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Emergency Procedures

SMCCCD Home Emergency Management Emergency Procedures Hazardous Material Business Plan

Hazardous Material Business Plan

IN THE EVENT OF A HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCY, FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS SHOULD CALL:

  1. Facilities Department Main Office—650 574 6113
    1.  Chief Facilities and Operations Officer, Michele Rudovsky: Office 650 358 6733
    2. Custodial Supervisor, Luis Carranza: Office 650 574 6117 
  2. Department of Public Safety Central Dispatch—650 738 7000
    1.  Chief of Public Safety, Brian Tupper: Office 650 358 6840
    2. Emergency Preparedness Manager, Ben’Zara Minkin: Office 650 574 6634 
  3. Emergency Agencies, if needed—911 for Fire, Police, or Ambulance

 

WHAT IS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL?

A hazardous material is any item or agent (biological, chemical, radiological, and/or physical), which has the potential to cause harm to humans, animals, or the environment, either by itself or through interaction with other substances.  In an academic setting, we can be exposed to hazardous materials in fields such as science, art, and cosmetology. Such hazardous materials could include gasoline in our cars, carbon dioxide in our sodas, and the chlorine in swimming pools.  The routes of exposure to hazardous materials include:

  • Inhalation: The most common way to be exposed to a hazardous material is via inhalation (breathing in the material).
  • Absorption: Some materials may be absorbed through the skin or eyes.
  • Ingestion: Chemicals that are inadvertently swallowed 
  • Injection: When substances enter the body through damaged or punctured skin.

 

WHAT IS THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS BUSINESS PLAN? (HMBP)

The SMCCCD Hazardous Materials Business Plan identifies the buildings on the campus where reportable quantities of hazardous materials are located, the quantity of the material, and the properties of the material.  The plan also contains emergency phone numbers, information, diagrams, safety data sheets, and locations of critical system shut-off points for emergency response personnel.

 

WHERE ARE THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AT CSM AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE?

The reportable quantities of hazardous materials are located at the following locations:

  • District Office: Generator Fuel
  • Building 4 & 4A: Ceramics, Photo, and Art Labs (Developers, Fixers, Paints, etc.)
  • Building 5: Dental Lab (Fixers and Developer)
  • Building 6: Pool Chemicals (for balancing pH and water sanitation)
  • Building 7: Facilities Maintenance Center (Compressed Gasses, Oils, Paints, Fuels, Batteries, Floor Stripper, Cleaning Solutions, etc.)
  • Building 9: Generator Fuel
  • Building 10: Kitchen (Carbon Dioxide, Helium)
  • Building 36: Science Building (Various chemicals)

 

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN THE EVENT OF A HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RELEASE?

Your safety and the safety of all people on our campus is the first priority in any emergency.  In the event of an emergency situation, it is important to remain calm and support the resolution of the event consistent with your training, experience, knowledge, skill set, and authority. 

 

The magnitude of the emergency will govern the required appropriate response for resolution.  Please take this opportunity to reflect upon the emergency preparedness drills you have participated in and the “Big Five Safety Protocol” to help you think about how you will best support a hazardous materials release emergency.  The Big Five Safety Protocol sections that apply the hazardous materials releases are most likely to be:

 

  • Shelter in Place: For environmental hazards and hazardous materials emergencies: Go inside immediately.  Close Doors, windows and vents.
  • Evacuation: When conditions outside are safer than they are inside:  Exit the building and move to a safe location.  If the hazardous material incident is inside your building, and a safe exit is viable, calmly exit the building and deny entry to people outside.

 

If you work with hazardous materials as part of your regular assignment, you must have access to the hazardous materials Safety Data Sheets and have training on the safe handling of those materials.  If you have not had appropriate training, please contact your supervisor immediately. 

 

IN CASE OF FIRE, SPILL, OR OTHER EMERGENCY INVOLVING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS:

  1. If safe to do so, attempt to identify the substance, quantity, and container type/size
  2. Evacuate the immediate area and deny entry by utilizing caution tape.
  3. For emergency support, guidance, and to report a release, please contact:
    1. Facilities Department Main Office—650 574 6113
      1. Chief Facilities and Operations Officer, Michele Rudovsky: Office 650 358 6733
      2. Custodial Supervisor, Luis Carranza: Office 650 574 6117 
    2. Department of Public Safety Central Dispatch—650 738 7000
      1. Chief of Public Safety, Brian Tupper: Office 650 358 6840
      2. Emergency Preparedness Manager, Ben’Zara Minkin Office 650 574 6634 
    3. Emergency Agencies if needed—911 for Fire, Police, or Ambulance
  4. If you are trained and can do so safely, you may try to contain the release, so it does not further contaminate adjacent areas.  Note: no employee shall attempt to respond, mitigate, or contain/confine a hazardous material without appropriate personal protective equipment, training, and authority.