BUMED INSTRUCTION 6260'30

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BUMED INSTRUCTION 6260.30

• MERCURY CONTROL PROGRAM FOR DENTAL TREATMENT
  FACILITIES

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BACKGROUND

• Mercury vaporizes at room temperature
• Mercury is a health hazard if significant amounts
  are ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the
  skin.
• Pre-encapsulated amalgam has reduced exposure to
  mercury vapor.

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DISCUSSION

• Mercury vaporizes at room temperature and
  concentrates more rapidly in confined spaces.
• Mercury has no warning properties like color or
  odor.
• The permissible exposure limit to mercury vapor
  is .05mg/c³ of air.

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DISCUSSION

• Since the use of pre-encapsulated amalgam,
  mercury contamination is limited to
• debris from excavations of dental restorations
  falling to the floor
• improper storage of scrap amalgam
• accidentally breakage of amalgam capsules

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DISCUSSION

• Air sampling for mercury vapor is not required
  but may be performed at the discretion of the
  cognizant industrial hygienist.
• Biological monitoring may be prescribes by the
  OCC Health professional as circumstances warrant.
• Biological monitoring shall be done by urine
  mercury analysis at an IH lab.

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DISCUSSION

• Pregnant personnel require a mercury exposure
  screening.
• Commanding Officers and Officers In Charge are
  overall responsible for fulfilling requirements
  of the mercury control program.

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PERSONAL HYGIENE

• All jewelry shall be removed that has the
  potential to become contaminated.
• No food, drink or tobacco products authorized
  while working with mercury bearing materials.
• Gloves are to be worn when handling mercury
  products to minimize skin contact.
• Wash hands after working with mercury and before
  leaving the treatment room.

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WORK SURFACES

• Work surfaces need to be made of an impervious
  material, preferably stainless steel or plastic
  laminate.

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HANDLING

• Personnel will use a no touch technique for
  handling amalgam
• After triturating of pre-encapsulated amalgam,
  personnel shall use an amalgam well while loading
  the amalgam carrier.
• Personnel will use water spray and high volume
  evacuation when cutting or grinding restorations

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HANDLING

• All amalgam scraps should be collected before
  removing the rubber dam.
• Personnel should use a amalgamator, which
  encloses the capsule during amalgamation.
• The amalgamator is to be inspected weekly for
  mercury globules and cleaned.
• Amalgamator is disassembled only by qualified
  dental repair specialist.

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HANDLING

• An impervious catch tray shall be used underneath
  the amalgamator.
• Amalgamators, capsules, and any other items that
  may be contaminated with mercury shall be store
  in the impervious catch tray.
• These items shall be checked at least weekly for
  mercury droplets.

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Waste

• Dental amalgam is an intermetallic compound
  comprised of various proportions of silver,
  copper, tin, and zinc alloy mixed with pure
  mercury.
• Amalgam scraps can be stored dry without
  exceeding any PEL for mercury vapors in the
  breathing zone of dentists and technicians.

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WASTE

• Dry amalgam scraps shall continue to be recycled
  for the precious silver metal content and will
  not be disposed of as a hazardous waste.
• All dental scraps shall be transferred to the
  local DRMO in a tightly closed non-breakable
  container.
• Label container as Non-Hazardous Dental Scrap
  Metal.

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FLOORS

• Vinyl sheeting is the preferred floor covering
  material for DTRS.
• Carpets are not permitted.
• Seamless floors are preferred.

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Mercury Decontamination And Spill Cleanup
Procedures

• A mercury decontaminant, such as HgX, shall be
  readily available for immediate mixing and
  application to a contaminated surface.
• Care shall be used during removal of large
  droplets.
• When mercury contamination occurs, it shall be
  cleaned up immediately.
• Eating, drinking, and smoking shall be prohibited
  during cleanup procedure.

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Mercury Decontamination and Spill Cleanup
Procedures

• Patient examination gloves shall be worn during
  cleanup.
• Collected mercury shall be placed into a sealed,
  suitable liquid and vapor tight container and
  removed to a designated area for disposal as
  mercury waste.
• Contaminant surfaces shall be scrubbed with
  mercury decontaminant to convert any trapped
  mercury.

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Mercury Decontamination and Spill Cleanup
Procedures

• Any equipment or instruments, such as
  amalgamators, which become contaminated with
  mercury shall be thoroughly cleaned with mercury
  decontaminant.
• The cognizant industrial hygiene office shall be
  contacted to test the decontaminated area and
  equipment for residual mercury.

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MERCURY DISPOSAL

• Mercury and mercury compounds shall not be dumped
  into any body of water including open seas or
  oceans, or intentionally released into any ships
  waste disposal system.
• Shipboard mercury storage and handling areas
  shall not be connected to deck drainage systems.

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MERCURY DISPOSAL

• For shipboard only, all mercury-contaminated
  waste, including scrap amalgam, shall be
  collected, packaged with a double boundary of
  confinement using plastic bags, sealable drums,
  or polyethylene bottles, and labeled.
• For shore facilities, packaged mercury waste
  shall be disposed of in cooperation with the base
  environmental public works department.