Salisbury University students on campus

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