Lab Emergency Quick-Reference Checklist

Friendly, fast, and printable. In any emergency: stay calm, act early, and keep yourself and others safe.

First action: Alert people nearby. Say “Emergency!” so others can help and clear the area.
Know your exits, eyewash, safety shower, spill kit, fire alarm, and extinguisher locations.
If in doubt at any point: evacuate and call for help.

First action: Go to the eyewash NOW. Hold eyelids open.
Flush continuously for a minimum of 15 minutes; roll eyes to rinse thoroughly.
Remove contact lenses after flushing begins (do not delay flushing to remove them).
Seek medical evaluation after any eye exposure.
Call for help if pain persists, vision changes, or if exposure involves corrosives, oxidizers, or unknowns.

First action: Go to the safety shower.
Flush skin for a minimum of 15 minutes with water.
Remove contaminated clothing/shoes/jewelry while flushing; use a lab coat or blanket for privacy after.
For small splashes on intact skin: rinse at sink for 15 minutes.
Do NOT apply neutralizers, creams, or ointments unless instructed by medical staff/SDS.
Call for help for large-area exposure, burns, pain, or if chemical is corrosive, phenol, HF, or unknown.

First action: Warn others and isolate area. Keep people out; avoid breathing vapors.
Eliminate ignition sources if safe to do so.
Assess size and hazard:
- Small, low-hazard spill and you’re trained: use spill kit per SDS.
- Large spill, toxic/volatile, mercury, gas, or unknown: evacuate and call for help.
For cleanable spills: wear appropriate PPE; use absorbent; contain from edges inward; dispose as hazardous waste.
Skin/eye contact during cleanup: follow steps above and seek medical evaluation.

First action: Pull the fire alarm and evacuate. Close doors behind you.
If fire is small, you are trained, and you have a clear exit, you may use an extinguisher:
- PASS:
  - P — Pull the pin
  - A — Aim at the base of the fire
  - S — Squeeze the handle
  - S — Sweep side to side
If the fire grows, smoke spreads, or you feel heat: stop fighting the fire and evacuate immediately.
If clothing catches fire: Stop, Drop, and Roll; use a safety shower or fire blanket.

Any time you feel unsafe, the hazard is unknown, or the incident is beyond your training.
Call 911 for fire, explosion, serious injury, breathing problems, or significant chemical exposure.
Then notify campus security/environmental health & safety per your site protocol.
Post these numbers by lab phones:
- 911 (Emergency)
- Campus security: __________
- Environmental Health & Safety: __________
- Poison Control (US): 1-800-222-1222

Tip: Keep a timer app or use a lab buddy to time flushes—15 minutes feels longer than you think.

Act early, keep it simple, and prioritize people over property. When unsure: evacuate, call, and let the pros take it from there.

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