Mercury spill closes developmental center
A mercury spill from a blood pressure cuff closed an area of J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center, in Morganton, N.C.
According to The New Herald, November 16, the spill occurred in the storage room when a nurse moved a cart that held the blood pressure device.
Even though the spill was only a few drops, responding county, state, and federal agencies, including the EPA, sealed off the storage room and closed the facility.
Staff and residents resumed normal operation two days later, though the storage room remained sealed through the weekend.
The report maintained that most of the equipment at the Center is mercury free, but this shows that where there are mercury containing devices, there is always the possibility of a spill.
To prevent or to respond to mercury spills, see “Mercury spills still a healthcare hazard” and the checklist referenced in the post.
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John Palmer
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