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Chemical Spills & Alarming or Sharp Odors 

Chemical Spill ICON
  1. Assume that the chemical is hazardous unless you know for certain that it is not. Disable ignition sources when applicable, and if it can be accomplished safely.
  2. Evacuate the room and close the door.
  3. If there is an immediate threat to safety, activate the fire alarm pull station and call dispatch.
  4. Warn people in the area of the spill or chemical release.

For substantial spills call:

  • Gaithersburg Campus x2222 from a campus phone or call 301-975-2222 from a cellular phone.
  • Boulder Campus Safety, Health, Environmental Division (BSHED) x5375 (option 3) or call 303-497-5375 from a cellular phone. If no answer, call Security Dispatch at x7777 from a campus phone or call 303-497-7777 from a cellular phone.

For eye contact, promptly flush eyes with water for 15 minutes and seek immediate medical attention by calling: 

  • Gaithersburg Campus  x2222 from a campus phone or call 301-975-2222 from a cellular phone. If calling 911 inform the 911 dispatcher that the emergency is on the NIST campus. 
  • Boulder Campus Call 911 and inform the 911 dispatcher that the emergency is on the NIST campus. After calling 911, call x7777 from a campus phone or call 303-497-7777 from a cellular phone.

For skin contact, promptly flush the skin with water and seek immediate medical attention by calling:                                                               

  • Gaithersburg Campus x2222 from a campus phone or call 301-975-2222 from a cellular phone. If calling 911 inform the 911 dispatcher that the emergency is on the NIST campus. 
  • Boulder Campus Call 911 and inform the 911 dispatcher that the emergency is on the NIST campus. After calling 911, call x7777 from a campus phone or call 303-497-7777 from a cellular phone.                                                                               

Get to a safe area and wait until first responders arrive.

*Do NOT touch or walk through the spilled material.

Ensure a person knowledgeable about the chemical release or spill is available to communicate with emergency responders when they arrive.

Report the incident to a supervisor immediately.

Additional Resources

EPA-Actions on Preventing Hazardous Substance Spills

Ready.gov-Chemical and Hazardous Materials Incidents

Ready.gov-Household Chemical Emergencies

Poison Control Hotline

ASPCA-Animal Poison Control

Created February 13, 2023, Updated September 26, 2023