What is the difference between an incidental spill and an emergency spill and how should I respond?
An incidental spill is a small spill (less than one gallon of a hazardous chemical and less than five gallons of oil) and has occurred during a routine work assignment. These spills can be cleaned up with available spill supplies so long as the person cleaning up the spill has first hand knowledge of the material, has reviewed the material safety data sheet (MSDS), and uses the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). An emergency spill is one that may impact human health or the environment, is uncontrollable, or large enough to require two or more people to respond. An emergency spill requires the assistance of trained personnel to coordinate clean up the spill in a timely and effective manner. Contact University Police to report the spill, 911 from a university phone or (703) 993-2810.
