SECTION 3: Emergency Procedures

• Fire
• Medical Emergencies
• Chemical Exposures
• Emergency Information Posters
• Reporting Accidents and Injuries

There are many types of emergencies that could occur in a laboratory, including fires, chemical spills, injuries, accidents, explosions, medical emergencies and others. For emergency assistance, dial 911 from any University telephone, or (609) 258-3333 from any non-campus phone. Your call will be answered by a communications officer in the Department of Public Safety. Public Safety personnel will respond and determine the need for additional assistance.

Each department has written an individual emergency action plan and designated an emergency coordinator and a designated assembly point. The emergency coordinator is the first point of contact for questions about the emergency procedures and the emergency action plan. The designated assembly point is where building occupants should gather in the case of a building evacuation. Make sure you are accounted for before leaving the assembly point. Rescue personnel are required to enter a building and search for individuals who are thought to still be in the building.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the emergency action plan for your department.

Fire (top)

In the event of a fire, Public Safety should be notified immediately at 911 or (609) 258-3333 and the following actions are recommended:

1. University policy states that individuals are not required to fight fires, but that those who choose to do so may fight small, incipient stage fires (no bigger than a wastepaper basket) as long as they have been trained in the proper use of fire extinguishers.

• If you have been trained in the use of a fire extinguisher, fight the fire from a position where you can escape, only if you are confident that you will be successful.
• A fire contained in a small vessel can usually be suffocated by covering the vessel with a lid of some sort.

2. If your clothing catches fire, drop to the floor and roll to smother the fire. If a co-worker’s clothing catches fire, knock the person to the floor and roll him or her to smother the flames. Use a safety shower immediately thereafter.

3. If the fire is large or spreading, activate the fire alarm to alert building occupants. If the fire alarm does not work, or if the building is not equipped with one, notify the building occupants verbally of the need to evacuate. If possible, shut down any equipment which may add fuel to the fire. Do not turn off any hoods in the immediate area, as they will tend to keep the area free from smoke and fumes. Close the door behind you to prevent the fire’s spread.

4. Evacuate the building and await the arrival of Public Safety. Be prepared to inform them of the exact location, details of the fire, and chemicals that are stored and used in the area.

5. Do not re-enter the building until you are told to do so by Public Safety or the municipal fire official.

Medical Emergencies (top)

In the event of any injury or illness where assistance is needed, contact Public Safety at 911 or (609) 258-3333. If an ambulance is needed, Public Safety will arrange for one. Public Safety staff can transport individuals with minor injuries to University Health Services at McCosh or Princeton Medical Center, as appropriate.

First Aid Kits

According to the Princeton University Policy on First Aid, first aid kits maintained by University departments and offices must:

• be kept in sanitary condition;
• be limited to simple household supplies such as band-aids and sterile gauze pads; and
• include the following personal protective equipment:
• at least one pair of large size examination or laboratory gloves
• an airway resuscitator, such as the "pocket mask", for use in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
• a spill kit containing an appropriate disinfectant and other cleanup and disposal materials for handling spills of blood, vomitus, or other body fluids.

The supplies listed above have been approved by the University Employee Health group as required by OSHA regulations. No other first aid supplies are authorized unless arranged through Employee Health. Treatment requiring more elaborate supplies should be sought at McCosh Health Center or Princeton Medical Center.

All work-related injuries or illnesses must be reported to supervisors and the Chemical Hygiene Officer.

Chemical Exposures (top)

The following procedures should be followed in the event of chemical exposure. In all cases, the incident should be reported to your laboratory manager, supervisor or principal investigator, regardless of severity. Consult your department manager to determine whether or not a First Report of Accidental Injury or Occupational Illness form should be completed.

Chemicals on Skin or Clothing

1. Immediately flush with water for no less than 15 minutes (except for Hydrofluoric Acid, Flammable Solids or >10% Phenol). For larger spills, the safety shower should be used.
2. While rinsing, quickly remove all contaminated clothing or jewelry. Seconds count. Do not waste time because of modesty.
3. Use caution when removing pullover shirts or sweaters to prevent contamination of the eyes.
4. Check the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to determine if any delayed effects should be expected.
5. Discard contaminated clothing or launder them separately from other clothing. Leather garments or accessories cannot be decontaminated and should be discarded.

Do not use solvents to wash skin. They remove the natural protective oils from the skin and can cause irritation and inflammation. In some cases, washing with a solvent may facilitate absorption of a toxic chemical.

For flammable solids on skin, first brush off as much of the solid as possible, then proceed as described above.

For hydrofluoric acid, rinse with water for 5 minutes and apply calcium gluconate gel, then get immediate medical attention.  If no gel is available, rinse for 15 minutes and go immediately to University Health Services at McCosh or Princeton Medical Center.

For phenol concentrations more than 10%, flush with water for 15 minutes or until the affected area turns from white to pink.  Apply polyethylene glycol, if available.  Do not use ethanol.  Proceed as described above.

Chemicals in Eyes

1. Immediately flush eye(s) with water for at least fifteen minutes. The eyes must be forcibly held open to wash, and the eyeballs must be rotated so all surface area is rinsed. The use of an eye wash fountain is desirable so hands are free to hold the eyes open. If an eyewash is not available, pour water on the eye, rinsing from the nose outward to avoid contamination of the unaffected eye.
2. Remove contact lenses while rinsing. Do not lose time removing contact lenses before rinsing. Do not attempt to rinse and reinsert contact lenses.
3. Seek medical attention regardless of the severity or apparent lack of severity. If an ambulance or transportation to McCosh Health Center is needed, contact Public Safety at 911 or (609) 258-3333. Explain carefully what chemicals were involved.

Chemical Inhalation

1. Close containers, open windows or otherwise increase ventilation, and move to fresh air.
2. If symptoms, such as headaches, nose or throat irritation, dizziness, or drowsiness persist, seek medical attention by calling Public Safety or going to University Health Services at McCosh. Explain carefully what chemicals were involved.
3. Review the MSDS to determine what health effects are expected, including delayed effects.

Accidental Ingestion of Chemicals

1. Immediately go to University Health Services at McCosh or contact the Poison Control Center at 800-962-1253 for instructions.
2. Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by a health care provider.

Accidental Injection of Chemicals

Wash the area with soap and water and seek medical attention, if necessary.

Emergency Information Posters (top)

Most laboratories or chemical storage areas must have a complete Emergency Information Poster affixed on or near each entrance to the room. A copy of the completed form must be sent to Public Safety. Laboratory workers must review the poster for accuracy every six months and replace it as necessary and at least every two years.

The following information should be supplied on every poster:

• Responsible individuals - List those who are most familiar with the activities in the room.
• Room diagram - A drawing of the room, showing important items such as fume hoods, storage cabinets, lab benches, etc.
• Hazard class - Hazardous materials found in the room should be identified and listed on the poster when quantities exceed the threshold levels.
• Posting/Review Dates - Posters should be reviewed to insure all information is current and initialed at six month intervals, and replaced every two years.
• Additional information - This allows narrative comments by the user on material, storage conditions, unusual hazards, etc.

The purpose of the Emergency Information Poster is to provide an easily recognizable and consistent means of displaying essential information about the status and contents of laboratories and facilities, primarily for the benefit of persons attempting to cope with an explosion, fire, natural disaster, or other emergency. Such information is important for the safety of emergency personnel and is often of considerable value in evaluating and dealing with the emergency. See Anecdotes.

In the absence of current and accurate information, responders may take an extremely conservative approach to handling the emergency and the response may become disproportionate to the actual hazard. This may lead to a delayed response that could result in an emergency of greater magnitude or, at the very least, lengthen the disruption of normal activities.

During an emergency, the poster may be used as the primary source of information about a room or space. Therefore, the information on the poster should be complete and accurate.

Determining If Posting Is Necessary

An Emergency Information Poster is required if any of the quantities listed here are exceeded:

• Class 1 - Explosives - any quantity
• Class 2 - Compressed Gas (flammable, non-flammable, poison) - any compressed gas cylinder
• Class 3 - Flammable or Combustible Liquids - 10 gallons
• Class 4 - Flammable Solids, Spontaneously Combustible, Dangerous When Wet Materials - 2 pounds
• Class 5.1 - Oxidizers - 40 pounds or 5 gallons
• Class 5.2 - Organic Peroxide - 2 pounds
• Class 6 - Poisonous or Infectious Materials - any quantity
• Class 7 - Radioactive - any quantity
• Class 8 - Corrosive - 40 pounds or 5 gallons
• Class 9 - Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials - User’s judgment.  Include lasers and any uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems.

For the purposes of the Emergency Information Poster, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Material Classifications are used for determining the hazard class of materials. These classifications are numbered 1 through 9 and may be found on shipping labels, some material safety data sheets (MSDS), and container labels. If the actual class is not listed, descriptive words may be found on container labels or in the material’s MSDS to assist in determining the hazard class.

Obtaining Posters

A poster pre-printed with the building name, room number and room diagram may be obtained from James Boehlert at Environmental Health and Safety at 8-7882.

Reporting Accidents and Injuries (top)

All accidents, injuries, or near-misses should be reported to your supervisor or Principal Investigator.

If a laboratory worker believes that he or she has been over-exposed to a chemical, the worker or supervisor should complete a Report of Possible Chemical Overexposure form, regardless of whether or not signs or symptoms are noted. Copies of the form must be forwarded to the Chemical Hygiene Officer, EHS and University Health Services at McCosh.

If an individual calls from home to report a work-related injury or illness, the information necessary to complete the first report should be obtained at that time. Individuals who are unable to travel to University Health Services at McCosh should be advised to call Employee Health (8-5035) for referrals to approved medical care providers.

Section 4: Health Hazards of Chemicals
Section 2: Chemical Hygiene Plans