Hazardous Material Incident / Suspicious Odor

Because of the variety of materials used around the University, if a chemical spill occurs or if you detect gas, chemical fumes, or any suspicious odor:

If incident is a health threatening release

• If the incident is indoors, close all doors in order to isolate the area, if it is safe to do so
• Yell for help from others. Go to a safe area and call 9-911 (911 from non-campus or cell phones). Give the following information:
  • Your name
  • Telephone number
  • Location of the spill/leak (building, floor, room number, etc.)
  • Name of the material
  • Quantity of material involved
  • Time of the incident
  • If anyone is injured or exposed to material
  • If a fire or explosion is involved

Note: Do not hang up until the dispatcher does

If incident is not a health threatening release

• If the incident is indoors, close all doors in order to isolate the area, if it is safe to do so
• Yell for help from others. Clean up the spill yourself if it is less than 1 ounce (30 ml) and you have knowledge of the material and proper equipment and training
• If larger than 30 ml, the spill has entered a drain, or you need assistance cleaning up the spill, call Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) at (650) 725-9999 and provide the following information:
  • Your name
  • Telephone number
  • Location of the spill/leak (building, floor, room number, etc.)
  • Name of the material
  • Quantity of material involved
  • Time of the incident
  • If anyone is injured or exposed to material
  • If a spill has escaped to the environment (drain, outside, etc.)
• If an individual has been contaminated:
  • Remove contaminated clothing, if applicable
  • Use eyewash or emergency shower for a full 15 minutes to flush the affected area

If suspicious odors, gas or chemical fumes

• Call EH&S at (650) 725-9999, and provide that same information as above

In all cases

• Arrange for someone to meet the emergency responders
• Follow instructions provided by the emergency responders
• Evacuate to your assigned EAP, if necessary. Remain there until roll has been taken and you have been released by emergency responders.
• Notify Maintenance Customer Service at (650) 723-2281
• Notify Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) at (650) 725-9999 if you have not done so already

Do not attempt to clean up a spill or release unless you are trained to do so, know it is safe, have the proper equipment and it is less than 30 ml (1 ounce). 

For further instructions go to https://ehs.stanford.edu.

If you observe what you believe to be an unauthorized release of any pollutants to the environment, call the Stanford Environmental Health and Safety Department (EH&S) immediately at (650) 725-9999.