Mercury Spill in TB Lab Settings

Content

Mercury is a harmful metal, and accidental spillage of mercury needs to be handled with care.

Use of mercury thermometer should be avoided in the laboratory.
A spill kit for mercury must be available if metallic mercury is present in the lab. The directions provided in the kit should be followed
Spilled metallic mercury forms little spheres that roll into corners and cracks on the floor. If not completely cleaned up, mercury vapor will continue to be released into the air
DO NOT use mercury thermometers in ovens. If the thermometer breaks, the heat will lead to dangerous concentrations of mercury in the air.
Exercise additional caution, when placing or storing mercury thermometers to reduce the risk of breakage
The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Mercury Spill management should be displayed in TB laboratories

Handling Mercury Spill

Items needed:

Cleaning the Spill

Collect the mercury, using an index card or X-ray film, to form a pile or globule
Mercury-absorbing powders, such as sulphur, can be used to amalgamate mercury
Mercury waste and materials used in spill clean-up must be promptly placed in a sealed bottle
Store metallic mercury in tightly closed, sturdy containers
After all visible mercury has been collected, the area should be washed with a detergent solution, rinsed, and allowed to dry before use. This treatment should remove most remaining mercury residue
Under no circumstances should mercury be swept with a broom or vacuumed with an ordinary vacuum cleaner. These procedures will disperse mercury more quickly into the air and spread the contamination

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