Procedure 6:
Laboratory Emergency Preparedness and Response

Policy

Emergencies involving hazardous materials in laboratories can threaten human health or the environment. Possible emergencies include:

• fires and explosions
• chemical spills or leaks
• releases of airborne hazardous chemicals outside the fume hood.

Protection of Laboratory Personnel

Supervisors of laboratories which use hazardous chemicals will assure that appropriate emergency preparedness measures are in place. Such measures are detailed in UVM's Chemical Hygiene Plan and include:

• emergency eyewashes
• emergency showers or drench hoses
• appropriate fire extinguishers
• emergency contact information
• appropriate chemical spill kits
• evacuation routes

Individuals exposed to any hazardous material should immediately wash or drench the exposed area with water for 15 minutes or until medical help arrives.

Evacuation

If an emergency presents a hazard to people within the immediate area, laboratory personnel will alert others in the area, leave the lab, close the doors as they leave and notify the appropriate response personnel as listed below.

If an emergency is not immediately brought under control or threatens to spread, evacuation of the building will be initiated by activating the building fire alarm.

Notification and Response

In the event of an emergency where a person is injured or exposed to hazardous materials, or where the event is uncontrolled, contact UVM Police Services at 911. This is outlined in the campus hazardous waste contingency plan. Police Services receive chemical awareness training and can dispatch fire, rescue and hazardous materials cleanup contractors, as well as contact Environmental Safety, Radiation Safety and UVM's Physical Plant personnel.

For other emergencies involving hazardous materials, laboratory personnel should contact the ESF at 656-5400 for assistance. ESF staff must be notified whenever a hazardous material is released to the environment.

If the extent of the emergency is controlled, either by protective measures, emergency response equipment, or the scale of the spill or leak, the laboratory worker may choose to manage the emergency themselves. ESF staff are always available to assist with any chemical or biohazardous material clean-up and must be contacted whenever emergency response measures are taken.

Plan

Who:

Laboratory supervisors will assure that emergency preparedness measures appropriate to the hazards in the laboratory are put into place and that lab workers are familiar with the locations and use of those measures. They must also ensure this is documented on the UVM Hazardous Chemical Use Registration Form. Risk Management staff are available to assist with emergency preparedness planning and training.

Laboratory workers will use their own professional judgement to determine the appropriate response to any hazardous material event in a laboratory, based on the hazard of the situation and the materials immediately available to respond to the spill. Lab workers are responsible for notifying the ESF or Police Services when they lack the resources to restore the laboratory to normal conditions due to the extent or hazard of the emergency. Lab workers are also responsible for inspecting emergency preparedness measures as part of the Laboratory Self Inspection (Procedure 7).

ESF staff will respond to any request for assistance. The speed of the response is dependent on the information and resources available. Responders will always err on the side of caution in making this determination. The form below will be used to record the information necessary to make this determination and follow-up actions taken.

When:

Emergency preparedness measures will be instituted before work with hazardous materials is undertaken. Lab supervisors will assure that new employees are aware of emergency equipment locations and use. Emergency preparedness measures for areas where hazardous materials are in use will be evaluated monthly as part of laboratory self inspections.

Laboratory staff will notify UVM Police Services or the Environmental Safety Facility in the case of an emergency which presents a hazard to the workers, other people in the area of the spill, or the environment.

Laboratory personnel will contact Risk Management whenever emergency measures have been implemented.

Where:

The UVM Laboratory Hazmat Emergency Response procedures will be used in all laboratories covered by the UVM Chemical Hygiene Plan or the UVM Environmental Management Plan.

Procedure

Records

Records of monthly checks of the emergency preparedness measures will be included in the laboratory self inspection records and database.

The Emergency Response and Follow-up form will be maintained for at least 3 years for review by laboratory supervisors, ESF staff, campus management and auditors.