Hazardous chemicals or blood or other potentially infectious materials may be accidentally spilled in your work area. These spills require special attention, as follows. 

Spill Clean-Up Kit 

Each work area has a Spill Clean-Up Kit, and a larger Spill Clean-Up Kit is available in the Janitor's closet. Each Spill Clean-Up Kit contains the following items:
  • Deluxe Staff Protection Kit containing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
    • Gloves (heavy duty reusable kitchen-type gloves and disposable exam-type gloves)
    • Gown
    • Goggles
    • Respirator mask (surgical mask-type)
  • Sharps container
  • Ring forceps or tongs (to pick up sharp objects and contaminated material)
  • Brush and dustpan for dry particulate material, glass, etc.
  • Yellow biohazard bag for contaminated laundry
  • Red biohazard bag or clear autoclave bag for contaminated wipes, pads, etc.
  • Blue and white "Chux" absorbent pads marked with biohazard stickers
  • Hand cleaner (use when water isnt available for hand washing)

Spill Clean-Up Procedure 

These instructions are also included in each Spill Clean-Up Kit and in the HCP notebook in you work area. 

1. Immediately alert others in the area and your supervisor, and evacuate the area, if necessary.

2. Attend to any people who may be contaminated, according to the First Aid protocols and the relevant MSDS in the Hazard Communication Plan binder in your work area. 

3. Isolate the spill using the materials in the Spill Clean-Up Kit. Barricade the contaminated area with chairs if necessary.

4. For chemical spills, check the Material Safety Data Sheet in the Hazard Communication Plan notebook in your work area for hazard information and accidental release/spill information.

5. Don the appropriate personal protective equipment from the spill kit, including gown, splash goggles and gloves. If respiratory protection is needed, call Safety & Risk Management at 2711.

6. If broken glass is involved, do not pick it up with your gloved hands. Use a scoop or tongs to place it in the polyethylene hazardous waste bag, then place the bag in a strong cardboard box or plastic container. 

7. Blood/OPIM spills

a. Absorb the spill using the blue and white "Chux" pads, absorbing as much of the spill as possible before applying disinfectant. Place these in the clear biohazard bag. 

b. Apply disinfectant (Envirocide or 10% bleach) to the absorbent side of the "Chux" pads and place them on the spill. Do not spray disinfectant directly on the spill, as this could aerosolize the spill. Do not use 10% bleach on carpeting. 

c. For carpeting, apply pressure to the plastic side of the "Chux" pad to promote absorption.

d. Leave pads in place for 10 minutes. 

e. Handle contaminated pads with the ring forceps in the Spill Clean-Up Kit. 

f. Dispose of pads in the clear biohazard bag. 

g. Repeat steps a) through e) as needed. 

h. Dispose of gloves and other disposable PPE in the clear biohazard bags. 

i. Place contaminated cloth items, such as cloth towels, washcloths, etc. into the yellow contaminated laundry bags. The yellow bags will then be placed in the autoclave room for removal and laundry. 

j. Replace any items used from the Spill Clean-Up Kit. 8. Liquid chemical spills a. If flammable, turn off all sources of ignition

b. Absorb the liquid with the blue and white "Chux" pads, and place them in the polyethylene hazardous waste bag

c. Handle contaminated pads with the ring forceps in the Spill Clean-Up Kit. 

d. Wipe the area down with a wet paper towel, then wash with detergent and water

e. Dispose of paper towels with the waste generated from the spill clean-up. 

f. Seal bag with tape and label the bag as to the chemical contents

g. Contact Safety & Risk Management at 2711 for advice on disposal. 

h. Replace any items used from the Spill Clean-Up Kit. 9. Mercury a. Broken thermometers, sphygmomanometers or other mercury-containing materials may be placed in a plastic bag or glass or metal container, and sealed

b. Contact Safety & Risk Management at 2711 for advice on disposal. 

c. Replace any items used from the Spill Clean-Up Kit. 10. Solid Material Spills  a. Use the plastic scoop to place the spilled material into the polyethylene hazardous waste bag

b. Care should be taken so as not to create dust or cause the contaminated powder to become airborne

c. After the bulk of the material is cleaned up, wet a disposable diaper and wipe the area down, then wash with detergent and water

d. Dispose of paper towels with the waste generated from the spill clean-up

e. Seal bag with tape and label the bag as to the chemical contents

f. Contact Safety & Risk Management at 2711 for advice on disposal. 

g. Replace any items used from the Spill Clean-Up Kit.


11. All re-usable tools used in the clean-up need to be decontaminated (plastic scoop, tongs, etc.). 

a. Remove all gross contamination with a wet paper towel

b. Dispose of the contaminated paper towels as waste

c. Rinse the tools off with copious amounts of water, then wash with detergent and water

d. Dispose of the gloves as waste

e. Dry the tools off and place back into the Spill Clean-Up Kit along with the splash goggles

f. Contact the Janitor to obtain replacement gloves and spill clean-up material. 12. Fill out an Incident Report form and submit it to your supervisor

Test Question When you click on the correct answer, you will proceed to the next screen. If you click on the wrong answer, you will not proceed, and must select a different answer.

Where will you find a Spill Clean-Up Kit?