| Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL)...Everybody's | | | | any remaining small glass fragments and powder. |
| singing the praises of this new technology. And | | | | * If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials |
| for good reason...they save tons of electricity. | | | | are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb |
| But what happens if one breaks inside your house | | | | was broken. |
| or business? | | | | * Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe |
| My opinion is that most people will simply sweep | | | | the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in |
| up the mess and not give it much thought. But | | | | a sealed plastic bag. |
| there is a BIG, dangerous component in a bulb | | | | 4. Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding, etc.: |
| called Mercury, and mercury is one of the most | | | | * If clothing or bedding materials come in direct |
| toxic substances known to man. | | | | contact with broken glass or mercury-containing |
| If you break a CFL bulb, you'll likely find that the | | | | powder from inside the bulb that may stick to |
| proper cleanup could be very costly. And you'll | | | | the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be |
| likely find that there is NO COVERAGE in your | | | | discarded. Do not wash such clothing or bedding |
| property insurance policy. Most policies have | | | | because mercury fragments in the clothing may |
| environmental cleanup exclusions. Even if your | | | | contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage. |
| home is damaged by a tornado, hurricane or fire, | | | | * You can, however, wash clothing or other |
| the broken bulbs could cause you to incur | | | | materials that have been exposed to the |
| thousands of dollars in environmental cleanup | | | | mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the |
| costs that your insurance policy will EXCLUDE. | | | | clothing you happened to be wearing when you |
| Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, | | | | cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that |
| the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | | | | clothing has not come into direct contact with the |
| recommends the following clean-up and disposal | | | | materials from the broken bulb. |
| guidelines:(1) | | | | * If shoes come into direct contact with broken |
| 1. Before Clean-up: Ventilate the Room | | | | glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, |
| * Have people and pets leave the room, and don't | | | | wipe them off with damp paper towels or |
| let anyone walk through the breakage area on | | | | disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in |
| their way out. | | | | a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal. |
| * Open a window and leave the room for 15 | | | | 5. Disposal of Clean-up Materials |
| minutes or more. | | | | * Immediately place all cleanup materials outdoors |
| * Shut off the central forced-air heating/air | | | | in a trash container or protected area for the |
| conditioning system, if you have one. | | | | next normal trash pickup. |
| 2. Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces | | | | * Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or |
| * Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder | | | | plastic bags containing clean-up materials. |
| using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a | | | | * Check with your local or state government |
| glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or | | | | about disposal requirements in your specific area. |
| in a sealed plastic bag. | | | | Some states prohibit such trash disposal and |
| * Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up | | | | require that broken and unbroken |
| any remaining small glass fragments and powder. | | | | mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local |
| * Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or | | | | recycling center. |
| disposable wet wipes and place them in the glass | | | | 6. Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Ventilate |
| jar or plastic bag. | | | | the Room During and After Vacuuming |
| * Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the | | | | * The next several times you vacuum, shut off |
| broken bulb on hard surfaces. | | | | the central forced-air heating/air conditioning |
| 3. Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug: | | | | system and open a window prior to vacuuming. |
| * Carefully pick up glass fragments and place | | | | * Keep the central heating/air conditioning system |
| them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a | | | | shut off and the window open for at least 15 |
| canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag. | | | | minutes after vacuuming is completed. |
| * Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up | | | | Man, they are serious, aren't they? |