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Chemical Spills

Many of our students, faculty and staff spend time in U-M laboratories, which are used for teaching and conducting research. Many of the chemicals used in these labs can be dangerous if improperly handled or accumulated.

Photo of a barrel tipped over and spilling a chemical onto concrete.

If a chemical spill occurs, we encourage you to report it.

Report a Spill

Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidance

Storing Chemical Waste

EHS has guidance on properly storing and disposing of hazardous waste, which is crucial to avoiding chemical spills. This includes accumulating and disposing of chemical waste, low-level radioactive waste, biological waste and other waste such as batteries, bulbs and refrigerants.

Spill Response

In the event that chemicals or chemical waste are spilled, it is important that everyone involved should know how to respond. The specific response will depend on the size of the spill, location and chemicals involved.

Collection & Supplies

Contacting EHS to request that hazardous waste be collected or to deliver storage supplies is crucial for proper chemical handling.