How To Deal With Lamp Breakages

Fluorescent tubes and Energy Saving lamps (CFLs)

1) Breakages to single lamps are very unlikely to cause any health problems, although it is good practice to try to minimize exposure to mercury and fragments of glass as quickly as possible after a breakage.

2) Ventilate the room for approximately 15 minutes before cleaning and switch off any forced air central heating or air conditioning systems.

3) Use protective gloves and try to avoid inhaling dust.

4) Pick up as much of the lamp debris as possible and put into a sealable container. The best type of container would be an air-tight glass jar such as a pickle jar with a rubberised seal around the lid. Plastic bags are not ideal and should be used only in the absence of a suitable sealed container.

5) Sweep up remaining pieces using a stiff paper or card.

6) Use a self adhesive tape such as duct tape to pick up as much of the remaining debris as possible.

7) On a hard surface, use a damp cloth to clean the affected area.

8) On a carpet, ensure the room is as well ventilated as possible and use a vacuum cleaner to remove the last traces from the fibre of your carpet. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag. When you vacuum your carpet for the next few times, ensure the room is well ventilated before and after cleaning.

9) Seal all of the lamp debris and cleaning materials in the sealable container.

10) Allow the room to ventilate for as long as possible, several hours is ideal.

11) As Mercury is a hazardous substance you should not dispose of the waste in a bin with your normal rubbish. Your local council have an obligation to arrange for the disposal of Energy Saving lamps and Fluorescent tubes. Check with your local civic amenity site or household waste recycling centre for your nearest facility.