MSDSs

4.0 GENERAL UNIVERSITY EMERGENCY INFORMATION

4.1 Where to Find Specific Information
This section provides general information about the University's emergency response programs.

• For detailed emergency notification procedures and other general emergency information, including fire safety, see your laboratory or departmental Safety Desk Book.
• For emergency information relating to chemical spills and exposures, see Section 6.0.
• For emergency information relating to biological spills and exposures, see Section 7.0.
• For emergency information relating to exposure to bloodborne pathogens, see the Bloodborne Pathogens Program.

Call for assistance when needed. Call 911 if there is an explosion, fire, injury, or spill-related evacuation. If there is a chemical or biological spill, also call 911. During business hours, you may call ORS directly at 3-8300 (Chicago) or 1-5581 (Evanston). If applicable, know the appropriate emergency procedures for non-University locations.

Each University employee (research and nonresearch personnel) receives an Employee Safety Handbook during Human Resources new employee orientation. ORS and the Office of Risk Management produce this publication. This reference booklet also summarizes important phone numbers, emergency procedures, medical treatment procedures, safety inspection information, and hazard communication program elements. It further explains the duties and activities of the various emergency response service organizations. It is intended to give you thorough emergency information in an easily accessible overview. If you do not have your own copy of the handbook, contact the Human Resources Training Division or ORS.

4.2 University Emergency Response Plan
The Safety and Loss Prevention Division of the Office of Risk Management maintains the University's Emergency Response Plan for emergencies. The Emergency Response Plan formalizes responses to all classes of emergencies, from small events to catastrophes. In emergency situations, the role of UP is to investigate the situation, provide site security, implement the emergency plan, and establish communications. ORS will advise and assist with hazardous-material spill control and cleanup. When the ability to respond adequately to an emergency is beyond the capability of University personnel, UP will call the local fire department or local hazardous materials response team. ORS may direct UP to make this call.

4.3 Building Emergency and Evacuation Plans
The senior officials of ORS, UP, the Safety and Loss Prevention Division, and Facilities Management are authorized to initiate evacuation of buildings. The University Emergency Response Plan requires that department heads cooperate to establish building safety committees and appoint building safety managers and alternates. The building safety committees shall develop evacuation plans for each building. The plans shall include a telephone tree for notifying key persons in case of emergency. All building occupants shall receive training in their respective evacuation plan. Safety wardens shall be appointed for each building.

In the event of a fire, hazardous material release, or other hazardous situation requiring emergency response in a safety warden's zone, the warden will:

• Activate the fire alarm, if needed
• Call UP and report the incident
• Notify occupants to evacuate the zone
• Assist emergency personnel by providing information regarding location of the incident, origin, and persons involved

The warden shall not be placed in imminent danger.

4.4 Power Failure
In the event of a power failure in a University research building, the building shall be evacuated. Evacuation is required because the ventilation system will cease to function. Although an emergency generator will maintain emergency lighting, air supply diffusers and chemical fume hoods will not operate.

Expect a delay between power outage and generator start-up; there will be a period of darkness before the emergency lights are turned on. Be prepared by keeping flashlights in the work area.

Once there is adequate emergency lighting, cap any open chemical containers and close gas cylinders, perform an orderly shutdown of equipment and processes, and close the chemical fume hood sash. If refrigerators, freezers, or cold rooms contain heat-sensitive materials, consider using dry ice to keep these materials cold. Leave immediately when the area has been secured and can be left unattended. Contact ORS or UP if there is a possibility of an uncontrolled reaction in a process that cannot be shut down.

Do not depend on safety showers or eyewashes. This safety equipment relies on a booster pump that will not be operational. Emergency telephones and manual pullbox stations should continue to operate properly.

4.5 Incident (Accident) Reporting
All laboratory incidents shall be reported to ORS, including minor spills, fires, or injuries. Laboratory incidents shall be investigated. ORS requires that an Incident Report be completed by the person(s) involved in the incident. The person's supervisor is expected to sign the completed form and state what steps will be taken to prevent future such incidents from occurring. The form is then submitted to ORS for subsequent review by the Chemical and Biological Safety Committee. The supervisor shall be responsible for ensuring that corrective action to prevent repeat incidents is undertaken.

ORS may also prepare an investigation report. Investigations are made and reports written not only to satisfy certain laws but also to learn the cause of the problem and what changes in procedures, equipment, or training should be made to avoid other accidents.

Fires or injuries not requiring outside assistance shall also be reported to the Safety and Loss Prevention Division of the Office of Risk Management. The Safety and Loss Prevention Division documents all fires and shall report all accidental employee injuries to the Office of Risk Management. All lost time claims shall be reported to the Claims Division of the Office of Risk Management. The injuries shall also be entered in the OSHA Injury Log. In case of a fire, injury, or other accident requiring outside assistance, the Safety and Loss Prevention Division shall write an investigation report.

4.6 ORS Assistance
ORS will respond to chemical and biological spills. However, if the spilled material is not volatile and there is no immediate fire or toxic hazard, cleanup may be done by laboratory employees (under direction of the principal investigator or ORS). ORS will provide cleanup supplies and equipment, personal protective equipment, and cleanup instructions. In situations involving a fire or toxic hazard, ORS will advise on evacuation or other precautions to protect persons or property in the immediate area.

4.7 Personal Injury
The CBSC and ORS both recommend that at least two members of each lab group receive first aid and CPR training. PIs/supervisors must determine whether to arrange for and/or sponsor first aid and CPR training for their staffs.

4.7.1 Burn from Fire. If your clothing catches fire, decide very quickly how to put out the fire and minimize burns. The following methods are in order of preference:

1. Get under a safety shower or other water source if one is immediately at hand.
2. If a safety shower is not immediately available, stop, drop, and roll to extinguish the fire, holding your hands over your face to shield your face and eyes.
3. Roll up in a fire blanket if one is nearby. If a fire blanket is used, remove it immediately after the flames are extinguished to prevent further injury from heat buildup.

Assess the condition of the skin's burn area. If skin is not broken, run water over the burn area to remove heat. If skin is broken, apply a dry, sterile dressing over the wound. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

4.7.2 Inhalation. A person exposed to smoke or fumes shall be removed to uncontaminated air. Any victim overcome by smoke or fumes shall be treated for shock (see Section 4.7.3). Give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if necessary and if trained personnel are available. If a person needs to be rescued from a contaminated area, evaluate the possibility of harm to the rescuer before anyone enters or remains in the contaminated area without proper protective equipment. If an MSDS is available for the material inhaled, it should accompany the victim to the medical treatment facility.

4.7.3 Shock. Shock is likely to develop in any serious illness or injury. Shock is a condition in which the circulatory system fails to deliver blood to all parts of the body. When the body's organs do not receive adequate blood supply, they fail to function properly.

The following signals are indicators that the victim is suffering from shock.

• Restlessness or irritability (often the first sign that the body is experiencing a significant problem)
• Altered consciousness
• Pale, cool, moist skin
• Rapid breathing
• Rapid pulse

In caring for shock, have the victim lie down. Help the victim rest as comfortably as possible to minimize pain and thereby slow the progression of shock. Control any external bleeding. Help the victim maintain a normal body temperature and avoid chilling. Elevate the victim's legs about 12 inches unless you suspect broken bones or possible head, neck, or back injuries. If in doubt, leave the patient lying flat.

Do NOT give the victim anything to eat or drink although (s)he may complain of thirst. Obtain medical assistance promptly since shock cannot be managed by first aid alone.

4.7.4 Ingestion. If a person ingests a toxic chemical, determine, if possible, what was ingested and notify the emergency medical personnel. Contact the Poison Control Hotline at (800) 942-5969 for emergency response information for the specific compound.

Inform the hotline personnel of the first aid treatment shown on the container label or the MSDS. The MSDS should accompany the victim to the medical treatment facility.

4.7.5 Puncture or Cut. When treating a victim with a puncture wound or cut, wear personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves) to minimize exposure to human blood, body fluids, or other chemical or biological contamination. Apply a pressure pad or clean cloth firmly to the wound. Raise the wounded area above the level of the heart to slow the bleeding. For severe bleeding or spurting, very firmly press the pressure pad directly on the wound and apply pressure at the applicable body pressure point above the wound to stop the flow of blood. In a severe injury, keep the victim warm, calm, and oriented to prevent shock.

4.7.6 Needlestick. Needlesticks or other accidents involving skin punctures by a chemical or biological agent shall be reported to the supervisor immediately. Appropriate medical testing, treatment, and follow-up may be indicated and shall be provided as appropriate. When a needlestick occurs, do not wait to report the incident and obtain medical attention. See the Bloodborne Pathogens Program for more information on needlestick exposures to human blood and other potentially infectious human materials.

4.7.7 Dermal Contact. If a chemical spills on a person, the first goal is to remove the chemical from the person's skin as soon as possible, without spreading it onto yourself. For chemicals that can cause burns, the stronger the chemical and the longer the contact, the worse the burn. The chemical continues to burn as long as it remains on the skin. For all chemicals except hydrofluoric (HF) acid, flush the skin under a safety shower for at least 15 minutes. For limited skin exposure on a small area, a drench hose may be adequate for flushing. HF burns should only be flushed with water for at most five minutes. Flushing after HF exposure shall be followed immediately with treatment as discussed below.

Remove contaminated clothing while the person is under the shower stream, taking care not to spread contamination from the clothing onto more of the person's skin. If the clothing must be pulled over the head or down along the legs to be removed, cut it away with first aid kit scissors instead. Many safety showers are equipped with curtains to give privacy to the victim. Don't let modesty keep you from removing contaminated clothing that remains against skin.

Do not treat the burn. Do not puncture any blisters that may develop. Allow trained medical personnel to administer treatment after flushing is complete. Your first aid kit will probably contain antibiotic ointment and sterile gauze for burns. These are intended only for minor burns such as those you might encounter in your household, e.g., small burns from cooking at a stove and sunburns.

In the special case of hydrofluoric (HF) acid exposure, you will be expected to provide treatment. That explains why flushing with water is curtailed. There should be minimal delay between exposure and treatment. Once the spill area has been thoroughly flushed, apply calcium gluconate antidote gel immediately. This application cannot wait for emergency personnel to respond. The gel must be administered quickly to prevent severe damage to bone and tissue or potential fatality. Refer to the First Aid Kit Policy and Guidelines for Laboratories for further information concerning proper gel application and purchasing. Any lab working with HF shall maintain a stock of gel.

4.7.8 Eye Contact. Should a chemical enter a person's eye(s), wash the eye(s) with water for at least 15 minutes, while waiting for medical help to arrive. Keep the affected eye (if only one has been contaminated) lower than the unaffected eye to prevent the spread of contamination. For HF splashes in the eye, flush with water for five minutes and then irrigate with a 1% solution of calcium gluconate gel. See also the First Aid Kit Policy and Guidelines for Laboratories for first aid information.

Be aware that particulates and liquids can become trapped in the conjunctiva where they may continue to cause damage. The entire interior of the eye must be flushed as well as the exposed cornea. Irrigator loops are available that can ensure flushing under the eyelids. A "buddy" in the lab is vital to the injured person to help find the eyewash, call for help, keep the eyes open under the water stream, and prevent the person from rubbing the eye(s) and aggravating the damage.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, CHICAGO CAMPUS EMPLOYEES*

In the event you are injured or exposed to a hazardous substance, follow these procedures to obtain medical care and establish any Workers' Compensation benefits to which you may be entitled. All work-related injuries and illnesses must be reported. The claims manager of the Office of Risk Management on the Evanston campus is responsible for processing reports and conducting investigations of employee injuries and work-related illnesses.

Medical services are provided to Northwestern University employees at Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health, Galter Pavilion, 201 East Huron St., 9th Floor, Suite 240, Chicago, (312) 926-8282, the primary care facility for work-related injuries and illnesses. Hospital emergency medical services shall be used only in life-threatening medical situations (e.g., severe chest pains, severe burns, hemorrhaging, severe head injuries, open or compound fractures). Should life-threatening circumstances occur, call 911.

I. Ambulatory victims (able to walk)
A. Inform your supervisor or designated departmental employee of your injury or illness. The supervisor will contact the claims manager at (847) 491-5582. The claims manager will then contact Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health to arrange an appointment for an examination. The claims manager will advise the supervisor of the appointment time and location. The claims manager must have detailed information to establish the Workers' Compensation claim. The supervisor will provide this information to support the claims process.

B. Proceed to Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health and secure treatment as scheduled. If the injury or illness occurs after 5:00 p.m., before 8:30 a.m., or on a weekend or holiday, go to the emergency room at NMH and identify yourself as a Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health client. Inform NMH personnel that you are a Northwestern University employee. Bring your NU Wildcard for identification purposes.

C. Following treatment, fax a copy of your "Duty Status Report" to the claims manager at (847) 467-7475. Do not pay for treatment. Forward all bills and other related documentation to the claims manager. Also send receipts for any prescriptions or other related medical costs to the claims manager for reimbursement.

II. Nonambulatory victims (unconscious or unable to walk)

A. Call 911.

B. Report the injury, victim's name, and location (building, floor).

C. Ask for an ambulance to the location.

D. The victim's supervisor or designated departmental employee should then call the claims manager to report the accident so that a Workers' Compensation report can be initiated.

III. Follow-up Medical Care and "Duty Status Report"
A. After the initial care, Northwestern Memorial Corporate Health will provide the follow-up care and complete the "Duty Status Report" for all Chicago campus employees.

All reports, treatment charts, medical bills, and other related documentation must be sent to:

Northwestern University
Office of Risk Management, Claims Manager
619 Clark Street
Evanston, Illinois 60208-1120

MEDICAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, EVANSTON CAMPUS EMPLOYEES*

In the event you are injured or exposed to a hazardous substance, follow these procedures to obtain medical care and establish any Workers' Compensation benefits to which you may be entitled. All work-related injuries and illnesses must be reported. The claims manager of the Office of Risk Management on the Evanston campus is responsible for processing reports and conducting investigations of employee injuries and work-related illnesses.

Medical services are provided to Northwestern University employees at Occupational Medicine Evanston/Glenbrook Associates (OMEGA), 1000 Central Street, Suite 840, Evanston, (847) 570-2620, the primary care facility for work-related injuries and illnesses. Hospital emergency medical services shall be used only in life-threatening medical situations (e.g., severe chest pains, severe burns, hemorrhaging, severe head injuries, open or compound fractures). Should life-threatening circumstances occur, call 911. UP will contact the Evanston Fire Department Paramedics who will handle transportation to the Evanston Hospital emergency room.

I. Ambulatory victims (able to walk)
A. Inform your supervisor or designated departmental employee of your injury or illness. The supervisor will contact the claims manager at (847) 491-5582. The claims manager will then contact OMEGA to arrange an appointment for an examination. The claims manager will advise the supervisor of the appointment time and location. The claims manager must have detailed information to establish the Workers' Compensation claim. The supervisor will provide this information to support the claims process.

B. Proceed to OMEGA and secure treatment as scheduled. If the injury or illness occurs after 5:00 p.m., before 8:30 a.m., or on a weekend or holiday, go to the emergency room at Evanston Hospital and identify yourself as an OMEGA client. Inform hospital personnel that you are a Northwestern University employee. Bring your NU Wildcard for identification purposes.

C. Following treatment, deliver or fax a copy of your "Duty Status Report" to the claims manager at (847) 467-7475. Do not pay for treatment. Forward all bills and other related documentation to the claims manager. Also send receipts for any prescriptions or other related medical costs to the claims manager for reimbursement.

II. Nonambulatory victims (unconscious or unable to walk)
A. Call 911.

B. Report the injury, victim's name, and location (building, floor).

C. Ask UP to send an ambulance to the location.

D. The victim's supervisor or designated departmental employee should then call the claims manager to report the accident so that a Workers' Compensation report can be initiated.

III. Follow-up Medical Care and "Duty Status Report"
A. After the initial care, OMEGA will provide the follow-up care and complete the "Duty Status Report" for all Chicago campus employees.

All reports, treatment charts, medical bills, and other related documentation must be sent to:

Northwestern University
Office of Risk Management
Claims Manager
619 Clark Street
Evanston, Illinois 60208-1120

MEDICAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, STUDENTS

Students in need of emergency medical assistance should contact the Northwestern University Health Service (NUHS). On the Chicago campus, the Health Service is located in the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation (NMFF) at Suite 18-150, 675 North St. Clair St., (312) 695-8134. In Evanston, NUHS is located in Searle Hall at 633 Emerson Street, (847) 491-8100.

Emergencies and urgent medical problems are triaged at the Health Service:

Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters 24 hours/day, 7 days/week
Summer Quarter 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. weekdays; 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekends
Quarter breaks 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays and weekends
Closed all day on December 25th only

However, in the event of a life-threatening medical emergency (e.g., severe chest pains, severe burns, hemorrhaging, severe head injuries, open or compound fractures), immediately call 911 to contact paramedics.

For other, less severe medical emergencies, call the nurse on duty at NUHS. The nurse will determine the seriousness of the problem and advise you where to go and what to do. The Health Service staff will arrange transportation to the Health Service or appropriate emergency room if needed.

After hours: Always call and speak with the nurse on duty for advice about care. Except in the case of a life-threatening emergency, call the Health Service before going to the emergency room. Hospital insurance policies usually cover only the cost of appropriate emergency room use.

Summer Session and quarter breaks: After 11 p.m. on weekdays and after 5 p.m. on weekends during Summer Session and after 5 p.m. daily during quarter breaks, an answering service will contact the physician on call for urgent medical problems that cannot wait until the office opens.

There is no charge to eligible (full-time) students for emergency medical care received at the Health Service. Part-time students are requested to pay a clinic-use fee to become eligible for continued primary healthcare service from NUHS.

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