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Guide for Appliance Recyclers June 2004 <br />number of mercury switches shipped, date they were shipped, and name and address <br />of the facility to which the mercury switches were shipped. A sample shipping record is <br />provided in Appendix G. <br />The following records also must be kept on paper or electronically for at least three <br />years: <br />• the total number of appliances destined for shredding; <br />• the total number of appliances destined for crushing, baling, shearing, or <br />shredding that were determined to contain one or more mercury switches; <br />• the number of mercury switches removed from these appliances; and <br />• the number of appliances from which mercury switches could not be removed <br />due to the damaged condition of the appliance. <br />General Safety Precautions <br />Because mercury is harmful if inhaled, ingested, or touched, proper safety precautions <br />must be followed at all times. Further, you must be prepared to deal with spills or leaks <br />of mercury from switches. <br />Before you begin handling mercury switches, be sure to have a plan in place for <br />responding to a mercury spill. Your plan should include precautions to prevent spills and <br />leaks from occurring and procedures to prevent the exposure of employees to mercury <br />in the event that a spill does occur. The plan should cover: <br />• appropriate personal protective equipment, <br />• procedures for cleaning a spill, <br />■ waste management procedures, <br />® first aid procedures, <br />• when to summon emergency responders (such as the local fire department's <br />hazardous materials team), and <br />■ proper disposition of mercury and cleanup residues. <br />Consult with your fire department when developing your plan, and make sure you have <br />the necessary cleanup supplies (spill cleanup kits, containers) and personal protective <br />equipment on hand before you begin handling mercury switches. <br />27 <br />