Mercury spill in operating room
Hospital Safety Connection, April 2, 2009
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Sun Health Boswell Hospital in Sun City, AZ experienced a brief scare on March 21, after 22 to 30 milliliters of mercury spilled onto the operating room (OR) floor. The chemical spill occurred after a medical device malfunctioned.
The six to seven employees in the OR were evacuated after removing contaminated medical booties, and throwing a blanket over the spill, according to The Arizona Republic. Fire crews from Surprise, Glendale, Sun City, and Peoria, AZ arrived at the scene.
Workers were tested for exposure after the spill, but no one appeared to be contaminated.
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