Sustainable Hospitals
 
Mercury Reduction
Medical Facility Mercury Survey
 
Source: "Reducing Mercury Use in Health Care"
Original document developed by Western Lake Superior Sanitary District.

 

 
 
This checklist is provided as a sample. A checklist can be useful tool to help medical facility staff identify sources of mercury in their workplace.
 
Type of Facility (hospital, clinic) ___________________________
Size of Facility (number of beds, number of patient visits) ___________________________
Contact Name ___________________________
Title ___________________________
Phone ___________________________
 
 
MERCURY SOURCES
 
Please indicate the following mercury sources located or used in your facility.
____ Fever thermometers (including home-care visits and those sent home with new borns)
____ Sphygmomanometers
____ Commercial manometer
____ Gastrointestinal diagnostic equipment
____ Feeding tubes
 
Chemicals
____ Zenker’s solution ____ Histological fixatives
 
Staining solution and preservatives
____ Mercury chloride ____ Mercury (II)oxide
____ Mercury(II) chloride ____ Mercury(II) sulfate
____ Mercury nitrate ____ Mercury iodide
____ other
 
Lamps
___ Fluorescent ____ Metal halid ____ High pressure sodium ____ Ultraviolet
 
Batteries
____ Mercuric oxide
____ Button batteries
____ Thermostats
____ Barometers
____ Switches(relay, tilt, silent)
____ Other possible mercury sources – please list here any other materials that should be a concern for mercury pollution.  
Have you considered mercury-free alternatives for any of the products listed above?
__ Yes __ No
 
 
FACILITY PRACTICES  
Complete the following section on facility practices. Additional pages may be attached if needed.
 
Safety Practices
 
Is staff training provided on the health and environmental concerns of Mercury?
__ Yes __No
Is staff training provided on mercury spill prevention or management?
__Yes __No
If yes, indicate the departments that have this training and the frequency. _______________
_____________________________________________________________________
Is there a mercury spill clean-up tool kit on site?
__Yes __No
Have there been any mercury spills within the last ten years?
__Yes __No
If yes, indicate the source of the spill(s) and the clean-up method. ____________________
_____________________________________________________________________
 
 
Purchasing Practices
 
Does your facility have a policy on purchasing mercury-containing products?
__Yes __No
If yes, please attach policy.__________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ Does your purchasing department currently require a disclosure by your vendors of mercury concentrations in chemicals/reagents?
__Yes __No
 
 
Disposal Practices
 
What is the current procedure for disposal of medical waste?
__Autoclave __Incineration __Other
Have your sewer drain traps or catch basins been cleaned to remove mercury?
__Yes __No
If yes, list the area of the facility and dates.______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ Was mercury discovered?
__Yes __No
Are any mercury products in your facility currently recycled?
__Yes __No
Are there other facility practices that you think should be a concern for mercury pollution? List here:
______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

 
 
 

Mercury Reduction
 
R E G I S T E R     G L O S S A R Y     F E E D B A C K     S I T E  M A P     H O M E


 
Copyright © 1998 Sustainable Hospitals / Lowell Center for Sustainable Production
All rights reserved.
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