To: All Department Heads and Supervisors
From: The ABC Company Safety Director
Date: June 8, 2005

Purpose: Mercury is a highly toxic substance that can harm your health if you inhale its vapors and/or touch it with your bare skin. Some of the devices used at ABC Company facilities and processes contain mercury. If these devices break, mercury may spill out. This can create a serious health hazard, especially if the spill is not immediately and properly cleaned up. The purpose of this memo is to tell you what to do if such a spill occurs.

REACTING TO SPILLS

If an accidental spill of mercury occurs, take the following steps:

1. Isolate the Area

Immediately isolate the work area by closing and locking the door and prohibiting anybody from entering. If the spill occurs outside or in an open area, place cones or other visible barriers around the spill area and post warning and "DO NOT ENTER" signs. The clothing and footwear of all personnel in the spill area must be checked before they leave the area.

2. Contain the Hazard

If the spill takes place inside, immediately open windows to the outside and turn off central ventilation systems to prevent vapors from migrating into other parts of the facility. If the spill takes place outside, ventilation isn't as crucial. But be aware that mercury spilled on uncompacted or loose soil may seep deep into the soil because of its high density and heavy weight.

3. Contact the Safety Manager

Contact me or my assistant immediately once a spill occurs. If a spill occurs during nonregular hours, contact me through the emergency paging system.

4. Don't Try to Clean the Spill

Do not touch the spill area or attempt to clean it yourself unless you've been trained to do so and are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment including gloves and an SCBA-type respirator.

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