Region 7
              t»  do  wfeen mercwg Is spilled

      It is recommended that a professional emergency response contractor clean up a mercury
      spill. But if the spill is minor, school staff trained in hazardous materials spill cleanups can
      take on the cleanup responsibilities.
      Spiff Response Action Steps:

      I. Evacuate the spill area. Leave all
         shoes, clothing and other articles that
         were splashed with mercury at the
         spill area.

      2. Wash skin exposed to mercury with
         soap and water.

      3. Immediately open the room's outside
         windows and exterior doors to provide
         ventilation.

      4. Seal off the room from the rest of the
         building by closing all interior doors
         and windows. Close all cold-air
         returns so that mercury vapor is not
         carried throughout the school.

      5. Lower the temperature of the room by
         turning off the heat to the room. The
         ventilation and cooling systems to the
         spill area should be turned off. If
         possible, all air ducts to the room
         should be sealed temporarily.

      6. Turn off fans unless they vent to the
         outdoors. Use portable fans to blow
         mercury-contaminated air outdoors.

      7. If someone has inhaled mercury vapor
         or ingested mercury, call a poison
         control center (800) 222-1222.

      8. Report the mercury spill to your state
         environmental duty officer.
9.  Hire a professional emergency
   response contractor or make sure that
   a trained staff person takes
   responsibility for cleaning up the
   mercury spill.

10. After cleanup is completed,
   temporarily (for a few days) elevate
   the room temperature to 80 to 90
   degrees F. Continue to ventilate the
   spill area for at least two days before
   reoccupying it. Direct all ventilation
   outside if possible.

11. Monitor the spill area to ensure that
   mercury vapor levels meet the proper
   Health Department criteria. This is
   done with a mercury vapor analyzer or
   collecting air samples for analysis at a
   laboratory.

12. Properly recycle all mercury waste or
   dispose of it as hazardous waste.

     How Bmergencg
              for Spiffs

Iowa:        (515) 281-8694
Kansas:      (785)296-1679
Missouri:     (573) 634-2436
Nebraska:    (402) 326-0231
EPA:         (913) 281-0991

NOTE: If you believe a child's life is in
danger because of exposure to mercury,
please call the National Poison Center
at (800) 222-1222.
                     Information derived from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
                             Cleaning up mercury spills in your school.

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