Humboldt State University

Skip to secondary navigation
Skip to content

EH&S Hazardous Materials Safety Information

Spill Response

There are guidelines at HSU which must be followed by departmental personnel and students in response to spills of hazardous materials. SAFETY of individuals must always be the foremost priority in responding to spills, regardless of how insignificant or innocuous the size of the spill or specific hazardous material may seem.

A non-emergency spill at HSU is defined as:
a release of a hazardous material in a quantity and of a hazard consistent with normal usage by a specific individual in a particular application, e.g. 200 ml of a dilute acid spilled on a bench top with no one contaminated or injured.

An emergency spill at HSU is defined as:
a spill of a volume and/or hazard that is above and beyond normal usage by a specific individual in a particular application, e.g dropping and breaking a one gallon container of concentrated acid while dispensing a portion for dilution.

In all spill response situations the steps listed below should be followed:

Additional specific information is available in the HSU Hazardous Materials Spill Response Guidelines and the Biological Sciences Dept. Spill Response Guidelines.

This information is intended for use by Humboldt State University's students, staff and faculty. HSU does not warrant its application to other campuses or workplaces.

Environmental Health and Safety • SBS 411• 1 Harpst St., Arcata, CA 95521 • 707.826.33302 • Contact Us.