How to Deal with Hazardous Laboratory Spills?

无论其大小还是复杂，所有实验室都可能发生溢出。在考虑实验室安全时，溢出管理往往被忽视，但溢出将实验室工作人员暴露在任何其他实验室运营中的危险。

在早期的文章中简要介绍了这个话题General Guidelines for laboratory safety. In the present article general guidelines are offered for handling of some uncommon spills such as poisonous chemicals, mercury, radioactive materials and microbiological substances.

有毒的材料

Poisonous materials can enter the human system either through skin or through inhalation. Evacuate the laboratory after stopping ongoing experiments. The person attending to the spill should use protective gloves and masks during cleanup operations. After cleaning the spill remember to dispose of the gloves and facemask along with the material removed.

Flammable Liquids

Extinguish all naked flames and switch off hot plates and electrical equipments which are potential sources of sparks. Surround the spill with absorbent pads and allow the pads to soak the liquid completely. Using tongs place the absorbing pads in a polythene bag and seal the bag. Wipe the area with that detergent and mop with water.

Mercury Spills

Mercury does not pose immediate harm but vapour inhalation can pose health hazards over time. Small droplets can penetrate cracks and crevices on the laboratory bench and continue emitting vapour Use an eyedropper to remove such drops or a special mercury vacuum cleaner to collect the droplets in a disposal container. Never use a regular vacuum cleaner. Never walk through a mercury spilled area. Dispose shoes into a sealed bag if you have accidentally walked through the mercury spilled floor.

Sulphur powder can be sprinkled over minute remaining droplets, spray water and using a scrapper and had damp sponge collect into a bag along with the scrapper dispose the bag.

Radioactive Spills

Exposure to radioactivity can pose long-term hazards. In case of isotope spills first of all workers should be evacuated from the contaminated area and radiation safety officer should be informed. Isolate the potentially affected persons in quarantine area and permit them to leave only after they have been cleared of radioactive contamination. Before attempting to clean use protective clothing, gloves and shoe covers. Cover the affected area with absorbent pads, work inside the spill and dispose the pads into a radioactive disposal waste container. The contaminated gloves and other disposable materials should also be disposed off. At the end of cleaning monitor the area, hands, clothing and shoes with a radioactive monitor.

Microbiological Spills

Spills in microbiological laboratories can pose varying degrees of health hazards depending upon scale of spill and the spill area.

生物安全柜内的泄漏造成的危险较少，因为有害气溶胶也被柜子空气流扫除。溢出可以用合适的消毒剂可以方便地清洁。用于清洁机柜的手套应丢弃。由于潜在的暴露危险，生物安全柜外的溢出需要更加关注。溢出物应覆盖有消毒剂或释放次氯酸盐的物质。大约10分钟后，该区域并将所有受污染的材料放置通过高压灭菌来灭菌。在丢弃单独的Sharps一次性容器之前，锐利或破碎的物体也应分别进行灭菌。

Please feel free to offer your suggestions and share your experiences.