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Protection Against Mercury Poisoning
It is Definitely Possible to Reduce or Eliminate Industrial Mercury Poisoning
Good housekeeping is vital. Cleanliness promotes safety. Handle all forms of mercury carefully. Avoid spilling liquid metallic mercury, mercury, mercury salts or liquids containing mercury. Keep all containers tightly closed. Remember... it is easier to prevent an accident than to clean one up.
Ventilation is Crucial
Keep all working areas well ventilated. Use large exhaust fans and always draw the air AWAY from personnel.
THOSE HANDLING mercury salts should wear dust masks, rubber gloves and goggles at all times. They should use boots over drums before dumping. They should avoid contact with any form of mercury, and they should never breathe the fumes.
IF SKIN comes into contact with any form of mercury, it should be washed immediately with soap and water... using soap and water generously. Apply HgX® hand cream according to directions.
Prohibit Smoking
Fingers may contaminate the paper on the cigarette, which is burned and the smoke inhaled. Smoking also introduces a fire hazard. Permit smoking only away from mercury-use areas.
Personnel Handling Mercury
PERSONNEL handling mercury should wash hands before meals and shower before leaving work. They should brush their teeth daily.
PERSONNEL handling mercury should wear overalls and light cloth or dust caps when working. These items should be washed or changed frequently.
PERSONNEL in mercury-use areas should wear rubber soled shoes or rubber boots. Leather footwear should be avoided. Leather absorbs liquids that contain mercury. This could affect the skin of the feet.
ROOMS with floors other than cement or concrete should be covered with linoleum. The linoleum should be glued in place with coved edges slanting to one corner so that any spilled mercury will flow to one point, where it can easily be removed. Wash or flush all floors routinely.
KEEP temperatures low... preferably at about 60°. Do not allow personnel to work with mercury in overheated rooms.
For personnel unavoidably subjected to exposure, periodic examinations by competent physicians and dentists are recommended.
Recommended Maximum Atmospheric Concentrations (Eight Hours)
0.01 milligrams of mercury per cubic meter of air. A regular program of air analysis is required to guard against unseen accumulations.
Watch for the following symptoms of excess mercury in the body: foul breath, blackening of teeth, reddening of gums, nervous irritability, trembling of the hands, head, lips, tongue or jaw, tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, coughing and pain in the chest. ANYONE EXPERIENCING THESE SYMPTOMS SHOULD CONSULT A PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY.
In addition to the above, we suggest weekly washings or generous spraying with HgX® MERCURY DECONTAMINATION of all floors and wall surfaces in operating areas. HgX® will provide a coating on metallic mercury and react with various mercury salts concealed in cracks and crevices to produce a non-vaporizing form and materially reduce mercury contaminated air from such sources.
HgX® may be applied dry with a brush, broom or mop. It can be sprayed or mixed with saturated sawdust.
See instructions for application on HgX® labels, or email Acton Technologies for free descriptive literature.
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