Mercury Spills
If mercury spills in your school, will you be ready?
Click here for a poster [PDF – 4MB] reminding you of spill clean-up basics.
If mercury spills, it can turn into poisonous vapors that can have dangerous health effects.
If there’s been a spill at your school:
Follow these steps [PDF – 280KB] to keep your students and staff safe — and to prevent mercury from spreading throughout the school. For a small spill, you may be able to clean it up yourself. For a large spill, work with professionals.
After a spill:
Use these talking points [PDF – 572KB]to help you communicate with parents and other members of the community.
Use these example letters to send home to parents following a mercury spill at school.
Sample letter parents and caregivers [DOC – 21KB]
Sample letter testing shoes and personal items [DOC – 18KB]
Every school needs a spill kit.
Find out what you need to put together a spill kit for your school.
Remember, it pays to be prepared.
Make sure you have easy access to local resources that can help in case of a spill — fill out this contact sheet [PDF – 174KB] and post it in your school today.
- Broken CFLs, small mercury spills, large mercury spills
Environmental Protection Agency -
Mercury Quick Facts for School Nurses [PDF – 1.9MB]
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry -
Information for Health Care Providers [PDF – 213 KB]
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry -
Hiring a clean-up contractor [PDF – 713KB]
Michigan Department of Community Health