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during any eight-hoar work shift is no more than OAS • Large spills an be suctioned into a waw Doti= mgtm. Cal/OSHA's second limit is a 0.2 mg/m3"ceiling trap partially filled with water,or you an use a limit"which most never be exceeded for any period of mercury spill cleanup kit commercially available from a safety equipment supplier. A wash bottle time: trap or a cleanup kit should always be on hand, AT think that you may beoverexposed,talk to your su- and you should be trained to use thm r and/or your union. If any state,county,or local • After all visible mercury has been colleaVA government employee might be exposed to a substance the area should be washed with a calcium poly- at more than the legal limit,the employer must measure ode soMon(shout 3-4 to of litre the amogmt of the chemical present in the air in the work suilfur per gallon of watery thea washed with a area(CaVOSHA tqpdatim GISO 5M. You have the detergent solution,and rinseC right to see the results relevant to your work area(WO ��. ® F • , cleanup,the arca be moaH tored using a mercury sniffer.The employer an You also have the right to we and copy your own medi- contact the Cal/OSHA Consultation Service(a cal records and records of your to to do tub- ent agency)to request a worksite stances, Thew records arc important in determining visit to assess whether cleanup has been ade- whether your health has been affected by your work. quate(we"Resources"on page 4). Employers who have such records mast keep them and Safe Work Practices: Safe work practices an greatly make them available to you for at least 30 years after the redUCe your exposure to mercury. Store mercury in end of your employment. unbreakable containers m a cool, dry, well ventilated area away from heat. Keep containers of liquid mercury REDUCING YOUR EXPOSURE tightly sealed, and place suitable metal-or plastic pans trader mercury equipment to reduce hazards from spills. Your employer is required to protect you from being ex- Sealed waste coo s (Failher than open mss) cam posed to mercury at levels above the legal limits. For m- minimize vapors esmping into the room. formation about how CaVOSHA and Cal/OSHA Con- Do not beat mercury. When heated, liquid marcury sultation Service an help you and your employer,we the evaporates more rapidly. Dangerous levels of mercury "Resources"section on page 4. in the air may result. Is: An emergency response procedure should be Good personal hygiene will help prevent exposure of ted for areas where spills of liquid mercury an yourself and others. Always wasb your hands before occur. Spilled mercury should be collected promptly. It eating,dfinking,or smoking. Mercury on your hands or is much easier to clean up spills on floors that do not have under your fingernails is a dangerous source of cxposwr- cracks or scams. Rugs should not be used in areas where If liquid mercury is spilled on you, change out of con- mercury an be spilled,because rugs an absorb substan- taminated clothing to avoid spreading the contamination tial amounts of spilled mercury,which will slowly cusp- to your home. orate to contaminate the workplace air. Engineering Controls: When possible,employers must If a spill occurs: use engineering and administrative controls rather than • People not involved in the cleanup should leave personal protective equipment to prevent overexposure. the immediate arca. Engineering control methods include installing ventila- • Windows should be opened to help ventilate the tion and changing the, work process. Certain work processes an be isolated, enclosed, or automated to arca. reduce exposures. • Do not use a regular vacuum cleaner to clean up a spill;regular vacuum cleaners will spread Local exhaust ventilation systems("hoods")are the most mercury around the room and increase airborne effective type of ventilation control. These systems cap- contamination. ture contaminated air at its source before it spreads into picked v with adhesive to the air in your breathingzone. small spills may be p P � or a hypodermic syringe. Personal ProtectiveEquipmentr When engineering con- trots cannot sufficiently reduce a respirator 3