Emergency Preparedness / Response and Exposure Monitoring

Laboratory personnel shall be prepared to recognize and respond appropriately to emergencies involving chemical spills, hazardous material releases, fires, explosions, medical emergencies, utility failures, and other unsafe conditions. Life safety shall take priority over protection of property or research materials.

Emergency response procedures include the appropriate use of emergency equipment, evacuation, shelter-in-place, notification, and incident reporting. Personnel shall follow University emergency procedures and instructions provided through the MyEOP App and by Public Safety.

Emergency Response

• Stop work and protect themselves and others when an emergency occurs.
• Evacuate or shelter in place when conditions warrant or when directed.
• Use emergency equipment, such as eyewashes, safety showers, spill kits, and fire extinguishers, only when appropriate and when trained to do so.
• Notify campus Public Safety and emergency responders as appropriate.
• Provide information about the laboratory, hazardous materials, injuries, and other known hazards to emergency responders.
• Never re-enter an evacuated area until authorized.

Minor incidents or spills may be managed by trained personnel when the material and quantity are known, and the spill can be safely controlled using available procedures and equipment. Spills or releases that present significant, unknown, or uncontrolled hazards shall be treated as emergencies.

Near Miss Occurrences and Unsafe Conditions

Near miss occurrences and unsafe conditions shall be reported to the Faculty/PI, LSC, or EHS. Appropriate corrective actions should be taken to prevent recurrence.

Personnel Exposure and Injury

• Any exposure to a chemical, biological agent, or physical hazard shall be reported promptly. Following an exposure:
• Stop work and move away from the source when safe to do so.
• Use the appropriate emergency equipment and decontamination procedures.
• Flush affected skin or eyes with water for at least 15 minutes, unless the applicable SDS or emergency procedure specifies otherwise.
• Obtain medical evaluation when necessary.
• Notify the Faculty/PI, LSC, EHS, and campus Public Safety as appropriate.
• Call 9-1-1 for serious or life-threatening conditions.
• Complete required institutional incident and exposure reports.

Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and relevant exposure information should be provided to medical or emergency personnel when available.

Fire and Fire Alarm Response

All fire alarms shall be treated as real emergencies unless otherwise directed by authorized University personnel. Upon hearing a fire alarm or discovering a fire:

• Stop work and evacuate using the nearest safe exit.
• If it can be done quickly and safely, shut off ignition sources and secure hazardous operations.
• Close doors behind you without locking them.
• Activate a fire alarm pull station if an alarm has not already been activated.
• Call 9-1-1 and notify campus Public Safety.
• Proceed to the designated assembly area and remain there until authorized to leave.
• Do not use elevators or re-enter the building until authorized.
• A fire extinguisher should only be used on a small, contained fire by a trained individual who has a clear exit path and can safely use the appropriate extinguisher.
• If clothing catches fire, Stop, Drop, and Roll and use the nearest safety shower.
• Individuals unable to evacuate using stairs should follow the University’s established emergency procedures and notify emergency responders of their location.

Utility Failures

Utility failures involving electrical power, HVAC, ventilation, water, natural gas, or other essential laboratory services may create hazardous conditions. Laboratory personnel shall:

• Safely stop affected operations when possible.
• Secure hazardous materials and equipment when safe to do so.
• Notify Facilities, Public Safety, and EHS as appropriate.
• Evacuate when ventilation, gas, temperature, or other conditions create an unsafe environment.
• Do not resume affected laboratory activities until required utilities and safety systems have been restored and conditions are determined to be safe.

Specific utility failure procedures are provided through the MyEOP App.

Severe Weather and Other Emergencies

During severe weather, civil disturbances, structural emergencies, or other campus emergencies, laboratory personnel shall follow University emergency notifications and instructions provided through the MyEOP App from Public Safety.

Personnel should not attempt to investigate, repair, or intervene in hazardous conditions unless specifically trained and authorized to do so.

Unidentified Hazardous Events

An unknown chemical, substance, release, condition, or other event that cannot be immediately characterized shall be treated conservatively as an emergency.

• Do not attempt to identify, contain, or clean up an unknown hazard.
• Evacuate the area, restrict access when safe to do so, and notify campus Public Safety and EHS.

Incident Reporting and Follow-Up

Laboratory injuries, illnesses, exposures, spills, fires, significant property damage, near misses, and other safety incidents shall be reported in accordance with University procedures. EHS and other responsible University offices shall evaluate significant incidents to determine applicable regulatory reporting and recordkeeping requirements and to identify corrective actions.

Post-incident activities may include:

• Incident investigation and root-cause evaluation
• Review of engineering and administrative controls
• Corrective and preventive actions
• Additional training or competency evaluation
• Medical follow-up or exposure monitoring, when applicable
• Review and improvement of laboratory procedures

OSHA-recordable injuries and illnesses shall be documented and maintained in accordance with 29 CFR Part 1904 and applicable University requirements.

Exposure Monitoring Program

EHS shall conduct exposure monitoring when warranted by a hazard assessment, regulatory requirement, employee concern, or potential occupational exposure. Monitoring may include personal, area, or other appropriate assessments conducted by qualified personnel using recognized methods.

Results shall be evaluated against applicable exposure limits, communicated as required, and used to determine whether additional controls or corrective actions are necessary. Exposure monitoring records shall be maintained in accordance with applicable regulations and University policy.