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Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management

Health and Safety

Accidents and First Aid

Chemicals on skin or clothing

  1. Immediately flush area with water for at least 15 minutes, (exception: hydrofluoric acid,flammable solids, or high concentrations of phenol). Refer to Eye wash and Emergency Shower page for instructions on how to use.
  2. While rinsing remove ALL contaminated clothing and accessories (jewelry, etc.). Note: use caution when removing pullover shirts and sweaters to prevent contamination of the eyes.
  3. Check the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to determine if there are any expected delayed effects.
  4. Depending on the chemical and the item, discard or launder item separately to decontaminate it.

Chemicals in eyes

  1. Flush eyes IMMEDIATELY for at least 15 minutes. Hold eyes open, lift eyelids off the eye and move eye around to rinse all the surface area of the eye. If an eyewash it unavailable, use a handheld eyewash or water to rinse the eye, rinsing from the nose outward to avoid contaminating the unaffected eye (if applicable).
    Refer to Eye wash and Emergency Shower page for instructions on how to use.
  2. Remove contact lenses while rinsing not before. Do not waste time trying to remove contact lenses before flushing the eye. Seconds count! And do not rinse contact lenses and reinsert.
  3. Seek medical attention immediately

Chemical Inhalation

  • Close containers, open windows, or move to fresh air
  • If any symptoms such as dizziness, drowsiness, sore throat, or headache persist. Seek medical attention immediately.
  • Review Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to determine if there are any expected delayed effects.

Chemical ingestion

  1. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed by a healthcare professional.

First aid procedures for exposure to infectious agents

Intact skin

  1. Remove contaminated clothing
  2. Wash contaminated skin vigorously with soap and water for 1 minute

Cuts, broken/damaged skin or puncture wounds

  1. Remove contaminated clothing
  2. Wash contaminated skin vigorously with soap and water for 5 minutes
  3. Seek Medical Attention

Eye

  1. Flush eyes for at least 15 minutes with water using an eyewash. If no eyewash is available, pour water on the affected eye(s) for 15 minutes. Note: Make sure to rinse from the nose outward to avoid contamination of the unaffected eye.
  2. Hold eyelids away from eye and move eyes around to make sure that they are rinsed thoroughly
  3. Seek Medical Attention

Injury / illness reporting procedures

Students:

Injuries to students in the laboratory spaces must be reported to Academic Environmental Health and Safety (AEHS). The information on the form may initiate and investigation by AEHS. Forms are available through your supervisor, or AEHS.

Employees and student employees:

Work related injuries / illnesses must be reported to Human Resources. The information on this form may initiate an accident investigation by Environmental Health and Safety, where applicable, and will provide the information needed for Workers Compensation Insurance, and Cal/OSHA Log of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. Forms are available through your supervisor, or human resources.