Emergency Response Guide

Fire Emergency Response

A fire emergency exists whenever there is the presence of smoke or the odor of burning, when there is an uncontrolled fire or imminent fire hazard in the building or surrounding area, when there is a spontaneous or abnormal heating of any material, or when the building evacuation alarm is sounding.

Clothing or Person on Fire

Stop, Drop, Roll

• Roll person around on floor to smother flames.
• Only drench with water if safety shower is immediately available.
• Obtain medical attention. Call 9-1-1 or (301) 405-3333.

Fire Emergency Procedure

• Shut off all equipment and stabilize laboratory experiments if safe to do so.
•  Activate the building fire alarm if it is not already sounding.
•  Leave the building. Use marked exits. Do not use elevators.
• Call the Fire Department from a safe place.
•  Dial 9-1-1 or (301) 405-3333 or use campus emergency phones located throughout campus

Only use a fire extinguisher if the fire is very small and you know how to do it safely. If you can’t put out the fire, leave immediately and make sure the fire department is called. Total and immediate evacuation is safest. If you are not able to evacuate, get as far away from the fire as possible. Call 9-1-1 or (301) 405-3333 to tell them your location.

All fires, including extinguished fires, must be reported to the fire department.

Radiation Spill

Take appropriate action for additional hazards (chemicals), when initiating a spill cleanup; although the radioactive component may be considered minor, the chemical hazard may require additional ESSR support. REMEMBER: life-safety takes precedence over radioactive material spills. For example, obtaining medical support and evacuating buildings for fires are a priority over all minor and major spill actions.

Personal Exposure

Radioactive Material Spill in Eye or on Skin or Clothing

• Remove contaminated clothing and put in plastic bag. Seal and label bag.
• Begin decontamination of exposed skin. Use eyewash for eye exposure. Contact the Radiation Safety Officer at (301) 405-3960.
• Report incident to supervisor.
• Obtain medical attention at University Health Center or other local medical facilities listed on the Personal Injury page.

Exposure to X-Ray Beams

• Shut off machine. Do Not alter machine configuration until Radiation Safety Officer inspection.
• Obtain medical attention at the University Health Center or other local medical facilities listed below.
• Report incident to supervisor and Radiation Safety Officer.

Minor Radiation Spill

Definition

Occurs within a posted radioactive material lab
Localized to a small area in the lab (bench top)
No personnel skin or clothing contamination
Involves low quantity of radioactivity (less than 500 uCi)
Involves no powders or no volatile/airborne radioactive material

• Notify personnel in the immediate area of the spill.
• Confine the spill by placing absorbent paper towels over the spill.
• Have all potentially contaminated personnel stay in one area until they have been monitored and shown to be free of contamination.
• Authorized radioactive material users may perform minor spill cleanup; supervised radioactive material users can conduct minor spill cleanup under direct supervision of the Principal Investigator or another authorized user.
• Absorb the spill liquid and decontaminate surfaces using standard cleaning agents. Dispose of all cleaning materials in radioactive waste containers.
• Monitor surfaces with an appropriate survey meter. Conduct a wipe test to evaluate removable contamination levels. Repeat decontamination until no contamination remains above background with a survey meter and wipe tests indicate removable contamination is less than the action levels. Contact the Radiation Safety Officer if contamination remains post-decontamination efforts.
• When decontamination is complete, monitor all personnel involved (hands and shoes) to ensure no contamination.
• All minor spills must be reported to the Radiation Safety Officer on the day it occurs. To report minor spills or to request support in decontamination, contact the Radiation Safety Officer at (301) 314-2000.*

*Note: ESSR staff are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During regular business hours, this number will be answered by ESSR. After
regular business hours, it will be answered by the University of Maryland Police Department, who will contact appropriate
ESSR on-call personnel.

Major Radiation Spill

Definition

Occurs outside of a posted radioactive material lab
Involves a large area within a posted radioactive material lab
Involves personnel contamination (skin or clothes)
Involves greater than 500 uCi of radioactive material
Involves powders or volatile/airborne radioactive material

• Notify personnel in the immediate area of the spill.
• Secure and isolate the spill area to prohibit access and prevent spreading contamination. If safe to do so, confine or stop the spill with absorbent material.
• Call 9-1-1 or (301) 405-3333.
• Have all personnel present move to a safe location away from the spill area and remain in the area until they have been monitored and shown to be free of contamination.
• If skin or clothing contamination is known, remove contaminated clothing as quickly as practical and begin decontamination of skin using mild soap and warm water. If possible to do so, record the initial radiation levels on the skin using a survey meter; however, do not delay decontamination efforts.
• Follow the instructions of the Radiation Safety Officer. Do not re-enter the area until the Radiation Safety Officer gives approval.
• Have personnel knowledgeable of the incident remain in the area to provide support and assistance to Radiation Safety and other emergency response personnel.

Chemical Spill

Only knowledgeable and experienced personnel should clean up a chemical spill. Spill kits with instructions, absorbents, protective equipment, disposal bags, and labels should be available to clean up minor spills.

Personal Exposure

Chemical Spill on Skin or Clothing

• Flood exposed area with running water from faucet or safety shower for at least 15 minutes.
• Remove contaminated clothing, put into plastic bag and seal it. Avoid contact with eyes.
• Check Safety Data Sheet to determine if delayed effects or symptoms may be expected.
• Obtain medical attention at the University Health Center or other local medical facilities listed on the Personal Injury page.
• Take the Safety Data Sheet with you to medical facility.
• Report incident to supervisor and Chemical Hygiene Officer at (301) 405-3960.

Chemical in Eye

• Immediately rinse eye and inner surface of eyelid with water continuously for 15 minutes.
• Forcibly hold eye open to ensure effective wash behind eyelids.
• Obtain medical attention at the University Health Center or other local medical facilities listed on the Personal Injury page.
• Take the Safety Data Sheet with you to medical facility.
• Report incident to supervisor and Chemical Hygiene Officer at (301) 405-3960.

Chemical Inhalation Exposure

• Move to fresh air.
• Do not enter area if a life threatening condition may exist (oxygen depletion, explosive vapors, highly toxic vapors or gases).
• Obtain medical attention at the University Health Center or other local medical facilities listed on the Personal Injury page.
• Take the Safety Data Sheet with you to medical facility.

Minor Chemical Spill

Definition

Identification of chemical is known
Chemical hazard(s) can be characterized
Spill kit is compatible with the spilled chemical(s)
Spill kit contents are sufficient for the amount of chemical(s) spilled
You have been trained in spill response and decontamination
Spill response involves no imminent danger to health or risk to structures

• Alert people in immediate area of spill.
• Wear protective equipment including chemical splash goggles, appropriate gloves, and lab coat.
• Avoid breathing vapors from spill. (Individuals using respiratory protection must comply with requirements of the Respiratory
• Protection Program.)
• Confine spill to small area. Use appropriate spill kit to absorb the spilled material.
• Place clean-up materials in bag, label with the ESSR Hazardous Waste label, and submit waste request form on ESSR website.
• Clean spill area with water.
• Call ESSR for advice as needed at (301) 314-2000.*

*Note: ESSR staff are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During regular business hours, this number will be answered by ESSR. After regular business hours, it will be answered by the University of Maryland Police Department, who will contact appropriate ESSR on-call personnel.

Major Chemical Material Spill

Definition

Identification of chemical is unknown
Chemical hazard(s) cannot be characterized
Spill kit is incompatible with the spilled chemical(s)
Spill kit contents are insufficient for the amount of chemical(s) spilled
You have not been trained in spill response and decontamination
Spill response may involve imminent danger to health or risk to structures

• Attend to injured or contaminated persons and remove them from exposure.
• Alert people in the laboratory to evacuate.
• If spill is flammable, turn off ignition and heat sources, evacuate area, and activate fire alarm.
• Close doors to affected area.
• If the spill or vapors migrate outside of the laboratory to other occupied spaces, activate building evacuation alarm.
• Call 9-1-1 or (301) 405-3333.
• Have person knowledgeable of the incident and laboratory remain available to provide information to ESSR and emergency personnel.

Biological Spill

At a minimum, the spill kit must include concentrated disinfectant (household bleach or iodophor), gloves, autoclave bags, approved sharps container, and forceps/tongs/dustpan for picking up broken glass. Personal exposure takes priority over clean up. For spills of a large volume, or spills involving organisms transmitted easily through inhalation of aerosols (BSL-3), call ESSR for assistance at (301) 314-2000.*

Personal Exposure

• Remove contaminated clothing, put it in a plastic bag and seal it.
• Vigorously wash exposed area with soap and water for 1 minute.
• Use eyewash for eye exposure. Rinse eye for 15 minutes.
• Obtain medical attention at University Health Center or other local medical facilities listed on the Personal Injury page. Take the Agent Specific Summary Statement with you to medical facility.
• Report incident to Biosafety Officer at (301) 405-3960.

Spill of BSL-1/BSL-2 Materials, rDNA or Human Blood

• Notify others in the immediate area so they will not unknowingly spread contamination. Notify the supervisor of the incident.
• Remove personal protective equipment (PPE) that has become contaminated and place it in a biohazard waste container. Wash hands and any skin that may have come in contact with infectious material, rDNA or blood.
• Secure scene according to Laboratory Specific procedures.
• Wear clean gloves, lab coat and safety glasses. If splashing is likely to occur, also wear goggles and face mask.
• Cover spilled material with absorbent material/paper towels.
• Carefully pour disinfectant freshly diluted to working strength onto and around the absorbent material in sufficient quantity to ensure
  effective microbial inactivation.
• Allow a 30 minute contact time.
• Using forceps/tongs/dustpan remove any broken glass or sharps and discard in sharps container. (If contaminated broken glass cannot fit in the sharps container, it may be treated by autoclaving or by soaking in a fresh 1:10 dilution of bleach for 30 minutes. Once decontaminated it may be placed in a sturdy cardboard box, taped closed, and placed in the building dumpster.)
• Remove remaining absorbent materials, using forceps/tongs/dustpan when possible to avoid handling materials directly with hands, and discard in biohazard waste container.
• Re-wipe spill area, including any surfaces that may have been splashed during the spill (i.e. cabinets, refrigerators, chairs, etc.) and discard materials in the biohazard waste container.
• Place all materials involved in spill clean-up, including PPE, in the biohazard waste container and autoclave or dispose as biohazard waste by submitting an online request through the ESSR website.
• Wash hands with soap and water.
• Notify ESSR of spill at (301) 314-2000.*
• For blood spills due to injury contact Building Services for clean up at (301) 405-2222.

Spill of BSL-3 Material (Including rDNA in BSL-3)

• Stop work, alert others and hold your breath or take shallow breaths until clear of the area to reduce the risk of inhaling airborne contaminants.
• Remove personal protective equipment (PPE) that has become contaminated and place it in a biohazard waste container. Leave area and secure scene according to Laboratory Specific procedures.
• Wash hands and any skin that may have come in contact with infectious material or rDNA.
• If an exposure has occurred, implement appropriate First Aid immediately and follow the post-exposure procedures according to Laboratory Specific procedures.'
• Contact ESSR at (301) 314-2000, and follow approved, site-specific spill response protocol.*

*Note: ESSR staff are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During regular business hours, this number will be answered by ESSR. After regular business hours, it will be answered by the University of Maryland Police Department, who will contact appropriate ESSR on-call personnel.

Personal Injury

All incidents involving personal injury must be addressed immediately. Notification to the appropriate Safety Officer identified below and supervisors must occur as soon as practical but on the same date of the incident.

Health Center is open between 8 AM – 6 PM. Call Health Center Urgent Care line at (301) 314-8162 before sending lab personnel to Health Center. If after hours, obtain medical attention from local medical facilities listed below.

Burns

First-degree and Second-degree Burns

• Cool with running water.
• Use non-stick dressing and do not disturb blisters.
• Report incident to supervisor.

Third-degree Burns

• Call 9-1-1 or (301) 405-3333 for emergency medical attention.
• Report incident to supervisor.

Exposure to Class 3b or 4 Laser Beam or Reflection

• Obtain medical attention at the University Health Center or other local medical facilities listed below.
• Notify principal investigator.
• Report incident Laser Safety Officer at (301) 405-3960.

Electric Shock

• Separate the person from current source by turning off power at the plug or circuit beaker, if possible.

OR

• Separate person from current source by standing on something dry and non-conductive (newspaper, wooden board) and separate using a non-conductive object such as a wooden or plastic broom handle.
• Call 9-1-1 or (301) 405-3333 for emergency medical attention, even if the person seems to be fine.

Minor Cuts and Punctures

• Thoroughly wash injury with soap and water for several minutes.
• Obtain medical attention at the University Health Center or other local medical facilities listed below.
• Report incident to supervisor.
• For blood spills due to injury contact Building Services for clean up at (301) 405-2222.

Needle Stick or Animal Bite

• Thoroughly wash injury with soap and water for several minutes.
• Obtain medical attention at the University Health Center or other local medical facilities listed below.
• Report incident to supervisor.

Deep Cuts and Punctures

• Rinse wound with running water.
• Apply direct pressure if there is significant bleeding.
• Call 9-1-1 or (301) 405-3333 for emergency medical attention.
• Report incident to supervisor.
• For blood spills due to injury contact Building Services for clean up at (301) 405-2222.

Call 9-1-1 or (301) 405-3333 for all medical emergencies.

LOCAL MEDICAL FACILITIES 

REGIONAL HOSPITALS

White Oak Medical Center (240) 637-4000
11890 Healing Way, Silver Spring, MD 20904
https://www.adventisthealthcare.com/

MedStar Washington Hospital Center (202) 877-7000
110 Irving Street, NW
Washington, DC 20010
https://www.medstarwashington.org/