Minor Chemical Spills Indoors:
How to respond to minor chemical spills which pose no immediate threat to health, environment or damage to property, as follows:

1. Notify occupants in the immediate area of the spill.
2. Use spill kits to absorb/contain spill.
3. If unpleasant odours are generated, call 8-911.
4. Place waste in a sealed container in a secure, well-ventilated area.
5. Call Human Resources 8806 to arrange for chemical waste disposal.

Major Chemical Spills Indoors:

How to respond to large chemical spills, or spills which pose a threat to health, environment or
damage to property as follows:

1. Evacuate the immediate area, turning off spark-producing equipment and extinguish flames if flammable chemicals were spilled.
2. Assist contaminated personnel with use of emergency eyewash or shower.
3. From a safe location, call 8-911. Identify the chemical involved, quantity spilled and hazards.
4. Wait in a safe location and keep unauthorized staff out of the contaminated area.
5. Provide SDS to responders.

All Chemical Spills Outdoors:

1. Call 8-911, or direct someone else to call.
2. Contain spill rapidly by diking with suitable material. Cover openings to sewers, if able to do so.
3. Wait at site until assistance arrives.

Flammable Gas Leak:

1. Evacuate the immediate area, turning off spark-producing equipment and extinguishing flames.
2. From a safe location, call 8-911. (Do not pull the fire alarm.) If known, provide information about the gas.

Explosion or Fire:

1. Leave the immediate area.
2. Warn people in the area to evacuate.
3. If your building has a fire alarm, use the nearest pull station.
4. From a safe location, call 8-911 or direct someone else to call. If known, provide information about the hazardous materials involved.
5. Leave the area if you cannot control the fire. If you have received fire extinguisher training, and can safely do so, you may choose to extinguish the fire.

Chemical Emergency Prevention Strategies

1. Obtain Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for hazardous materials controlled under the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). Obtain product information sheets for non-WHMIS controlled hazardous materials.
2. Update each SDS every three years.
3. Before using a hazardous material, review the SDS or product information sheet. Focus on handling/use, first aid, spill, fire and explosion instructions.
4. Obtain special first aid supplies, as outlined on the SDS or product information sheet (eg. 2 1/2 % calcium gluconate paste for skin exposures to hydrofluoric acid).
5. Obtain or ensure availability of necessary spill kits, cleanup materials and personal protective equipment, before starting work with the hazardous material.
6. Ensure that the fire extinguisher in your facility is appropriate to the type of hazardous materials in use.
7. Review the location and operation of eyewash stations and emergency showers.
8. Revise your chemical inventory annually; more often if you are using hazardous materials with a recommended shelf life of less than one year.
9. If you are in charge of a space in which hazardous materials are stored, handled or used, ensure that Security Services has your current business and after-hours emergency contact numbers.

Safety Data Sheets

1. WHMIS controlled hazardous materials must be purchased with a purchase order.
2. Product information for non-WHMIS-controlled products must be requested at time of sale.
3. Ensure that SDS are accessible in all areas where hazardous materials are used or stored.
4. Update each SDS every three years.
5. Updates of SDS's can be obtained by contacting the original suppliers by phone, fax or via the internet.