Service manual

STP 11-25R13-SM-TG
T - 18
h. Do the following whenever mercury is spilled:
(1) Deactivate equipment, give the alarm, and activate exhaust systems that exhaust room air to
the outside.
(2) Deactivate air-conditioning systems. Close vents and doors that would allow mercury fumes
and vapors to enter other work areas.
(3) Leave the area and take action to assure that personnel are kept out of the contaminated area.
(4) Contact safety specialist and medical personnel to determine the extent of contamination and
corrective procedures to follow. A mercury vapor detector will be used to monitor the air in areas where
mercury contamination is suspected. Operations will not be resumed until the concentration of mercury
vapor drops below 0.05 mg per cubic meter.
(5) Recover visible droplets of mercury with a mercury vacuum cleaner, mercury scoop, or a
suction device equipped with a water trap. The contaminated areas should then be coated with a
mercury suppressant, such as one percent calcium polysulfide, flours of sulfur, or equivalent; then
carefully sweep and pick up contaminated suppressant materials, and wet-mop the area. The
decontaminants do not remove mercury but coat the droplets and thus reduce volatilization of the
mercury. Monitoring of the area with a mercury vapor detector should be performed to determine the
thoroughness of the decontamination procedures.
(6) Air-conditioning systems of Sheffield Modulabs will be deactivated until contaminated areas
have been decontaminated. Area will be monitored with a mercury vapor detector to determine
thoroughness of decontamination.
i. Personnel working regularly with mercury, or in areas where mercury is used, and are subject
to exposure to mercury vapor, should receive periodic medical surveillance including determination of the
level of mercury in the urine.
j. Spilled, contaminated, or excess mercury should be sealed in an airtight container and
delivered to the nearest Defense Property Disposal Office for reclamation or disposal. Organizations
having an alternate mercury reclamation program should dispose of contaminated mercury in accordance
with local procedures.
k. All personnel should be instructed in the potential harm to health caused by mercury exposures,
and in mercury hygiene procedures. Written procedures should be provided for reference.
T-24. Pressurized Gas Cylinders.
Pressurized gas cylinders will be stored, handled, used, and shipped in accordance with AR 700-68
and Part 1910 OSHA subpart M. Cylinders will be marked in accordance with MIL-SATEEN-101 and
secured in the work area in such a way that they cannot be tipped over accidentally. Not more than two
cylinders of the same gas, one in use and one awaiting use, may be at the workstation. Empty
containers (those with the minimum pressure allowed by AR 700-68) will be removed from the immediate
workstation. All tests, retests, and required documentation thereof for hydrostatic conditions of
pressurized containers will be in conformance with AR 700-68.