Universities are communities within themselves. Ensconced within the walls of high academia, colleges support a network of infrastructure encapsulating intellectual utopias united in a quest for learning and research. While college campuses, idyllically perched amongst manicured landscapes and gothic modern facades, are bastions of intrigue in wastelands bereft of insight, they are not sheltered from mayhem and chaos. Earlier this week, the University of Missouri-St. Louis’s science complex was evacuated because of a chemical lab spill. A custodian, overwhelmed by fumes from the first floor, sounded the alarm to university administrators before classes commenced. Officials said, “The gas was coming from a chemical storage closet near the chemistry labs.” Although the prompt evacuation was cause for concern amongst the sleepy-eyed students arriving for the day’s first class, no injuries were reported from the chemical lab spill.
Hazmat Responses Drain Operating Expenses
Every hazmat incident or chemical spill requires a comprehensive emergency response. Authorities must act with an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of employees, staff, and customers. Although most hazmat responses are quickly cleared as “false alarms,” businesses and operators must treat every scenario as rapidly approaching critical mass. Failure to act timely in mitigating dangerous spills – real or concocted – puts lives unnecessarily at risk. While the UMSL chemical lab spill was confined to a single storage closet, university officials prudently evacuated the remaining floors. Despite their openness and transparency, the university’s actions didn’t come without a price. The university likely sustained budgetary deficits as salaried employees still received payment for the missed day, although no actual work was completed. Moreover, the university’s reputation suffered, as future tuition-paying students might think twice before attending the campus.
Hazmat Storage Warehouses Contain Chemical Lab Spills
Chemical lab spills never happen in a vacuum. Failure to mitigate potential accidents can have adverse consequences. Slow-leaking chemical vials or storage containers can infiltrate adjacent rooms housing vulnerable personnel. Our non-fire-rated chemical storage lockers can contain chemical lab spills, preventing harmful gasses and odors from merging into high-traffic corridors. Had UMSL officials invested in reliable chemical storage, the school’s janitor would’ve never been exposed to the potentially poisonous fumes. Although lab technicians would’ve noticed the spill shortly after that, the university might’ve never gone into complete lockdown mode. Our various-sized hazmat lockers and warehouses can safeguard and isolate dangerous chemical stockpiles. Standard spill sump containment, firmly attached to the bottom of each locker, prevents spills from escaping into other rooms and the environment. Contact us today for a free quote and consultation!
