Campus Emergency Response Information
Chemical Spills
Simple chemical spills (spills that do not pose an immediate threat to health or the environment) should immediately be cleaned up by the person who spilled it using the appropriate absorbent material for the chemical that was spilled.
In the event of a complicated chemical spill, call 911. A complicated spill requires evacuation of the area and assistance from outside specialists from one of the local fire departments. Some indicators that a spill may be complicated are spills involving materials that pose a threat to health, a serious threat of fire or explosion, cause symptoms such as burning eyes, dizziness, or difficulty breathing, or are unknown. If you are unsure whether a spill is a complicated spill, call 911.
Fires
Always call 911 in case of fire, even if the fire is extinguished immediately. You should only attempt to extinguish a fire if 911 has been called, your personal safety is not in jeopardy, you are properly trained to use a fire extinguisher, and the appropriate fire extinguisher is available for the type of fire. If the fire is unable to be extinguished, pull the nearest fire alarm to evacuate the area.
Copper-based Class D fire extinguishers for lithium fires are found on most floors in RAL and CLSL-A. These extinguishers should be checked out any time you are working with lithium metal and kept near your work area. These extinguishers can be found in the following locations:
- RAL: Closets 155A, 255A, 355A, and 455A
- CLSL-A: Marked areas in the hallways on the 1st-4th floors
Chemical/Biological Material Exposure
For eye exposures, use an emergency eyewash to flush eyes for 15 minutes. For skin exposures, wash the exposed area immediately. Use the safety shower to flush large or hard-to-reach areas. Remove PPE and clothing from all affected areas while flushing. Wash all affected areas with soap and water and take care not to break the skin.
Exposure/Injury Treatment and Follow-Up
In the event of any injury or exposure, report the incident to your PI. You will need to complete the “First Report of Injury or Illness” form within 24 hours of the incident, regardless of whether medical treatment was needed. Should you need to seek medical treatment for the injury or exposure, the following options should be used per guidelines in the Workers’ Compensation program:
Weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm:
Carle Occupational Medicine
810 W. Anthony Drive
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 383-3077
Safeworks Illinois
1806 N. Market Street
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 356-6150
After Hours and Weekends:
Carle Hospital Emergency Department
602 W. University Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 383-3313
OSF Medical Center Emergency Department
1400 W. Park Street
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 337-2131
Any Carle Convenient Care or OSF Urgent Care location
Do not delay seeking medical attention after needlesticks or cuts when exposed to infectious agents, chemical exposures, or laser injuries to the eye.
Reporting Incidents
Any injury, exposure, fire, near miss, or chemical spill should be reported to both SCS Facilities and Safety and DRS. To notify SCS Facilities and Safety, send an email to scs-facilities@illinois.edu with details about where the incident occurred, what type of incident, and if there was an injury and/or property damage. To notify DRS, you can either call them during business hours at 217-333-2755 or email them at drs@illinois.edu. You can also fill out their “Report an Event” form