by Shane Henson — August 13, 2012—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued two new educational resources, available in English and Spanish, to help protect maintenance and facilities workers from mercury exposure while crushing and recycling fluorescent bulbs.
According to OSHA, compact fluorescent bulbs are more efficient than incandescent bulbs, but the shift to energy-saving fluorescents, which contain mercury, calls for more attention to workers who handle, dispose of, and recycle used fluorescent bulbs.
The OSHA Fact Sheet explains how workers may be exposed, what kinds of engineering controls and personal protective equipment they need, and how to use these controls and equipment properly.
In addition, a new OSHA Quick Card alerts employers and workers to the hazards of mercury and provides information on how to properly clean up accidentally broken fluorescent bulbs to minimize workers’ exposures to mercury. It also provides information on the signs of mercury poisoning, which includes tremors; mood, memory or coordination changes; and skin irritation or allergy.
Fluorescent bulbs can release mercury and may expose workers when they are broken accidentally or crushed as part of the routine disposal or recycling process. Depending on the duration and level of exposure, mercury can cause nervous system disorders such as tremors, kidney problems, and damage to unborn children.
