Mercury is a highly dangerous chemical.
When mercury is spilled, there is a great potential for danger. This highly toxic chemical can cause harm to everyone, but children, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems are particularly at risk. Today we’re going to be talking a bit about how you can prepare for a mercury spill and why it’s so important that you do so. Let’s dive in.
What is mercury and how does it behave?
Mercury is a heavy metal that appears as a liquid at room temperature. It also releases a vapor. Both in liquid and vapor form, this material can cause health issues for your personnel and for people who come to visit the facility later if the spill is not properly decontaminated. This material does not go away either, it will remain in the area until it is thoroughly removed. If you believe that your facility was not properly cleaned in the past and would like a mercury assessment, then contact us to help you.
Don’t approach the mercury if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Mercury is highly toxic, as we’ve stated. Without the proper training people can get seriously sick or hurt by interacting with it. The first thing you should do if there is a mercury spill is clear the area. Shoes and clothes can carry the chemical into the rest of the facility, so make sure that it is as contained as possible. Make sure to rope off the area when it is empty until the hazardous chemical can be cleaned. You should not, under any circumstances, try to use a broom to clean the chemical as it will only spread further and cause more harm. The same goes for vacuuming it; don’t do it. Let the professionals take care of the clean up so that you aren’t at risk.
Do you need mercury remediation services? We can help!
No matter what kind of environmental management issue you may have, AEG Environmental can help. We handle every situation with care, dedication, and a commitment to exemplary customer service. When you have an emergency, you can rely on us! Need training? We can handle that too! We train in a wide variety of environmental management areas so that your company can remain compliant with EPA, DOT, and OSHA. Make sure to check out our blog for the latest and greatest in the waste management world! You should also follow us on social media for updates.
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