Resources to Mitigate Occupational Exposure Risks to Mercury

Most people don’t recognize that they come in proximity to products and materials that may contain mercury on a regular basis, and that it only takes a small amount to pose a serious health risk.

In the workplace, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) cautions that mercury is utilized in many industries. It is used to produce chlorine gas and caustic soda, and in thermometers, barometers, batteries, and electrical switches. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also lists manometers, gauges, valves, and high-intensity discharge lamps, along with its use in preservatives, heat transfer technology, pigments, catalysts, and lubricating oils. Some water-based paints even used mercury as a preservative until its use was discontinued in 1991.

NIOSH lists examples of workers at potential risk of being exposed to mercury, they include:

• Workers in facilities where electrical equipment is manufactured
• Workers in fluorescent light bulb (CFL) recycling facilities
• Workers in facilities where automotive parts are manufactured
• Workers in chemical processing plants that use mercury
• Workers in medical, dental, or other health services who work with equipment that contains mercury
• Dentists and their assistants when breathing in mercury vapor released from amalgam fillings

According to the California Department of Public Health:
Workers can be exposed to mercury if they breathe mercury vapor or have skin contact with it. They can also be exposed if instruments or equipment containing mercury break and release mercury-containing dust, liquid, or vapor.

“Anytime there is exposed elemental mercury, it can evaporate to become an invisible and odorless toxic vapor. A very small amount of mercury can raise concentrations of mercury in the air to unacceptable and even dangerous levels,” said Derrick A. Denis, Senior Vice President for Clark Seif Clark. “Seemingly innocuous building products like thermostats can contain liquid mercury. Many products contain mercury, but do not present as the obvious shiny silver liquid, such as rubberized gym floors. CSC uses specialized instruments to detect and quantify mercury vapor. We write mitigation and safety plans for elemental mercury spills and removal of mercury containing products to protect workers and bystanders from this silent and dangerous heavy metal.”

The industrial hygiene and indoor environmental quality experts at CSC have extensive experience dealing with mercury spills and exposure concerns. They offer testing, training, and consulting services for mercury and other hazardous materials. CSC has even sponsored an educational video about mercury exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/-xa0OEDFiD0

To learn more about this or other environmental and industrial hygiene services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com, or call 800-807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark, Inc. (CSC)
Since 1996, CSC has helped clients in both the public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational health, and environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers, and real estate professionals.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail