Mercury Spill Cleanup Procedures

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Mercury Spill Clean-upProcedures
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Mercury is a Hazardous Material

• Mercury (Hg) is defined as a hazardous material
  by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
  the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

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Mercury is a Toxic Substance

• Moreover, mercury is a toxic substance that can
  result in severe health effects. Therefore, all
  mercury "spills," including droplets of mercury
  from a broken laboratory thermometer, need to be
  cleaned up following safe and environmentally
  sound procedures.

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Who do you Contact?

• Anyone who has questions regarding mercury or
  spill procedures should contact their professor,
  a laboratory supervisor, their own supervisor, or
  the UWM Department of Environmental Health,
  Safety and Risk Management.

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Contain Spill

• Prevent the spread of mercury when cleaning up a
  mercury spill.
• Mercury beads can splash and roll around.
• Secure the area around the spill, so the mercury
  does not get "tracked" or "kicked" around.

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Restrict Area

• Cease activities and keep the area restricted
  until the entire spill is cleaned up.

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Mercury Vacuum

• A special vacuum cleaner is available which is
  designed to pick up mercury droplets safely.

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Location of Mercury Vacuum

• For Chemistry Department staff, the vacuum is
  available for use and located in the second floor
  stockroom. Contact the stockroom personnel when
  it is needed.
• Other departments should contact EHSRM for
  assistance with spill clean-up

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Use of Mercury Vacuum

• The stockroom personnel will either clean up the
  spill or instruct you in the proper use of the
  mercury vacuum. UWM Environmental Health, Safety
  and Risk Management staff may also be called for
  assistance.

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Temporary Control

• If the mercury vacuum is not readily available,
  cover the spill with sulfur or zinc powder as a
  temporary control measure.
• Cover from the perimeter of the spill toward the
  center. Do not walk through the spill or the
  sulfur or zinc powder.

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Mercury Vapor Analyzer

• A mercury vapor analyzer is used to determine the
  extent of the contamination

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Mercury Vapor Analyzer

• The detector registers the level of mercury vapor
  in the air

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Air Monitoring

• Air monitoring should be used in conjunction with
  the mercury vacuum to ensure the complete removal
  of mercury.

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Special Care

• Special attention must be taken in cleaning
  cracks and crevices where the mercury may have
  settled

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Specialty Wipes

• All visible mercury beads are collected using the
  mercury vacuum followed by specialty wipes.

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Mercury Beads

• Mercury beads easily enter cracks and crevices.

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Sulfur Impregnated Cloths

• Sulfur impregnated cloths may be used for a final
  wipe down of the area being cleaned

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Spill Response Personnel

• The mercury vapor analyzer may also be used to
  determine if contamination has spread to
  spill-response personnel.

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Spill Response Personnel

• This procedure is repeated after the gloves have
  been removed.

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Mercury Waste

• Mercury waste and all waste materials
  contaminated with mercury must be labeled and
  turned over to the UWM Chemical Safety and
  Hazardous Waste Management Program

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Disposal

• No mercury, including broken thermometers, may be
  disposed of in the normal trash or into the
  sewer system.

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Assistance After Hours

• After Hours
• If no help is available, contact the University
  Police (9-911 in an emergency or x4627 if
  non-emergency) and explain that you have a
  mercury spill.
• Try to indicate whether the spill is small, a
  broken thermometer, or large, more than 1 or 2 ml
  (1/4 teaspoon).

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After Hours

• The police will contact an EHSRM staff member for
  assistance. If the spill is large or if it must
  be cleaned up right away you will be directed to
  secure the area and wait until response personnel
  arrive (usually 30 to 60 minutes). Otherwise the
  area will be secured until the next working day.

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Special Consideration

• Large spills, spills in confined areas with poor
  ventilation, or spills in areas heated above room
  temperature must be addressed by trained
  personnel with protective equipment. A risk of
  high exposure to mercury vapors can occur in
  these situations.

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Mercury Spill Clean-Up

• Mercury spills are very disruptive. Lab personnel
  are encouraged to use extreme caution when using
  mercury or mercury containing apparatus. Thorough
  decontamination is essential to ensure both
  personal safety and protection of the
  environment.