UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry                                                                               Chemical Safety Office/ EH&S

Safety Notes

Newsletter #2                                                       October 1996

DEPARTMENTAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Spill Cleanup Material

Ever wonder where to go to get spill cleanup material? In most cases, you can get spill cleanup material for spills and accidents at the Emergency Cage on the first floor of Young Hall, across from Room 1067. It is accessible to Chemistry personnel who have faculty, storekeeper or graduate submaster (D340) keys. If the Molecular Sciences Building is closer, then you can get materials in Room 3114, Molecular Sciences. It is accessible by the same keys as the outside doors.

EMERGENCY CAGE

The following equipment is provided:

  • Explosion proof exhaust fan with flexible exhaust duct
  • Mercury vacuum cleaner, Wet/Dry shop vacuum
  • "DO NOT ENTER" signs & tape
  • Portable First Aid Kit, Sand buckets and shovels (3)
  • Vermiculite, Sodium bicarbonate (for acid spills)
  • Citric Acid (for base spills)
  • Organic chemical absorbent pads

Remember, for a major spill, help is always available by calling 911, or by notifying Environment, Health and Safety at 825-6945.  Specially trained UCLA Haz Mat technicians will respond and perform the cleanup.  A "major spill" is any large volume spill or toxic material spill.
  • PVC Boots
  • chemical resistant
  • Face shields and goggles
  • Class "D" fire extinguisher (combustible metals)
  • Squeegee
  • Tongs
  • large metal
  • Door wedges

 

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT ROOM (MOL SCI 3114)

The following equipment is provided:

  • Explosion proof exhaust fans with flexible exhaust duct (2)
  • Portable First Aid Kit
  • Emergency full face respirators (2)
  • Emergency half face respirators (3)
  • Sand buckets and shovel
  • Organic chemical absorbent pads
  • Sodium bicarbonate (for acid spills)
  • Citric Acid (for base spills)
  • Bleach
  • Vermiculite
  • Face shields (2)
  • Gloves
  • Splash goggles
  • PVC boots (chemical resistant)
  • "KEEP OUT" signs

Additionally, this room is used to store Emergency Response Equipment such as shovels, picks, axes, squeegees, cot / litters, and other heavy duty items. There are also locked cabinets with equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatus, and other Hazardous Material Response Gear. Personnel with keys to the lockers are listed on the front of the locker.

 

SPILL RESPONSE CART

A portable spill response cart has been set up and stocked and is available for everyone’s use. We have tried to include the items that would be necessary for responding to a spill , including:

  • Citric Acid
  • Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Vermiculite
  • Sand
  • Organic liquid absorbent pads
  • Absorbent spill pillows and dikes
  • Hazardous Waste Disposal Bags
  • Gloves, nitrile and latex
  • Gloves, disposable
  • Full face respirators (2)
  • Half face respirators (2)
  • Paper towels
  • Tyvek protective suit
  • Goggles (2)
  • Bleach
  • Literature references

 

Chemical Spill Response Procedure:

1. Alert people in immediate area of spill.

2. Determine the chemical nature of the spill and check the Material Safety Data Sheet. If the material is highly toxic, hazardous, call 911 or EH&S at 825-6945.

3. If a volatile, toxic, or flammable material is spill-ed, immediately warn everyone to extinguish flames and turn off all electrical and spark producing equipment.

4. Wear protective equipment, including respirator, safety goggles and gloves.

5. Dike the spill by surrounding the area with absorbent such as spill control pillows, vermiculite, sand, or absorbent pads for organic liquids. Proceed to clean up the spill using the same materials.

6. Neutralize acids with sodium bicarbonate and bases with citric acid.

7. After cleanup, all materials, including paper towels used in the cleanup, must be disposed of as waste and placed in the yellow Hazardous Material disposal bags. Double bag the waste as needed. Label the bags to indicate the chemicals inside.

8. Wash the surface with soap and water and clean up by ordinary means.

9. Fill out a Hazardous Materials Incident Report Form (on the cart), and submit it, along with the waste material to the Chemical Safety Office (2104 Molecular Sciences)

 

NOAH’S ARK

"Noah’s Ark" is the nickname for the chemical surplus room at 3426 Molecular Sciences. We have taken an inventory of the room and printed out a list of the chemicals there.

When taking a chemical from Noah’s Ark, please locate it on the inventory sheet and sign out for it.

When returning a chemical, either place it in the bin provided or deliver it to the Chemical Safety Officer (Mol Sci 2104), who will replace it in the inventory.

 

Please do not add any chemicals to Noah’s Ark.

Any surplus chemicals should be given to the Chemical Safety Officer to decide whether they should be disposed of or added to the Noah’s Ark inventory.

 

 

Bill Peck    Chemical Safety Officer     2104 Mol. Sci. (20)6-3661