Occupational hygiene

Mercury Detection and Monitoring

Mercury has been widely used in the United Kingdom for many years.  Its uses include medical and industrial instruments such as thermometers, manometers and pressure sensing devices and it is still used in the electrical industry for the manufacture of fluorescent and mercury discharge lamps.  It has also been widely used over a number of years in educational establishments, including schools, colleges and universities and is still in use even today in research laboratories and Hospitals.

Exposure to mercury can occur from direct skin contact, although the principal route of exposure is by inhalation.  Symptoms from exposure can range from nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain to kidney damage and in the worst case scenario, death.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) requires employers to protect people in the workplace against the risks of exposure to substances classified as hazardous to health.  The employer’s duties are:

• To identify the hazards and assess the risks created by work with hazardous substances.
• To monitor the level(s) of exposure
• To devise and implement measures aimed to prevent employees coming into contact with hazardous substances or control exposure.
• To ensure control measures implemented are maintained, assessed and tested to ensure effectiveness.
• To provide health surveillance for certain hazardous substances
• To provide information, instruction and training to employees who may be exposed to hazardous substances.

If equipment containing mercury is being used on your premises, or has been used in the past, there is a possibility that mercury contamination is present.  The only way to be certain is to carry out a mercury survey.

 

How ALS can help

Our consultants have the necessary expertise and equipment to undertake thorough building surveys which can detect and identify mercury contamination.  Our surveys can be carried out using direct reading (instant results) or continuous monitoring equipment or a combination of both.  As part of the contamination survey, physical material samples can be taken and analysed to confirm the levels of mercury present.  ALS can then advise of the appropriate actions required to facilitate safe and cost-effective decontamination of the area.

 

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