Sustainable Hospitals - Mercury Information Package

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

Accidental spills of liquid mercury can increase the levels of mercury in the air or wastewater of a health care facility. Small droplets of spilled mercury may lodge in cracks, mix with dust and go down drains. Mercury may adhere to fabrics, shoe soles, watches and jewelry on which it can be transported to other locations. A small spill of mercury in a carpeted patient room can become a major clean-up challenge.

Mercury spill prevention
Follow proper procedures when cleaning or refilling instruments that contain mercury:

Clean or refill instruments over a tray to contain any spills. Never handle mercury over a sink. Reserve the room for mercury use only. Restrict traffic in the area.
Clean and calibrate all mercury-containing equipment according to the manufacturer's recommended handling procedures and the procedures recommended by your hospital's safety officer.
Train all workers who use mercury devices about the properties and hazards of mercury, safe handling procedures, and specific policies related to mercury recycling and disposal.

Minimizing the impact of a spill is part of spill prevention. It is preferable to use mercury devices in rooms that do not have carpeting or other floor coverings which are not smooth and easily cleaned. Mercury devices should not be used in units which use beds that have high structures or projections off the beds that can smash wall-mounted sphygmomanometers, or in areas where patients cannot be moved.

Mercury spill response
Mercury spills are very disruptive. A large spill will require removing the patient from the room during cleanup. The room would have to remain vacant until it is ensured that there is no longer mercury vapor in the air.

Be prepared for a spill in any area of the hospital where mercury-containing devices are used. Have a mercury vacuum cleaner or mercury spill kit readily available to consolidate spilled mercury and limit the amount of mercury released into the air. Never use a regular vacuum cleaner to clean up mercury. It will vaporize the mercury and blow it into the air. The mercury vacuum cleaner is designed to clean up liquid mercury spills. An activated carbon filter in this vacuum will absorb and contain the mercury vapors.

The cleanup of mercury spills must be performed by specially trained staff members. Carry out simulated spills and cleanup as part of training.

Create a formal mercury spill policy for the hospital. Consider the following factors when developing the policy:

Round-the-clock availability of a competent staff person, trained for mercury spill cleanup
Protective equipment and clothing for cleanup staff
OSHA requirements
The circumstances when the patient(s), visitors and staff should be evacuated from the area before cleanup
How to determine when a room is "clean enough" to re-occupy
Type of flooring (linoleum, carpet, etc.)
Determination of the type of equipment to be used for the size and type of spill
Manufacturer's instructions for the equipment to be used
Ultimate waste disposal, which may depend on the cleanup method
Preparation of an incident report that describes the spill, the cleanup method used, unusual circumstances, and follow up
Mercury spills during a medical procedure