IUPUI

Spills, Gas Leaks, and Odors

Radiation Spills

The Radiation Safety Procedures Manual gives detailed instructions on what to do in the event of a spill involving radioactive material. Basic instructions include the following:

1. Contact the Radiation Safety Office at 274-4797.
2. Notify everyone in the area of the spill and limit access.
3. Prevent the spread of contamination (e.g. cover with absorbent paper/chucks).
4. All individuals involved should remain in the area until monitored for contamination

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health

If an incident occurs which poses an immediate threat to building occupants and requires immediate evacuation of the building, the following steps should be taken:

1. Sound the building fire alarm. Make every attempt possible and reasonable to direct evacuating individuals away from the affected area. Increase fume hood airflow and close doors in affected area.
2. Call or have someone call: 911, and provide:
   • Building name
   • Room number or location
   • Type of incident
   • Name of material or description of odor involved
   • Estimate of volume of material involved
   • Evacuate the building to a safe distance and leave clear access for arriving emergency personnel. Do not return to the building until instructed to do so by a Public Safety Official. If you come into physical contact with the material, remove any contaminated clothing immediately and flush all areas of bodily contact with copious amounts of water. Additional treatment instructions for contact with hazardous materials

   Non-life Threatening Incidents

   Spills, Gas Leaks, Odors

   The following procedures should be followed for non-life threatening incidents involving chemical spills, leaking packages, large spills of biologically hazardous materials, gas odors, unknown chemical odors, and burning odors. Attempts to remedy situations should be left to responding personnel.

   If while investigating smoke or a burning odor, you discover flames or very dense smoke, then the procedures listed for Fire should be followed.

   1. Notify the IUPUI Public Safety Dispatch Center at 911 on campus phones, or 274-7911 off campus, and provide:
      • Building name
      • Room number or location
      • Type of incident
      • Name of material or description of odor involved
      • Estimate of volume of material involved

      The Dispatch Center will then notify the appropriate response departments who will investigate incidents and clean up spills.

   2. If you have health or safety concerns you should move from the affected area and keep others from entering. Increase fume hood airflow and close doors in affected area. Remain nearby to inform responding personnel of the problem.

   If you come into contact with hazardous materials

   1. Remove any contaminated clothing immediately and flush all areas of bodily contact with copious amounts of water. This should take place while someone else makes the appropriate phone calls and in a safe location.
   2. Ensure that medical assistance is obtained for those injured or exposed (safety shower, medical attention, etc.). Continue to rinse body contact areas with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes unless directed otherwise by appropriate emergency medical personnel. (Physician, Nurse, Paramedic or emergency Medical Technician).
   3. Visit IUPUI Occupational Health Clinic for medical care and evaluation.