The chemical was Trichloroethylene, a corrosive material that can cause central nervous system damage, liver damage or cancer to anyone subjected to prolonged exposure.

A small chemical spill in the Engineering and Mathematical Science Building Friday led to the first real test of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s new safety alert system, Safety Awareness for Everyone (S.A.F.E.).

Around 11:30 a.m. the building was evacuated after a broken bottle of chemicals arrived to one of the eleventh floor engineering labs.

According to the lab manager, as soon as she saw the spill, which she described as a about a quarter teaspoon, she immediately placed the chemical in a nearby flume hood, which safely isolates the chemical and provides a continuous airflow out of the building.

She then called safety and risk management officials to promptly deal with disposing of the chemicals.

The chemical was Trichloroethylene, a corrosive material that can cause central nervous system damage, liver damage or cancer to anyone subjected to prolonged exposure.

The lab manager said while the entire evacuation may have been a bit much, she was happy the incident was dealt with in such a timely matter.

After Milwaukee firefighters arrived, they placed the chemical in a safety bucket and removed it properly from the premises.

Tom Luljak, vice chancellor for university relations, said police were concerned about how much of the chemical may have spilled when it was earlier transported from the fifth floor up to the eleventh floor.

Outside the building, EMS Grind employee Ashley Wedige was happy to be informed about what was going on when she received her safety alert text message, sent through S.A.F.E.

Likewise, Sgt. Art Koch of the UWM Police Department called the warning system a success.

“It benefits anyone who is in the building or who is going to the building,” Koch said.

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