Everyone should complete chemical safety training and be familiar with the hazards of the chemicals they use, protective measures, emergency protocols and waste management requirements. Our Managing Laboratory Chemicals course is an introduction to chemical safety for lab staff; staff members may need additional chemical specific training depending on their work.

The spill kit described above is not sufficient for large spills or mercury spills. For mercury spills, refer to the Mercury Spills Focus Sheet.

Labs are required to have a spill kit accessible in their work area. Many safety equipment providers, such as VWR, Grainger and New Pig, offer spill cleanup supplies and spill kits. Spill kit requirements are listed below.

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EH&S can arrange for a hazardous materials spill cleanup contractor at the lab’s expense if the spill is large, involves a risk of exposure or injury, or the cleanup otherwise exceeds your lab’s abilities.

Hello @Mortgagegenie. We'd be happy to tell you how to change your controller batteries and hopefully make the process as simple as possible! On the right controller, the panel facing left can slide off; on the left controller, the panel facing right can slide off. You should see a little grove toward the top of the panels that can come off. Place your thumb on it and slide the panel down; the panel should easily pop out so you can replace the battery. Once you've put in a new battery, simply slide the panel back in place again. If you need any more assistance with this, please let us know!

Waste generated during a chemical spill cleanup is usually a hazardous waste and must be contained, labeled and disposed of properly. Here are a few exceptions:

For more information on chemical spills and emergency response in laboratories, take the EH&S Managing Laboratory Chemicals course , and, if applicable, the Hydrofluoric Acid online training.

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No. EH&S can advise on spill cleanup methods and procedures, but does not clean up chemical spills. EH&S can hire a spill cleanup contractor at the lab’s expense to manage a chemical spill.

Labs are required to have a spill kit accessible in their work area. Many safety equipment providers, such as VWR, Grainger and New Pig, offer spill cleanup supplies or kits. Each lab should tailor their kit to their specific operations. A spill kit should include at a minimum the following items:

To speak with a medical professional regarding a potential chemical exposure, call the Employee Health Center at 206.685.1026.

Make sure the lab has calcium gluconate gel available in case of a skin exposure. Read the Hydrofluoric Acid Focus Sheet for more information on the safe use of hydrofluoric acid.

Yes, EH&S requires labs to have a chemical spill kit. Spill kits are available from many safety equipment providers, such as VWR, Grainger and New Pig. Don’t forget to restock or replace your chemical spill kit after use.

I installed a wrist strap. There is a silver circle button on controller. I need to change battery but don't want to break the controller. Please help an old lady figure this out

If you work with chemicals, you will probably have a chemical spill at some point. Your safety, and the safety of others, depends on your assessment and response.

To speak with a medical professional after a spill, call the Employee Health Center at 206.685.1026 to set up an appointment. At Harborview Medical Center call 206.744.3081, and at UW Medical Center call 206.598.4848. After normal business hours, if an employee has a work-related medical injury/illness/exposure, they should seek care at the UW Medicine UW Medical Center or call UWMC Emergency Medical Services at 206.598.4000.

Hello @Mortgagegenie. We'd be happy to tell you how to change your controller batteries and hopefully make the process as simple as possible! On the right controller, the panel facing left can slide off; on the left controller, the panel facing right can slide off. You should see a little grove toward the top of the panels that can come off. Place your thumb on it and slide the panel down; the panel should easily pop out so you can replace the battery. Once you've put in a new battery, simply slide the panel back in place again. If you need any more assistance with this, please let us know!

The mercury spill kit is great for cleaning up a small volume of mercury on a smooth surface, while a specialized mercury vacuum works well for larger mercury spills. For more information on mercury spills, visit our Mercury web page.

If you work with hydrofluoric acid, you will need to have calcium gluconate gel on hand in case of skin exposures. Refer to the Hydrofluoric Acid Focus Sheet for more information.

Be prepared with proper training, cleanup supplies and personal protective equipment to manage spills easily and safely.

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