Mercury Spillage

What to do in the event of a small mercury spillage.

If you spill a small amount of mercury, e.g. from broken components, thermometers, etc., then the following should be carried out:

Clear the area - if possible ventilate the area by opening windows. A small spillage is unlikely to create a hazardous level of vapour in the room. This however can be checked by the Safety Adviser's Office using a draeger tube device.

Initiate clean up process - if you possess your own mercury spillage kit then proceed with the clean up ensuring you follow the manufacturers instructions. If you do not posses a kit, contact the Safety Adviser's Office who will carry out the clean up process on your behalf.

NB - to ensure a thorough clean, sulphur is scattered liberally on the contaminated areas. This will have to remain undisturbed on the contaminated areas for about 24 hours so the room will have to remain unoccupied during this time.