Safety Procedure if Mercury Is Spilled

Mercury is toxic and can cause nerve and organ damage if ingested. Mercury spills expose people to this hazard. It forms puddles and tiny beads that can seep into flooring and work surfaces. Contamination can spread if it gets into clothing and shoes. Any mercury spill calls for quick action to clear the area and move people from the room, and then for a careful cleanup. Mercury spill kits aid in cleaning up small spills; large spills require a "hazmat" team.

Spill Kit

• If you work with mercury, get a spill cleanup kit. These one-use packages have instructions, cleaning tools, powders and disposal bags. They're reasonably-priced, compact and convenient.

Things to Avoid

• Don't pick up a mercury spill with a vacuum cleaner. It will become contaminated with tiny beads of mercury and blow vapors into the room. If vacuuming must be done to get broken glass from a rug, take the bag out or empty and wipe out the canister with a damp paper towel, then put the bag or towel in a plastic bag for hazardous disposal. Don't use a broom, as it breaks the mercury into smaller, harder-to-find beads.

  Clothing that has had direct contact with mercury should be bagged and discarded, not washed. Washing contaminated clothes will disperse the mercury into the washing machine, other clothes and the wastewater system.

Broken Fluorescent Lamp

• Fluorescent and Compact Fluorescent (CF) lamps have very small amounts of mercury sealed in the glass tube. If the glass breaks, ventilate the room by opening a window. Evacuate people and pets from the room, having them steer clear of the debris. Wearing rubber gloves, use a piece of cardboard or stiff paper to scoop broken glass and other debris. Use sticky tape to pick up small glass bits from hard surfaces. Put any broken glass, sticky tape, or paper in ziplock bags for disposal. Likewise, bag your gloves when you're done with them.

Small Spill

• For spills of a few grams, as from a broken thermometer, first move people and pets from the room. Avoid any action that would spread the mercury, like stepping in it. Put on rubber or plastic gloves---the type isn't important as long as they're liquid-proof. Take a stiff piece of cardboard or paper and slowly sweep and collect larger mercury beads, putting this in a ziplock bag. A dropper can be used to draw up larger drops. Slowly and carefully expel the mercury into damp paper towels and place them in a ziplock bag. Powdered sulfur, as provided in a spill kit, absorbs the mercury and converts it to a powder compound for easier cleaning.

Larger Spills

• For spills larger than a few grams, remove people and animals from the area immediately. Ventilate the room by opening a window. Turn off or block off vents for central air and heat until the spill is cleaned. Close and lock the door and post a warning. Call your state or local health or environmental agency.

  For spills larger than a pound of mercury--about one fluid ounce or two tablespoons, call the National Response Center at [phone] immediately.

Disposal

• After bagging mercury and any contaminated items like cleaning tools, paper, and rubber gloves, close and label the bags with a marker pen. Place the bags into a larger heavy-duty trash bag and label it. Take it to a hazardous waste handler, not a recycling center. Many hardware stores will take your worn-out or broken CFC light bulbs for safe disposal.