trained on location and proper use of chemical first aid.  This training shall be documented and maintained in the lab specific CHP.  

Exposure Monitoring and Medical Surveillance

Where exposure monitoring reveals an exposure level routinely above the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the PEL) for an OSHA regulated substance for which there are exposure monitoring and medical surveillance requirements, medical surveillance must be established for the affected worker(s) as prescribed by the particular standard. In some instances, may be necessary to perform personnel exposure monitoring when administrative controls, engineering controls, and PPE may not be sufficient for adequate protection from exposure to a hazardous chemical.    This can occur when chemical exposure levels approach or exceed OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and/or ACGIH’s Threshold Limit Value (TLV).  This is usually indicated when engineering controls, such as a chemical fume hood, cannot be used for procedures.    

If any research  lab is working with one of the federally regulated substances listed below, please contact labsafety@uky.edu so exposure monitoring, ventilation, and any other regulatory requirements, and/or other concerns can be documented and addressed.  

 

Arsenic 

Asbestos 

Asphalt fumes 

Benzene 

Beryllium 

1-Bromopropane 

1,3-Butadiene 

Cadmium 

Chromium 

Diacetyl 

Diesel exhaust 

Ethylene oxide 

Formaldehyde 

Hexavalent chromium 

Hydrogen sulfide 

Isocyanates 

Lead 

Mercury 

Metals, toxic 

Metalworking fluids 

Methylene chloride 

Silica, crystalline 

Solvents 

Synthetic mineral fibers 

Toluene 

Chemical Spill Response

Major spills of stock solution: 

Leave the area and notify others not to enter. Report the spill to the UK Environmental Quality Management Department (EQMD)at (859) 323-6280 (M-F 8am-5pm) or after hours by dialing 911 from any on-campus phone or by contacting the UK Police at (859) 257-UKPD (8573).  

 

Minor spills of manageable amount:  

If necessary, contact EQMD for guidance. Consult manufacturer’s SDS for instructions and compatibilities for your chemical. Keep aware of any materials such as paper towels or water that could be incompatible with the spilled chemical. 

Incident Reporting Procedures

All workplace incidents, and workplace acquired injuries or illnesses sustained by UK personnel shall be reported by the Principal Investigator/Laboratory Supervisor to Workers Care by calling (800)440-6285. 

 

UK students may contact University Health Services (859) 323-APPT during business hours, or (859) 323-5321 after business hours, on weekends or holidays. 

 

Unsafe working conditions or “near-miss” incidents (incidents not resulting in injury or release of hazardous material) is encouraged to be reported to UK Occupational Health and Safety at:  

Procedures for Selected Emergencies

Lab personnel shall be trained on and informed of the following emergency procedures as well as the procedures detailed in their Building Emergency Action Plan (BEAP) 

 

Fire, rupture of containers resulting in large spills, failure of engineering controls or safety equipment, and/or any other circumstance resulting in uncontrolled release of hazardous materials: 

  1. Alert personnel in the immediate vicinity. Give instructions to sound the alarm and call for assistance. 
  1. Only where safe and possible: turn off any heat sources, confine the fire or emergency, shut the chemical fume hood sash and close any doors. These measures can help to prevent the spread of vapors, gases, or fire. 
  1. Evacuate the building or hazardous area. Use the evacuation alarm system. Follow posted evacuation procedures. Assemble at your lab’s designated meeting point. Practice evacuation and assembly in drills. 
  1. Summon aid from a safe location and call 911. Give location and explain the emergency. 

Clothing Fire and Severe Thermal Burns

Thermal burns from a clothing fire or large splash of hot material can be life threatening  

if they are deep, extensive, or located on critical areas of the body. Severe burns of the  

hands, feet, face, and genital areas are considered critical. To extinguish a clothing fire: 

  1. Stop the person on fire from running! Have the person cover their face with their hands if possible. 
  1. Drop the person to the floor. Standing will allow flames to spread upward to eyes and nose. 
  1. Roll the person to snuff out the flames. 
  1. Cool the person. Remove smoldering clothing. Use cold water or ice packs to cool burns and minimize injury. 
  1. Get medical assistance immediately. 

Chemical Splash to the Eyes or Skin

Immediate flushing with water is a critical step to response of a chemical splash to eyes or skin. In general, chemical splashes require at least 15 minutes of flushing before a victim can proceed to emergency medical treatment. Knowing the location and how to properly use safety equipment such as eye washes and safety showers is the first step in emergency preparedness. 

 

Using an Eyewash 

  1. Flush with tepid water or eye solution from the inside edges of the eyes to the outside; this will help to avoid washing the chemicals back into the eyes or into an unaffected eye. 
  1. Water or eye solution should NOT be directly aimed onto the eyeball but aimed at the base of the nose. 
  1. Flush eyes and eyelids with water or eye solution for a minimum of 15 minutes. “Roll” eyes around to ensure full rinsing. 
  1. Immediately seek medical attention. 

 

Using a Safety Shower 

  1. Stand directly under the shower head. 
  1. Pull handle to activate shower. 
  1. Wash with tepid water for a minimum of 15 minutes. 
  1. To turn off the shower push the handle up.