Mercury scare evacuates medical office
OSHA Healthcare Connection, May 22, 2007
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Erie (PA) firefighters evacuated a medical practice last week because of a mercury spill.
Eleven people waited outside Rectal and Colon Surgery, Inc., as firefighters determined how to control a pool of mercury that had been leaking from a blood pressure device for two hours, according to WJET News.
Though two employees came in contact with the mercury, they were not injured from the exposure, the report said.
The average cleanup spill cost for a blood pressure device containing mercury is $1,539, according to an EPA report on mercury in healthcare facilities. Costs do not include lost revenue due to evacuation or cancelled appointments, or treatment of staff or patients for exposure.
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