What is a non-emergency (incidental) release of a hazardous substance?

An incidental release:

• Does not pose a significant safety or health hazard to employees in the immediate area or to the employee assigned to clean it up.
• Does not have the potential to become an emergency within a short time frame.
• Is limited in quantity, exposure potential, or toxicity.

For example, if the hazardous substances in a work area are always stored in very small quantities (pint sizes down to test tubes) that do not pose a significant safety and health threat at that volume, then there is a minimal risk of having a release escalate into an emergency. In this setting, incidental releases will generally be the norm, and employees with HazCom training will be able to protect themselves while handling these releases.