Mercury Spills and Releases
Mercury is commonly found in thermometers, manometers and many ordinary medical devices such as blood pressure cuffs. Mercury is a toxic metal that must be managed as a hazardous waste when it is spilled or released. Spills and releases of mercury should be reported to Environmental Management at 323-6280 or after hours to the UK Police at 257-1616.
If a mercury spill occurs:
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Isolate the spill area. Make every attempt to keep the mercury out of sinks and drains.
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Move activity in the room away from the spill area to avoid contact with mercury vapor. If the spill occurs in a hallway or foot traffic area post a warning sign to inform people to avoid stepping in the spill and spreading it further.
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In the case of broken thermometers, put the pieces in a container that can’t be punctured, such as a box with a plastic liner or a plastic container that can be capped. Do not place broken thermometer pieces in a “regular” broken glassware container.
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Those with sufficient training or knowledge to handle the spill can clean it up using the following procedure: don latex gloves and use an envelope, wet towel, adhesive tape, or aspirator (rubber bulb pipette or syringe) to capture the small free mercury droplets. Place the envelope into a Ziploc bag and keep it sealed until picked up for disposal.
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For larger spills or those occurring in areas where personnel are not trained to handle mercury, contact Environmental Management at 323-6280 for assistance in cleaning up the spill.
- All materials generated by the cleanup require special handling for disposal. Fill out and submit a hazardous waste ticket to have the material picked up and properly disposed. Tickets can be obtained by calling 323-6280.
- For spills in the University Hospital, a mercury vacuum is available in the 4th floor Neonatal area. Those comfortable handling a spill can use the mercury vacuum to thoroughly sweep the spill area and return the vacuum. Do not use a standard vacuum on mercury debris.