Take the following precautions to help prevent spills:

General

• Reduce clutter and unnecessary materials in the work area;
• Eliminate tripping hazards and other obstructions;
• Have all necessary equipment readily available before starting work;
• Periodically check equipment (e.g., fume hoods, biological safety cabinets, sinks, lab benches) for signs of deterioration.

Storage

• Use sturdy shelves with lips;
• Store containers away from shelf edges;
• Store large containers on lower shelves;
• Store chemicals in compatible containers, that can be closed tightly;
• Store chemicals by compatibility class and then alphabetically;
• Inspect the storage area regularly for leaky and defective containers;
• Store highly hazardous liquids in sealed, chemical-resistant secondary containers.

Transportation

• Use carts and secondary containment to transport items;
• Use bottle carriers for any glass bottle greater than 250 ml;
• Use straps to secure gas cylinders;
• Use plastic-coated, shatter resistant bottles, if appropriate.

Dispensing chemicals

• Pay careful attention to the size of containers to avoid overflowing;
• When transferring chemicals from containers greater than 4 L use pumps or other mechanical devices instead of pouring chemicals;
• Pour from an original container into a large mouth beaker first;
• Use funnels to pour into small openings;
• Work in secondary containment to capture leaks and spills.