[273] in Depressing_Thoughts
Mercury, Sfatey Office, Respirators
epeisach@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (epeisach@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Fri Aug 19 14:30:08 1988
I came into work today to find the safety office personnel checking the
air with a meter. Apparently, someone had put some mercury (several
tablespoons at least) in a garbage can several years back and stashed it
in a back room. Two years ago, the forward room became office space for
graduate students, but the back-room has always had junk.
Last night, Tom was finding some boxes to mailthings in, and took out
the garbage can with paper junk on top. He started emprying it to make
room for the junk he had when the mercury splashed out. He called Phys
plant, safety, and the Hygiene office. They stayed with him and watched
while he cleaned up the outer office until three AM. The lady was
incompetent, but appearently, they are not supposed to do any work, just
supervise.
This morning safety was back testing the air in the outer office. We had
to toss a couch (probably was a health hazard before), but they said the
air was ok. They looked in the back room and found the level too high.
We therefore had to clean it up. They wanted us to wear respirators.
They fitted us out with new ones. (They can't just issue, they must be
fitted to the individual) and got a new spill cart. The car twas missing
half the items. You'd think at MIT they would make sure these carts were
mantained. (Actually they explain they under the responsibilty of the
department. This one camre from building 54. You guys in 54, don't spill
anything unless you want the hassle of finding stuff)
So armed with respirator, rubber gloves, booties, and garbge bags we set
to work. The vacuum they supplied does not work, it was clogged with
junk from the morning cleanup. They gave us this nifty powder that when
added to water is used to coat the floors and cover over any last Hg.
The spill cart had a mop head but no handle, so we had to get on the
floor and do it with a rag.
UROP's are great - you get to learn all aspects of the field.
The only good thing out of this is that I get to keep the respirator. I
think it will look nice on my door.
Ezra
