PURPOSE:
To ensure that
employee’s exposure to mercury is minimized and that materials containing
mercury are handled and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.
BACKGROUND:
All
fluorescent lamps contain elemental mercury. Mercury has a unique
combination of properties that make it the most efficient material for use
in fluorescent and HID lamps. The basic operating principles of
fluorescent lamps depend on production of ultraviolet (UV) light and
mercury is the most efficient product of the required UV.
CAUTION:
Mercury and
mercury contaminated materials vaporize at room temperature. Mercury
vapor is extremely toxic. Mercury is the only heavy metal that is liquid
at room temperature. Because of this and other useful properties it
usage’s are commonplace. It is actually more harmful to inhale the vapor
from a bead of mercury than to ingest the same bead. At room temperature
mercury vaporizes readily into an invisible, odorless, and tasteless
poison.
Ambient
mercury levels in the breathing zone can be controlled if personnel are
aware of and trained in mercury management. Be conscious of the hazard of
unseen mercury contamination in cracks, corners and untreated storage
containers.
HANDLING
PROCEDURES:
Procedure for
handling unbroken fluorescent lamps for packaging. Employee will wear
the following safety equipment.
1.
Gloves made of
leather, or equivalent.
2.
Safety glasses
with side shields or full face shield.
3.
Safety toed
shoes or boots.
STEP 1:
Place lamps
into new or used lamp boxes (the original egg crate material does not have
to be placed back into the boxes) and tape the ends shut.
*Broken or
crushed lamps should be packaged in an approved container, ( 55 gallon
drum).
*Badly damaged
boxes, wet boxes, etc. will not be accepted for transport.
*Boxes must be
kept in a secure, dry area.
*Palletize
lamp boxes to a maximum height of 6 feet.
*Secure boxes
to pallet with shrink wrap or stretch film.
All pallets
need to be labeled as
Used Mercury Lamps or Universal Waste Mercury Lamps.
Required
information to schedule a pickup:
1. Contact
person.
2. Date of
pickup.
3. Physical
address of location.
4. Material
location: i.e., loading dock, storage container.
STEP 2:
All employee’s
shall wash his/her hands with soap and water when beginning a work shift,
before a break, and upon completion of the work shift. No tobacco
materials, food, or beverages will be permitted while working with mercury
lamps.
STEP 3:
It is the
employees’ responsibility to ensure that these handling and disposal
procedures are fully carried out. The proper use of the prescribed safety
equipment will protect the employee from the potential dangers of
contamination from mercury.
HANDLING AND
DISPOSAL
of
PCB & NON PCB BALLAST
PURPOSE:
To ensure that
employee’s exposure to PCBs is minimized and that material containing PCBs
are handled and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.
BACKGROUND:
Polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCBs) were used in the capacitors of
fluorescent lamp ballasts and in the capacitors of high intensity
discharge (HID) lighting fixtures. PCBs were also found in other
electrical equipment including common household appliances. PCBs were
used in these items as they were an excellent insulator and they would not
burn.
In 1978
however, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned
the use of PCBs as they were found to pose a health risk to humans.
Mineral oils and powdered materials replaced PCBs in lamp and ballast and
capacitors manufactured after 1978 and these items generally bear a label
reading “No PCBs”.
The majority
of ballasts and capacitors you will come into contact with in your day to
day job activities pose no health risk. However, you may be working on
ballasts and/or capacitors that contain very small amounts of PCB fluid.
For handling these ballasts and capacitors, follow the handling and
disposal procedures outlined below.
HANDLING PROCEDURES:
Procedure for
removal of ‘non leaking’ PCB capacitors from fluorescent lamp ballasts.
Employee will wear the following safety equipment:
1. Gloves made
of chemical resistant neoprene coated, butyl rubber, or leather.
2. Safety glasses with side shields or full face shield.
3. Safety toed
shoes or boots.
STEP 1:
Once removed
from the fixture, the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) requires that PCB
ballasts be stored in approved DOT drums. The drums should be stored
inside the building. Outside storage is permitted if they are on an
impervious surface, the drum lids are secured, and they are protected
against weather and vandalism.
STEP 2:
Separate
ballast by type (PCB, non PCB) and visually check for leakers, and place
into drums.
NOTE: Leaking
PCB ballasts must be double bagged and placed in a drum containing at
least 3 inches of vermiculite.
STEP 3:
Properly label
drums PCB or Non PCB. Secure drum lid.
All protective
equipment that comes into contact with any material leaking from a
capacitor will be placed in proper containers for disposal. The employee
shall wash his/her hands with soap and water when beginning a work shift,
before a break, and upon completion of the work shift. No tobacco
materials, food, or beverages will be permitted while working with lamp
ballasts.
It is the
employee’s responsibility to ensure that these handling and disposal
procedures are fully carried out. The proper use of the prescribed safety
equipment will protect the employee from the potential dangers of
contamination from PCBs.
