Chemical Emergencies

  1. San Jacinto College
  2. About San Jac
  3. Emergency Management
  4. Emergency Response Procedures
  5. Chemical Emergencies
Chemical Emergencies
 

On-Campus:

  • Vacate the affected area at once, closing all doors behind you to prevent further contamination of other areas until the spill is contained. (Do not lock all doors)
  • Based upon the hazard, attempt to clean-up if you are trained to do so and if appropriate personal protective equipment is readily available. If you are unable to clean up the chemical properly, contact Campus Police at 281-476-9128 or 5555 from a campus phone.
  • If you are cleaning the spill/leak yourself, dispose of the waste properly. Do not wash chemical down interior or exterior drains.
  • Complete and submit a Safety/Incident Report.
  • If the spill/leak has the potential to cause a life or health hazard in the building, activate the fire alarm manual pull station and evacuate the building. Contact Campus Police at 281-476-9128 or 5555 from a campus phone.
  • When reporting, be specific about the nature of the involved material and exact location. The SJCD Police will ensure the necessary specialized authorities and medical personnel are contacted.
  • Anyone who may be contaminated by the spill should avoid contact with others as much as possible. If trained to do so, start the decontamination process. 
  • Ensure Material Safety Data Sheets are maintained on site at all times. At the time of a chemical emergency, the MSDS must be made available to the emergency personnel.
  • Campus community will be informed of the incident by an SJC Alert Me notification. Shelter-in-Place Procedures should be followed if advised until an all clear is given. 

Steps in responding to a chemical spill

Off-Campus:

  • In the event of an accidental industrial release of toxic chemicals or other emergencies where the air quality threatens a campus, the Office of Emergency Management will declare a Shelter-in-Place action.
  • Campus community will be informed of the incident by an SJC Alert Me notification. Shelter-in-Place Procedures should be followed if advised until an all clear is given.