How To Clean Up Mercury Spills

CONTENTS

• What is mercury found in?
  • Health risks
• Contain the spill
• Actions you must avoid
• Enlist the help of specialists
  • Similar services we offer
• Contact us today

Mercury spills are incredibly hazardous, and exposure to the substance can be very damaging for humans and the surrounding environment. If you have experienced a mercury spill at your home or workplace, you must deal with it immediately.

At ICE Cleaning, we have years of experience in providing mercury spill cleaning services. Operating 24/7, 365 days a year, our customer service team is here to provide a free quote/survey whenever you're ready.

Have a read of our blog to find out how to clean up mercury spills.

What is mercury found in?

The uses of mercury date back to around 1500 BC according to the Royal Society of Chemistry. It is found in a range of objects, from thermometers and barometers, to dental amalgams and certain kinds of lightbulbs.

Many spills that take place happen as the result of antique breakages, which homeowners often find when clearing out their homes.

Health risks

Mercury is a toxic chemical that can cause a multitude of health risks. This is why it is so important to evacuate the area if you have experienced a spell.

Symptoms of exposure are broad, but include:

• Damage to the central nervous system
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Difficulty breathing
• Personality changes

If you're concerned about the health risks associated with mercury, having some additional knowledge can help you feel prepared in the event of a spillage. Check out our blog, where we delve into this subject in more detail.

Contain the spill

When a spill has occurred, you must take steps to contain it. Ventilate the area, and cordon it off by closing doors and putting up signs to warn people of the danger. Be particularly mindful of children and pets, as they are the closest to ground level are therefore more likely to come into contact with the compound.

Items of clothing that have come into contact with mercury need to be disposed of, which specialist cleaning teams can remove for you once they arrive on scene.

Also make sure you're careful not to touch or stand on any sharp items, as this could lead to further injury.

Put on protective gear if you're near to the environment to prevent exposure. The clean-up should only be dealt with by professionals, who have undergone rigorous training to deal with this kind of clean effectively.

Actions you must avoid

Due to the risks around mercury spillages, there are some actions that you should avoid. For example, do not pour mercury down the drain, as it could contaminate the water flow and make people seriously ill.

Additionally, do not vacuum up mercury droplets, as this spreads mercury into the atmosphere and into your hoover. It is likely that it will cause lots of damage to the vacuum, which can be costly to repair.

Contact with the mercury should also be prohibited. Exposure often happens from inhalation and exposure, and can lead to serious health effects. If this happens to you, it is best to seek medical attention promptly.

Importantly, leave the clean-up to the professionals and do not attempt it yourself. This could make the spill worse by spreading it further, or you could cause harm to your health or that of your loved ones.

Enlist the help of specialists

Specialist cleaners use industry-grade tools and knowledge to clean up the mercury safely, working hard to restore the site to a safe and sanitary condition. 

Mercury spills are usually emergency situations, in which case our teams can be there within an hour of your call to get started with the clean. On site, they will wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves against being exposed to the chemical.

Strict health and safety guidelines will be followed throughout the clean to safeguard everyone's health. Our technicians are fully qualified to dispose of hazardous waste too, which will be taken to an approved removal site.

Wherever you're based across the UK, we've got you covered. We aim to provide our customers with flexible and bespoke services -  customer satisfaction is at the forefront of everything we do.

Whenever you have a question or concern, our support team are here to support you. After the service, a member of the team will check in with you to check you're happy and address any issues.

Similar services we offer

Mercury spill cleaning is not the only type of chemicals we provide clean-up for, however. Examples of similar services we offer include:

• Bromine Cleaning
• Chemical spill cleaning
• Hazardous waste clean-up

From accidents in the workplace to a bromine spill in a laboratory, the consequences of a chemical spill can be far-reaching. Your workplace should have proper regulations to deal with this if you work in an environment with chemicals.

It is important to be prepared in the event of a chemical spill in your workplace. Give our blog a read for some useful tips on how to respond to a chemical skill to keep your employees safe.

More information about health and safety regulations can be found on the HSE website.

Contact us today

Get in touch with our friendly support team on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to learn more about the mercury cleaning services we provide. We look forward to hearing from you.