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during_ any eight-hour work shift is no mote than 0.05 mg/m . WOSHA's second limit is a 0.1 mg/m3 "ceiling limit" which must never be exceeded for any period of time. think that you may be overexposed, talk to your su- sor and/or your union. If any state, county, or local overnment employee might be exposed to a substance at more than the legal limit, the employer must measure the amount of the chemical present in the air in the work area (CaVOSHA regulation GISO 5155). You have the right to we the results relevant to your work area (WO 3204). You also have the right to see and copy your own medi- cal records and records of your exposure to tont sub- stances. These records arc important in determining whether your health has been affected by your work. Employers who have such records must keep them and make them available to you for at least 30 yeirs after the end of your employment. Your employer is required to protect you from being ex- posed to mercury at levels above the legal limits For in- formation about how Cal/OSHA and Cal/OSHA Con- sultation Service can help you and your employer, sce the "Resources" section on page 4. ,ls: An emergency response procedure should be, tad for areas where spills of liquid mercury can occur. Spilled mercury should be collected promptly. It is much easier to clean up spills on floors that do not have cracks or scams. Rugs should not be used in areas where mercury can be spilled, because rugs can absorb substan- tial amounts of spilled mercury, which will slowly evap- orate to contaminate the workplace air. • People not involved in the cleanup should leave the immediate arca. • Windows should be opened to help ventilate the area. • Do not use a regular vacuum cleaner to clean up a spill; regular vacuum cleaners will spread mercury around the room and incase airborne contamination. • Small spills may be picked up with adhesive tape or a hypodermic syringe. •Large spills can be suctioned into a wasn OMuc trap partially filled with water, or you can use a mercury spill cleanup kit commercially available from ety equipment supplier. A wash bottle trap or a cleanup kit should always be on hand, and you should be trained to use them. • After all visible mercury has been collected, the area should be washed with a calcium poly- ude solution (about 2.4 tablespoons of lime sulfur per gallon of water), then washed with a detergent solution, and rinsed; • Following up, the area should be moni- tored using a mercury sniffer. The employer can contact the Cal/OSHA Consultation Service (a non -enforcement agency) to request a worksite visit to Luess whether cleanup has been ade- quate (see "Resources" on page 4). Safe Work Practices: Safe work practices can greatly reduce your cxpoSurC to mercury. Store mercury in unbreakable containers in a cool, dry, well ventilated area away from heat. Keep containers of liquid mercury tightly sealed, and place suitable metal or plastic pans under mercury equipment to reduce hazards from spills. Scaled waste containers (rather than open ones) can vapors escaping into the roam. 3 Do not beat mercury. When heated, liquid mercury evaporates more rapidly. Dangerous levels of mercury in the air may result. Good persotial hygiene will help prevent exposure of yourself and others. Always wash your bands before eating, drinking, or smoking. Mercury on your hands or under your fingernails is a dangerous source of exposure. If liquid mercury is spilled on you, change out of con- taminated clothing to avoid spreading the contamination to your home. Enginening Controls: When possible, emploYers must use engineering and administrative controls rather than personal protective equipment to prevent overexposure. Engineering control methods include installing ventila- tion and changing the work process. C Xtain work processes can be isolated, enclosed, or automated to reduce exposures. Local east ventilation systems ("hoods") are the most effective type of ventilation control These systems cap- ture contaminated air at its source before it spreads into the air in your breathing zone. 7M.