Hazardous Materials
Hazardous Materials Incidents
If you witness a hazardous materials spill, evacuate the spill site and warn others to stay away. Call 911 from a campus or public telephone if you believe the spill may be life-threatening. If you can determine that the spill is not life-threatening, follow the procedures outlined below. If you are a hazardous material user, you should be trained by your supervisor on proper use and storage of hazardous materials. This training should include hazard information, proper procedures for preventing spills, and emergency procedures when a spill happens.
Radioactivity Releases
What Is Radiation?
Radiation is any form of energy propagated as rays, waves or energetic particles that travel through the air or a material medium.
Radioactive materials are composed of atoms that are unstable. An unstable atom gives off its excess energy until it becomes stable. The energy emitted is radiation. The process by which an atom changes from an unstable state to a more stable state by emitting radiation is called radioactive decay or radioactivity.
People receive some natural or background radiation exposure each day from the sun, radioactive elements in the soil and rocks, household appliances (like television sets and microwave ovens), and medical and dental x-rays. Even the human body itself emits radiation. These levels of natural and background radiation is normal. The average American receives 360 millirems of radiation each year, 300 from natural sources and 60 from man-made activities. (A rem is a unit of radiation exposure; a millirem is one-thousandth of a rem.) It is important to note that the quantity of a release or spill can only be determined by individuals that are trained and knowledgeable regarding the nature of the material spilled.
Radioactive materials--if handled improperly--or radiation accidentally released into the environment, can be dangerous because of the harmful effects of certain types of radiation on the body. The longer a person is exposed to radiation and the closer the person is to the radiation, the greater the risk.
Although radiation cannot be detected by the senses (sight, smell, etc.), it is easily detected by scientists with sophisticated instruments that can detect even the smallest levels of radiation. Detection equipment is maintained on the second floor of the Henson Building.
Currently, there are no radioactive materials maintained on campus. In the event of a radioactive incident on campus, follow the procedures from our former site license
The Following Procedures Are From The Radioactive Site License:
Questions regarding these procedures should be directed to Environmental Safety at 410-543-6485 or Ext. 36485.
Spill Kit Locations
As of 8/20/2018
SPILL KIT LOCATIONS | LOOSE ABSORBENT |
TOWELS / PIGS | GLYCOL DRUM | BULK DRUM |
---|---|---|---|---|
1013 Camden (PL) - basement | Yes | Yes | ||
1106 Camden (IF) - basement | Yes | Yes | ||
1214 Camden (UA) - basement | Yes | Yes | ||
Blackwell Library - basement | Yes | Yes | ||
Chesapeake Hall – boiler room | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Chester Hall – boiler room | Yes | Yes | ||
Choptank Hall – boiler room | Yes | Yes | ||
Commons – boiler room | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Conflict Resolution - basement | Yes | Yes | ||
Devilbiss Hall - - basement | Yes | Yes | ||
Foundation Center - basement | Yes | Yes | ||
Fueling Station – storage shed & box | Yes | Yes | ||
Fulton Hall - boiler room | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Guerrieri Student Union – bsmt mech | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Henson Science – boiler room | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Holloway Hall – boiler room | Yes | Yes | ||
Maggs Gym – boiler room | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Photography Lab - Fulton 208 | Yes | Yes | ||
Pocomoke Hall | Yes | Yes | ||
Safety Trailer – Avery St. lot | Yes | Yes | ||
Severn Hall - Boiler room | Yes | Yes | ||
Conway Hall (TE) – boiler room | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
University Police | Yes | Yes | Yes |