In Case of Emergencies
If you need emergency help for personal injury or a chemical spill which threatens personal safety, CALL 911 from your cell phone, or 9-911 from a campus phone. Your calls are forwarded to the LaPlata County Emergency Operations Center, who will then notify the Fort Lewis College Police Department, Durango Fire & Rescue Department or the Durango Haz Mat team.
Following the first call, if you need assistance in regards to managing the chemical spill, call Terry Richardson, Environmental Health & Safety at 247-7272. His office is located in the Education Business Hall, Room 227.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hazardous Materials or Hazardous Wastes at Fort Lewis
• What do I do about a spilled chemical?
It depends. If someone is injured or could be injured CALL 911 from your cell phone, or 9-911 from a campus phone. If the spill is equal or exceeds several gallons of flammable liquid, or appears to be dangerous, CALL 911 from your cell phone or 9-911 from a campus phone.
• Which materials, chemicals or wastes are hazardous?
Read the label on the container and review the corresponding material safety data sheets (MSDS). Look for the following:
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Flammable Liquids: includes mineral spirits, lacquer thinner, acetone, fuels, oil-based paints, organic solvents. If it smells of gasoline or oil-based paint, you should assume it is a hazardous material or waste.
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Materials that are highly acidic or basic (caustic)
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Any material emitting a gas (bubbling, evaporating rapidly, strong odor)
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Anything containing a heavy metal, such as lead, chromium, mercury, barium, silver, cadmium, arsenic or selenium. Anything containing cyanide or fluoride.
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Pesticides of any sort.
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Anything described as a possible carcinogen.
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Anything list as explosive or reactive.
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Anything whose label says not to discard into the trash, or, lists any specific danger or hazard
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Any unidentified material that seems out of context or of a mysterious nature
• Remember, if you must evacuate a building or area of campus, be sure to travel upwind and uphill if necessary. A safe distance should be 500 feet away from the incident.
For Hazardous Materials Assistance:
Call Terry Richardson, Director, Environmental Health & Safety, at 247-7272 and leave a message with a phone number. Terry checks voicemail once every 24 hours and will respond by phone. His office is EBH 230.