For a spill larger than 250 mL, who should you contact?

For a spill larger than 250 mL, who should you contact?

• A. Custodian
• B. Security
• C. Instructor
• D. TA

Answer: (D)

When a spill is larger than 250 mL, there is a clear safety escalation in a teaching lab: the person who runs the lab section is the first point of contact for spills. The teaching assistant is specifically trained in the course’s chemicals and cleanup procedures, has access to spill kits, and can initiate proper response steps or call Environmental Health and Safety if needed. They can also quickly inform the instructor and coordinate the next actions. Custodians handle routine cleaning, not hazardous chemical spills. Security handles broader emergencies or safety incidents, but they are not the go-to for routine lab spills. The instructor may be informed, but the TA is the appropriate first contact because they are on-site, responsible for the lab session, and prepared to manage the situation promptly.

When a spill is larger than 250 mL, there is a clear safety escalation in a teaching lab: the person who runs the lab section is the first point of contact for spills. The teaching assistant is specifically trained in the course’s chemicals and cleanup procedures, has access to spill kits, and can initiate proper response steps or call Environmental Health and Safety if needed. They can also quickly inform the instructor and coordinate the next actions.

Custodians handle routine cleaning, not hazardous chemical spills. Security handles broader emergencies or safety incidents, but they are not the go-to for routine lab spills. The instructor may be informed, but the TA is the appropriate first contact because they are on-site, responsible for the lab session, and prepared to manage the situation promptly.