1. Incidents/Accidents
  2. Lab Accident/First Aid Information

Lab Accident/First Aid Information

General Course of Action

  1. RELOCATE everyone in the immediate work area to a safe location.
  2. ALERT- Dial 911. Follow the directions of the dispatcher. The person that dials 911 must meet UCFD upon arrival to provide further information about the emergency.
  3. CONFINE- If it can be done safely, close doors to confine the area where the emergency occurred. Post an “Emergency Hangtag” on the door(s) to prevent reentry by other personnel.
  4. EVACUATE the building through the nearest exit. Do not run. Do not use elevators.
  5. REPORT to your designated meeting site.
  6. REENTER once the lab has been cleared by emergency personnel.

Incidental Releases

  1. Evacuate everyone in the lab and post an “Emergency Hangtag” on the door(s) to prevent reentry by other lab personnel.
  2. Contact the PI or Laboratory/Facility Manager prior to cleaning up any small spill.
  3. Dial 911 if the PI/Facility Manager is not available and follow the General Course of Action.
  4. Ensure the risk of exposure is minimal with the PI/Lab Manager. If a danger or risk of exposure exists, follow the General Course of Action
  5. Avoid contact with contaminated areas. If the spill is located in a non-ventilated area, relocate, dial 911, and follow the General Course of Action.
  6. If safe, turn off ignition sources and compressed gases. If not, evacuate the lab, call 911, and follow the General Course of Action
  7. Put on appropriate personal protective equipment indicated in the safety data sheet. Work with another person to clean up the spill. Do not clean up a spill alone.
  8. Use the appropriate spill kit to control the source and confine the spill to a small area.
  9. Place spill debris in an appropriate container, tightly seal or close container, and properly label the waste.
  10. Place the waste in the Satellite Accumulation Area and contact EHS for a waste pickup.
  11. Report the spill to EHS.
  12. Restock supplies used to clean up the spill.

First Aid: Eye Exposure to Hazardous Chemical

  1. Forcibly hold both eyes open under an emergency eyewash to ensure an effective wash behind both eyelids.
  2. If contact lenses are being worn, remove the contacts while flushing.
  3. Dial 911 or have someone else from the lab dial 911.
  4. Continue flushing the eyes underneath the eyewash until emergency personnel arrive.
  5. Report the injury to your principal investigator and/or laboratory/facility manager and EHS.

First Aid: Eye Exposure to Nonhazardous Solid

  1. If eyes are exposed to glass, metal, wood, or other type of particulate, do NOT flush eyes under an emergency eyewash.
  2. Close or cover the eye(s), dial 911, and have emergency personnel evaluate the eye(s) prior to flushing.
  3. Report the injury to your principal investigator and/or laboratory/facility manager and EHS.

First Aid: Skin Exposure

  1. Wash affected area(s) with tepid water from an emergency safety shower. Take care not to break skin.
  2. Remove or cut off contaminated clothing while rinsing. Do not pull contaminated clothing over the head.
  3. For chemical and thermal burns, flush affected area(s) with water from the safety shower, if indicated in safety data sheet.
  4. For blood, biological, or radiological exposures use soap and water.
  5. Dial 911 or have someone else from the lab dial 911.
  6. Keep flushing affected area(s) underneath the safety shower until emergency personnel arrive.
  7. Report the injury to your principal investigator and/or laboratory/facility manager and EHS.

First Aid: Inhalation of Chemical Vapors, Fumes or Smoke

  1. If exposed individual is unconscious, do NOT enter the lab if a possibility of oxygen depletion, toxic vapors, or an explosive
    atmosphere exists. Dial 911.
  2. If exposed individual is conscious, move the person to fresh, uncontaminated air. Dial 911.
  3. Report the injury to your principal investigator and/or laboratory/facility manager and EHS.

First Aid: Chemical Ingestion

  1. If safe to do so, move affected individual to an uncontaminated area.
  2. Dial 911 or have someone else from the lab dial 911.
  3. Do not induce vomiting or drink water or other liquids unless instructed to do so by emergency personnel.
  4. Report the injury to your principal investigator and/or laboratory/facility manager and EHS.

First Aid: Exposure to Cryogenic Liquids

  1. If skin comes into contact with a cryogen, place affected area in a warm water bath (not above 40°C/104°F). Never use hot or cold water
    or dry heat. Thawing of the affected area(s) must be done gradually.
  2. If a burn from a cryogen occurs, do not rub the burned area. Rubbing can result in further tissue damage.
  3. Dial 911 and seek medical attention as soon as possible for all frostbite injuries.
  4. Report the injury to your principal investigator and/or laboratory/facility manager and EHS.