CHAPTER 4: EMERGENCY RESPONSE INFORMATION

Emergency assistance is available on campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling Campus Security. Should you need assistance, dial 5000 from any campus phone and give the officer the following information:

Immediately announce that it is an emergency situation, and then give

• Your name
• Your location on campus--please be specific ( e.g. Ardolf Science Center, room 204)
• A brief description of the situation

Remain on the phone line until instructed to hang-up. If you feel that an ambulance is needed, please bring this to the attention of the security officer immediately so that an ambulance can respond as quickly as possible.

Each laboratory and the stockroom in the Ardolf Science Center is equipped with a first aid kit. These kits, which contain a booklet of basic first aid guidelines, are designed to be used for minor injuries only. Please act within the boundaries of your training and expertise--do no harm. Disposable gloves must be worn any time the potential for exposure to an open wound exists.

If the situation involves an injury beyond the scope of the first aid kit supplies and your expertise as a responder, please call Campus Security at 5000.

The large number of potentially hazardous chemicals precludes an exhaustive list of the symptoms of overexposure.

Certain signs and symptoms associated with chemical overexposure are also associated with conditions arising independent of contact with any chemical. Thus, the presence of a given sign or symptom need not indicate overexposure to a particular chemical. Conversely, the absence of a particular sign or symptom may not be meaningful since individuals react differently to toxins. Accurate diagnosis of pathological effects, and determination as to whether these effects are associated with overexposure to a particular chemical, must be left to trained medical personnel.

• Consult the MSDS for signs and symptoms of overexposure before working with a compound.
• Any deviation from an individual’s normal state of health, especially in those instances in which that person suspects or knows of chemical overexposure, must be reported immediately to a co-worker and/or supervisor.

The fire alarm system or "building evacuation alarm" is used to notify all building occupants of the need for immediate evacuation.

1. Stop all work;
2. Shut off electrical equipment and machines, if possible;
3. Close any opened doors.
4. Exit quickly via the nearest emergency exit in your area.
5. Remain outside of the facility until you are instructed to re-enter by emergency

response personnel.

Other things to remember:

• Do not use elevators during an evacuation, which can act as "smoke stacks" for smoke during a fire.
• Avoid blocking access routes to the building and fire hydrants.
• Move away from glassed areas or power lines.
• Avoid interfering with the work of emergency crews.

Anyone who becomes aware of a situation involving a possible fire should take the following actions:

1. Assist anyone in immediate danger, only if able to do so without endangering yourself.
2. Alert others in the area of the fire and send someone to the nearest building evacuation alarm station to activate the alarm. The person who activated the alarm should call for emergency assistance by dialing 9-911.
3. If the fire is small and you have been trained to use a fire extinguisher, attempt to extinguish the fire by using a fire extinguisher. Please remember:

• Never fight a fire alone, and
• Be sure you have a safe escape route, with your back to that exit.

4. If you have any doubts about your ability to extinguish the fire, leave the building.
5. Describe the situation to emergency response officers as they arrive.
6. Fill out Accident Report Form regardless of the size of the fire.

Other things to keep in mind:

• Close any open doors to inhibit the spread of the fire.
• Do not use elevators which act as "smoke stacks" during fires.
• Before opening any doors, feel the door’s surface with the back of your hand to ensure that the fire hasn’t spread to the room or corridor you wish to enter.
• If smoke is a problem, place a wet cloth over the mouth and nose and stay as low to the floor as possible.

Remember: hot gases rise, but most chemicals vapors are heavier than air.

In all situations in which a room has been evacuated due to fire, in which a fire is suspected or in which a fire has been extinguished, Campus Security (5000) must be notified immediately so that the local fire department may evaluate the situation and check for unknown fire spread. Also, please remember that the silencing of the fire alarm DOES NOT mean that the building may be re-entered. Permission to re-enter the building may only be given by emergency response personnel.

A reminder for trained individuals on the used of a fire extinguisher, remember the acronym P A S S:

• PULL the safety pin out, release the lock latch or press the puncture lever.
• AIM the extinguisher nozzle, horn or hose low at the base of the fire’s leading edge.
• SQUEEZE or press the extinguisher’s handle to release the extinguishing agent.
• SWEEP the extinguisher from side to side, progressing from the leading edge

of the fire toward the fire center, until the fire is extinguished. Extinguishing techniques may vary; read the directions on the extinguisher.

Appendix 8 contains a listing of the classes of fires and the types of fire extinguishers.

• STOP moving and call for help.
• Using your hands or a lab coat, pat your hair to extinguish the fire.

Then:

• Cool mildly burned areas and clothing with clean water.
• Call Campus Security (5000). The officer will assess the situation and arrange for further medical treatment.

• STOP moving and call for help.
• DROP to the floor or other horizontal surface.
• ROLL to smother the flames and to keep flames from the face and hair.

Note: A lab coat can be used to help extinguish clothing or hair on fire.

Then:

• Cool mildly burned areas and clothing with clean water.
• Call Campus Security (5000). The officer will assess the situation and arrange for further medical treatment.
• A safety shower may be used to help extinguish clothing on fire  ONLY if the victim is in the immediate vicinity of the shower. NEVER run to a shower  since this will only intensify the fire.
• A fire blanket, if available, may be brought to the victim after first attempts   have been made, and can be used to cushion the victim on the floor or keep   the victim warm if doused with water.

If you become directly involved in such a situation by receiving or becoming aware of any bomb or arson threat, your response should be to immediately call CSB Campus Security at 5000. Information concerning such threats must be kept confidential--do not share this information with anyone, unless directed to do so by emergency response agencies.

Any situation involving an explosion should be handled as a fire emergency by:

1. Assisting anyone in immediate danger, only if able to do so without endangering yourself.
2. Alerting others working in the area.
3. Activating the nearest fire alarm station on your way out of the building.
4. Calling for emergency assistance by dialing 9-911.
5. Describing the situation to emergency response officers as they arrive.

Fire extinguishers should not be used to extinguish a fire resulting from an explosion!

The assessment of a chemical spill and the decision of whether to take action or not is a process which requires very careful consideration of the chemical hazards involved. Ultimately, the responsibility rests with the faculty or staff member(s) in charge of the particular laboratory. Student employees or laboratory students should not be asked to go beyond their level of responsibility to clean-up a spill. Under no circumstance should any clean-up be attempted without the proper personal protective equipment. Chemical spills requiring the use of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) will be handled by the St. Joseph Fire Department.

General clean-up guidelines:

• For small spills of acids and bases, neutralize the spill with sodium bicarbonate. Flush the material into the sink with plenty of water and rinse the area well.
• For larger spills of acids and bases or spills of other liquids, contain and absorb the spill by using loose absorbent, cat litter or sorbent pads. See Appendix 13 for the location of clean-up supplies. After liquids have been absorbed:
• Place the chemical and the absorbent material into appropriate containers.
• Tightly seal the container and label it with chemical contents.
• Store the container in a red-numbered fume hood. In consultation with the Stockroom Manager or the Environmental Health and Safety Officer, make arrangements for the proper disposal of the chemical waste.
• Spills involving powdered chemicals should be cleaned up in a manner which minimizes the amount of dust raised. Use damp paper towels or wide paint scrapers to pick up the solids in these situations. Deposit materials into a Ziplock Bag or wide-mouth plastic container and label the container.
• For spills of especially toxic chemicals, plans should be made for the clean-up, including follow-up solvent wipes and kinds of protective apparel needed.

For spills requiring assistance from the St. Joseph Fire Department, please take   the following steps:

• Alert others in the area and immediately evacuate the room. Close the door.
• If you feel the situation warrants total evacuation of the building, activate the nearest building alarm pull station.
• From a safe location call for emergency assistance by dialing 5000. CSB Campus Security and the St. Joseph Fire Department will respond. If the situation is beyond what the St. Joseph Fire Department can safely handle, they will call in the St. Cloud Fire Department Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Team. Only the St. Joseph Fire Department is authorized to call in the HazMat Team.

See the front of the CHP or Appendix 1 for a list of emergency telephone numbers.

As a general guideline, spills of chemicals having a HMIS H, F or R value of 3 or 4 should not be cleaned up by a student employee or student in lab. Additionally,  spills involving chemicals of unknown toxicity, flammability or reactivity should not by  cleaned up by these groups. A member of the chemistry department should assume responsibility in these situations, or Campus Security (5000) should be called.

General Clean-Up Steps (Only for HMIS < 3)

• Alert others working in the area of the spill. Enlist the assistance of a Chemistry faculty or staff member if you are uncomfortable cleaning up the spill.
• Carefully read the MSDS for the chemical(s) involved.
• For small spills of acids and bases, neutralize the spill with sodium bicarbonate. Flush the material into the sink with plenty of water and rinse the area well.
• For small spills of other liquids, contain the spill by using loose absorbent, kitty litter or sorbent pads. Scrape up the absorbent and put it into a container. Label the container with contents.
• Spills involving powdered chemicals should be cleaned up in a manner which minimizes the amount of dust raised. Use damp paper towels or wide paint scrapers to pick up the solids in these situations. Deposit materials into a Ziplock Bag or wide-mouth plastic container and label the container.
• For container disposal, notify Nikki Jochman (5138 or 5250).

General steps for chemicals having HMIS values 3 or 4

Under no circumstance should any clean-up be attempted without the proper personal protective equipment or clean-up supplies. Chemical spills requiring the use of self- contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) will be handled by the St. Joseph's Fire Department.

Mercury metal is a challenge to clean up--it scatters over a large area, sticks to plastic and coats other metals, making it difficult to deal with. However, due to the toxicity of mercury vapors, it must be cleaned up thoroughly and promptly! Here are guidelines for mercury clean-up:

1. Consolidate as many of the droplets as possible by "pushing" them together with an index card or other stiff piece of paper.

2. Using the mercury vac available in the stockroom, vacuum up all traces of the mercury. Inspect the area thoroughly to ensure that all of the mercury was cleaned up.

3.  To remove all mercury from the vacuum tubing, suck up a small amount of water with the vacuum. Inspect the tubing to ensure that all mercury has been removed.

4. Remove the mercury from the vacuum collection cup by opening the cup's top and pouring the mercury out into either an existing mercury collection container or another separate container (make sure that this container is properly labeled). Mercury must not be left in the collection cup!  

Campus Security at CSB and Life Safety at SJU monitor weather radios for any indication of potentially dangerous weather. If the need to take shelter exists, Campus Security and Life Safety will attempt to notify department chairpersons and other supervisors. It then is the responsibility of these notified individuals to take immediate action to notify those in their building or area of this information, and to stay alert for changing conditions. Please be aware that the weather sirens from the city of St. Joseph will probably not be heard in the ASC.

Should conditions exist which require everyone to take shelter, these steps should be followed:

• Take shelter in the HAB or BAC basement, it time allows. Immediate shelter can be taken in the lower central corridors of the building.
• Take a radio along, preferably battery operated.
• Stay away from glass.
• Stay clear of electrical panels.
• Avoid overcrowding.

Shelter will be taken by all persons for a period of time well in excess of any possible danger.