Whom should you inform immediately upon discovering a hazmat spill?

• A. Supervisor
• B. Co-worker
• C. Work Center Supervisor
• D. Security

Answer: (C)

When a hazmat spill occurs, the first person to inform is the work center supervisor. This person is the immediate authority for that area and is trained to initiate the official spill response. They can quickly assess the situation, isolate the area, coordinate containment and cleanup procedures, and call in Environmental Health and Safety or other trained responders as needed. Reporting to the work center supervisor ensures the incident is escalated through the proper channels without delay, reducing exposure risk and preventing spread.

Telling a co-worker doesn’t activate the official response and could delay proper containment. The general supervisor might not be immediately reachable or familiar with the specific procedures of that work center. Security handles access control and broader site safety, but the technical response to a hazmat spill should come from the work center supervisor or the designated safety team.