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To contain and control
a liquid chemical spill, the following procedure works well. First, remove all
unprotected personnel and students away from spill. If the spilled chemical
is volatile, ventilate the area or evacuate. If the spilled chemical is flammable,
remove all ignition sources. Wear personal protection equipment such as chemical
splash goggles, chemical–resistant gloves and apron.
Gently pour sand around
the spill and onto the spill. The sand will contain the spill, prevent it from
spreading, and also provide traction if you need to walk over it. Next, pour
absorbent (kitty litter, oil absorbent) around the spill and onto the spill.
This will absorb the liquid and also begin to contain any vapors. For both the
absorbent and sand, it is best to gently drop or sprinkle the spill control
material around the spill and then onto the spill to avoid further spreading.
Lastly, if the spill is an inorganic acid or base, apply the appropriate neutralizer
around the spill and onto the spill. The neutralizer needs to be mixed well
with the sand and absorbent to come in contact with all of the spilled chemical—use
a plastic broom to mix well.
After the spill is controlled,
the cleanup begins. If the material is warm or still giving off vapors, ventilate
the room and wait before cleaning up. Use a plastic dustpan and plastic broom
to sweep up the now solid mess and place it into large, heavy–duty plastic
garbage or leaf bags for disposal. If at any time during the chemical spill
containment or cleanup step you don't feel comfortable, leave the area and
get help.
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| © 2006 Flinn Scientific, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction
permission is granted to science teachers who are current customers
of Flinn Scientific, Inc. No part of this material may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including, but not limited to photocopy, recording, or any information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from
Flinn Scientific, Inc.
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