How to Deal with Hazardous Laboratory Spills?

溢出物在所有实验室中都可以发生，而不论其大小或精致。考虑实验室安全时，泄漏管理通常会被忽略，但泄漏使实验室工人像其他实验室操作一样将实验室工人暴露于危险中。

该主题在之前的文章中简要介绍了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.

生物安全柜内的溢出物构成了较小的危险，因为也包含有害气溶胶并被橱柜空气流扫除。可以用合适的消毒剂方便地清洁溢出物。用于清洁柜子的手套应丢弃。由于潜在的暴露危害，生物安全柜外面的溢出需要更大的关注。溢出物应覆盖有消毒剂或释放次氯酸盐的材料。大约10分钟后，将面积拖把，并通过高压灭菌处理所有被污染的材料进行灭菌。在单独的锋利容器中丢弃之前，尖锐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.