Frequently Asked Questions about Hazardous Materials Management

Frequently Asked Questions about Hazardous Materials at Fort Lewis College

EMERGENCY?   If you need emergency help for  personal injury or a chemical spill which threatens personal safety, CALL 9-911. The Dispatcher will notify FLC Public Safety officers and will activate the call for emergency medical or Haz Mat help from Durango Fire and Rescue as appropriate.

What do I do about a spilled chemical?
It depends.  If someone is getting hurt, or about to get hurt, call 911.  If it is several gallons of gasoline or other flammable liquid, or otherwise seems dangerous, call 911.  If you believe the chemical might be harmful but no one is in danger, you can carefully mop up or sweep up the spill up, put the cleanup trash (paper towels, rags, sweepings, etc.) in a bucket or trash bag, and call Hazardous Materials Management at 7272 for pickup and disposal.

HMM can provide your workplace or lab with a Spill Cleanup Kit containing cleanup supplies for spills up to two gallons of liquid. The kit includes gloves, adsorbents, disposal bags and instructions.

How can HMM help me with chemical safety?
The Hazardous Materials Management office is here to assist College employees and students with the safe use of chemical materials, including advising on what materials to use, helping to design safe practices, providing safe containers and labels, and removing unwanted materials from the workplace.  Click here for more details.

How do I get help on hazardous materials questions?
Call Jim Mills, Hazardous Materials Manager, at 7272 and leave a message with a phone number.  Dr. Mills checks voicemail once every 24 hours and will respond by phone.  He is on campus part-time and available for on-site consultations by appointment.  His office is Chemistry Hall 244.

Where do I find an MSDS for a material?
Go to the Need an MSDS? page.

IN AN EMERGENCY WHERE SOMEONE IS FACING CHEMICAL INJURY:  Both the Mercy Medical Emergency Room and the Campus Health Center have access to health hazard and first aid information.  They will need some indication of the chemical name, product, brand, etc.

How do I know whether or not a chemical is hazardous to use?
It is nearly impossible to know the degree of hazards a material presents without studying its Material Safety Data sheet (MSDS) or other references.  A number of these references are available in the HMM office (Chem Hall 244, Ext. 7272).  It is important to accurately understand the hazards involved in using a material, to avoid either underestimating or unnecessarily exaggerating the danger.

The major categories of hazardous materials include flammables, explosives, poisons, corrosive acids, pesticides, carcinogens, mutagens (presenting fetus risk), and heavy metal toxins.  The College is committed to minimizing the use of the most hazardous materials.  Radioactive materials, explosives, and acute poisons such as biotoxins and chemical warfare agents are not presently used in College operations.

The College attempts to minimize the dangers of exposing people, buildings and the environment to hazardous materials.  Indeed, due to the ongoing efforts of College staff and faculty, the level of hazard in College activities has substantially reduced in recent years.  If you have a suggestion for how to more safely use a material, or how to replace it with a safer material, please contact Dr. Mills at 7272.

What chemicals can I pour down the drain or throw into the dumpster?
The term "hazardous waste" has a technical meaning defined by the EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Click here for a brief description of what chemical wastes are legally considered hazardous. For the detailed defininition and listings of hazardous wastes, visit the Hazardous Waste Regulations site of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

It is illegal to discard down the drain or into the dumpster any hazardous wastes generated from materials purchased by the College. Discard down the drain or into the dumpster ONLY those materials you know to be considered non-hazardous, such as soaps, common household cleaners, food products, etc. (Also, no liquids into a dumpster.)  Any question about whether a material is hazardous waste? Call the HMM office (7272) for help.

Does the College dispose of its hazardous chemical waste safely?
It is the legal responsibility of each College employee to dispose of hazardous wastes according to federal and state regulations.  Hazardous Materials Management provides the mechanism for legal disposal of the College's hazardous waste, and thus ensures that the College protects people and the environment by meeting all federal and state laws regulating the disposal of hazardous chemical wastes.

What do I do about recycling batteries?
Exhausted nicad (NiCd), nickel metal hydride, and lithium ion batteries owned by the College should be deposited into the recycle container in the PPS yard.  Dead lead acid batteries should be taken to Mike Price in the Auto Shop for recycling.  Alkaline batteries cannot be recycled and can be discarded in the trash.

Personal batteries may be recycled through the College's Environmental Center in the CUB.

Why does the College have both an Environmental Center and a Hazardous Materials Management office?
Good question.  The Environmental Center, funded by the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College, serves as a resource for social and ecological awareness, dialogue, and activism in the college, community, and surrounding region.  The Hazardous Materials Management program, funded by the College,  was established in 1991 specifically to help College employees and students handle and dispose of hazardous materials in safe and responsible ways. This includes meeting all federal and state laws regulating the disposal of hazardous chemical wastes as well as assisting employees and students with the safe use of chemical materials.