Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) ... Everybody's singing this new technology. And for good reason ... They save tons of electricity.
But what happens when it breaks in your home or business?
My opinion is that most people just sweep the dirt and takes no thought. But there is a dangerous component in a light bulb called Mercury, and Mercury is one of the most toxic substances known to man.
If you break a compact fluorescent lamp, it will probably be, Might provide the necessary cleaning will be very expensive. And you'll probably find that there is coverage in your property insurance. Most of the exclusions cleanup of environmental policies. Even if your home is damaged by a hurricane tornado or fire, broken bulbs could cause thousands of dollars in environmental cleanup costs that your insurance will rise EXCLUDE.
CFLs because they contain a small amount of mercury, says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)The guidelines for cleaning and disposal: (1)
1. Before Clean-up: Ventilate the room
* Have people and pets leave the room, and that no break through the area on their way on foot.
* Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
* Turn off the central forced heating / air conditioning, if you have one.
2. Clean-Up Steps for hard surfaces
* Care scoop glass fragments and dust of paper or cardboard and place themin a glass jar with metal lid (such as a jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
* Use tape, such as tape, pick up remaining glass fragments and powder.
* Clean the surface with a damp cloth or disposable wet paper and put it into the jar or plastic bag.
* Use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.
3. Steps for cleaning carpets or rugs:
* Care to collect glass fragments and place them ina glass jar with metal lid (such as a jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
* Use tape, such as tape, pick up remaining glass fragments and powder.
* If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the broken bulb was.
* Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and clean the tank), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.
4. Clean-up steps for clothing, bedding, etc.:
* If clothing or beddingMaterials in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the lamp, that can adhere to fabric, clothing or bedding should be discarded. Do not wash clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and / or pollute sewage.
* You can, however, clothing or other materials that have been exposed to mercury vapor from a broken CFL, as the clothes they happened to wear when cleaning theCFL is broken, so long as the clothes do not come into direct contact with materials from the broken lamp.
* If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass lamp or mercury-containing dust, wipe with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass or a plastic bag for disposal bring.
5. Disposal of cleaning materials
* Immediately place all cleaning materials in an outdoor trash container or protected areafor the next normal trash collection.
* Wash your hands after disposing of cans and plastic bags containing cleaning materials.
* Use the local or state government to examine the requirements for disposal in the specific area. Some states prohibit the disposal of waste and require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing lamps be taken to a local recycling center.
6. Future cleaning of carpeting or rug at the bottom of the chamber and after aspiration
* The next time youEmpty, sealed by the central forced heating / air conditioning and open a window before vacuuming.
* Keep off the heating / air conditioning and opening the window is closed for at least 15 minutes after aspiration.
Man, are heavy, right?
(1) Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.energystar.com
