August 1, 2014

To all Faculty, Staff and Students:

Due to some recent incidents on the VGH site we thought it would be prudent to bring your attention to the process required for mercury spills.

Ideally, all mercury thermometers, BP cuffs, etc (anything containing mercury) should be removed and/or swapped out for an alternate. If you find any of these items in your lab(s) and would like to dispose of them please contact one of the Health and Safety representatives for your area (see the following link: and they can arrange to take you and your mercury item (in a sealed container – see link for “cleaning up spills” below) to the chemical waste disposal room where it will be picked up and disposed of appropriately.

For those who are/must still use mercury in research labs you should be aware that the originator of the mercury (this will default to the Principal Investigator of said lab) will be held responsible for clean up and costs associated with any spills. Be warned these items can become extremely costly to clean up.

Since we are located at the VGH Site, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) we must follow the VCH process which is to support the removal of all mercury content on the VCH premises. While the intent is 0 mercury, we do find the occasional surprise. If a mercury spill is found, regardless of volume, it would default to a code brown. This means isolation of the area and calling “88” from an internal VGH telephone and advising them of a “code brown”. You will also be responsible for calling in third party response. (Quantum Murray is one of the responders used at VGH.) This can be extremely expensive and the cost will be the responsibility of the originator of the mercury. (One issue that came up recently generated a bill in the thousands of dollars. Don’t let this happen to your lab!)

For UBC Research Labs, VCH has agreed if a mercury spill is found they are open to the UBC spill response/process being implemented as long as the lab can provide assurances that:

  • Trained staff are present. This is not ad hoc, but in a state of readiness. (You may wish to include this on your training documents if you must use mercury in your lab.)
  • All spill and personal protective equipment (ppe) materials are present and available to the trained staff. (These items must be on hand, rather than calling VCHRI or UBC to ask if a spill kit and/or mask (which must be fit-test) is available when you come across a spill.)
  • VCH is notified of any spill regardless of response.
  • Any delay or break in agreed response will initiate the VCH process. The bill will be directed to the owner of the mercury/item.

If you can follow the above requirements please see the following links for reporting and cleaning up of mercury spills:

Reporting spills:

Cleaning up spills: (note the procedure “mercury” is under section d. on page 5 of the document.

Spill reporting form:

As a reminder, all costs associated with a mercury spill (whether it be from a 3rd party responder (i.e. Quantum Murray), hazmat team, etc) will be the responsibility of the originator of the mercury. Please take a moment to do a review of your lab to ensure you are either not using any mercury products or are appropriately prepared as indicated above.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Cheers,

Karen

KAREN DONALDSON

Manager, Facilities & Administration

Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute

Room 3665 - 910 West 10th Avenue

Jim Pattison Pavilion North, VGH

Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9

T 604.875.5470

F 604.875.5684

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