Sustainable Hospitals
 
Mercury Reduction
Best Management Practices for
Mercury-containing Products in the Hospital

Hospital Employee Health and Safety
 
 
A major concern with the use of mercury-containing products is the possible exposure of hospital employees to mercury vapor during a maintenance procedure, such as servicing mercury-containing equipment. Understand the properties and hazards of mercury. Check with your health and safety officer prior to doing such work to ensure that you are following correct procedures for:
  • Ventilation
     
  • Protective clothing and equipment
     
  • Work habits, such as smoking, eating or drinking in the area and wearing jewelry (mercury readily combines with gold)
     
  • Handling and recycling or disposal of mercury
     
  • Follow-up monitoring
Conduct periodic training for all employees who may come into contact with mercury-containing products. Include new and temporary employees, employees at offsite locations, and contractors.
 
(See also the section on Spills.)
 
Best
Management Practices

Fever Thermometers
Sphygmomanometers
Gastrointestinal Tubes
Dental Amalgam and Mercury
Laboratory Chemicals
Pharmaceutical Products
Cleaners and Degreasers
Batteries
Lamps
Electrical Equipment
Thermostat Probes in Gas Appliances
Industrial Thermometers
Pressure Gauges
Plumbing
Spills
Storage Areas
Hospital Employee Health and Safety
Related Topics:
Case Studies
Why is mercury a problem?
How to establish mercury pollution prevention in your hospital.
Bibliography
 

 
Best Management Practices for Mercury-containing Products in the Hospital
 
Mercury Reduction
 
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