If you are at the scene of an accident involving hazardous materials (indoors or outdoors) –
• Call 911 and the local fire department. Do not assume that someone has already done this.
• Evacuate the affected area. If inside, evacuate the building. If outdoors, keep yourself and others away from the accident, preferably upwind or uphill to avoid contact with the chemical.
If you are asked to SHELTER IN PLACE –
• To the extent possible, seal the building so that the hazardous material cannot enter (e.g., close and lock windows and doors; seal gaps around windows, doors, and vents with duct tape and plastic sheeting; turn off ventilation systems; and close any fireplace dampers). Maintenance will shut down the HVAC unit automatically in the case of an emergency.
• If contaminants might have entered the building, breathe shallowly through a cloth or towel.
• Listen to a battery-powered radio for further updates.
• Do not eat or drink anything that might have been contaminated.
If you are told to evacuate by local authorities –
• Evacuate immediately, following routes recommended by the local authorities. Take the disaster kit with you.
• If there is time, close windows and shut off vents to minimize entry of contaminants into the building.
Hazardous Materials Incident
The term “hazardous materials” refers to chemicals that can pose a threat to human health, to the environment, or to collections if they are mistakenly released into the air or spilled. Such chemicals are used in a wide range of activities, including manufacturing, agriculture, medicine, and research. They are also routinely transported around the country via air, highways, trains, and waterways.
There are several general types of hazardous materials: explosives, flammable and combustible substances, poisons, and radioactive materials. Hazardous materials are not only used in large-scale industries; many products that are routinely used in homes or workplaces contain hazardous chemicals (e.g., cleaning products, paint removers and thinners). However, most serious accidents involving hazardous materials are the result of transportation accidents or accidents in manufacturing plants.
There are laws governing the public’s right to know about hazardous materials that are used, stored, or transported in or near their communities. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act provides for penalties against any company or agency that does not provide the required information. In addition, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 requires communities to establish a Local Emergency Planning Committee to develop a response plan for chemical emergencies; these plans must be tested and updated every year.
Depending on the amount of chemical and the level of exposure, hazardous materials can cause injury, chronic health problems, and even death, as well as damaging buildings and collections. It is very important to know the proper procedures to follow if a hazardous materials accident occurs in or near your building. In the case of a large event, the local authorities may request that you evacuate or shelter in your building until the danger passes.
Preventive actions to mitigate the effects of a hazardous materials emergency –
• Be aware of any nearby transportation routes for hazardous materials or local facilities that are storing and using such materials. This information should be available from your Local Emergency Planning Committee.
• Become familiar with existing community response plans for a hazardous materials emergency.
• Ensure that all staff members are familiar with evacuation plans, both for the building and for the community.
• Put together a disaster kit (drinking water, canned/no-cook food, non-electric can opener, first aid kit, battery-powered radio with weather band and alert, flashlights and extra batteries). Consider adding potassium iodide tablets to your emergency supplies, as these can help block radiation absorption in a radiological emergency.