Experienced Mercury Spillage Cleaning

We’re a local, reliable cleaning company based in the South East of England

Long-term mercury exposure can result in dangerous and even lethal consequences. Even though mercury plays a vital role in our lives, it continues to be used despite the strict regulations surrounding it. If you've had a spill in the workplace or at home, you should never clean it yourself and contact specialists immediately.

Here at ICE Cleaning, we understand the urgency of a spill and will confidently contain, clean, and decontaminate an affected area. Our expert cleaners can arrive on-site within a few hours and will prioritise the safety of anyone in the affected area.

Simply give us a call today at 0208 066 0360 to find out more about our full range of cleaning services for customers in Royal Tunbridge Wells.

We guarantee an excellent level of service and outstanding results every time.

Once our technicians arrive on-site, they will be dressed in appropriate PPE for their protection and survey the area. During the survey, they will assess the levels of mercury in the air as well as the severity of the spill. This will allow them to create a plan of action suited to your needs and the safety of everyone on-site.

We use modern technology and industry-grade solutions to effectively remove any trace of mercury, restoring the environment to its original state. Our friendly cleaners will answer any inquiries you may have about what will be done, our process, and what we will do after the cleaning.

What objects still use mercury?

Despite the strict regulations that were enforced in the mid-2000s, mercury continues to be a component in many processes. Because of mercury's properties as an excellent conductor, it is difficult to phase out of the industry. You can check what items contain mercury before purchasing them, but these are the objects that are most likely to contain it:

• Glass thermometers
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Mercury batteries
• Circuit boards
• Backlights
• UV curing lamps
• Tilt switches

What are the three forms of mercury?

Each form of mercury poses a different level of risk and can inflict different effects on the human body upon acute or chronic exposure.

Organic Mercury (Methylmercury)

Methylmercury is a naturally occurring form of mercury that is usually ingested by humans through the consumption of fish, shellfish, or contaminated vegetables. Because of the mercury present in our environment, it becomes a part of the aquatic food chain and thus we become exposed to small amounts of mercury. These are usually very small doses, and should not cause harm — however, pregnant women should avoid eating food with possible mercury traces.

Elemental Mercury

This is the most recognisable form of mercury, appearing as a metallic, liquid form that is oddly heavy despite its physical properties. When spilt at room or high temperatures, it will quickly evaporate into an odourless, invisible vapour. When inhaled, this vapour can cause significant irritation in the lungs and lead to long-term damage. Elemental mercury was once widely used in measuring devices such as barometers and thermometers, but this has declined in recent decades.

Inorganic Mercury

This form of mercury is the least toxic of the three, appearing as white or red naturally. It is used frequently in industrial processes and can be found in some products like fungicides and disinfectants. Despite being the least toxic of the three forms, it can still cause your skin to become irritated and even weaken your muscles.

We cover all areas in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, including:

• Ashurst
• Collier's Green
• Cranbrook
• Groombridge
• Hartley
• Hawkenbury
• Horsmonden
• Langton Green
• Pembury
• Rusthall
• Sandhurst
• Sissinghurst

What should you do when you spill mercury?

Timing is crucial when mercury spills, whether it is in the workplace or at home, it is imperative that you familiarise yourself with the steps. You should never try to clean mercury yourself and minimise contact with any form to keep yourself safe. When mercury spills, you should:

• Evacuate the area and barricade any doors that lead to other rooms, and put up appropriate signs to warn others.
• Protect yourself with a mask and gloves if you must re-enter the area.
• Ventilate the room by opening doors and windows that lead to the outside. Do not turn on any ventilation devices as this might spread vapours to other rooms.
• Use a mercury spill kit if you are qualified to do so, but do not clean it up.
• Leave the area and contact mercury clean-up specialists.
• Call our friendly support team today

Call us today

To find out more about our full range of cleaning services, give us a call at 0208 066 0360 or email us at enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk and a member of our friendly support team will get back to you as soon as possible.