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Subject: Re: FW: Mercury Hazard
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:34:53 -0400
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Subject: Re: Best Practices for Students in Industrial Labs
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:10:53 -0400
Author: "Dr. Jay A. Young"


Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:49:45 -0400
Reply-To: "Dr. Jay A. Young" <chemsafety**At_Symbol_Here**VERIZON.NET>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: "Dr. Jay A. Young" <chemsafety**At_Symbol_Here**VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: old Chemistry lab
Comments: To: Katherine Wall

Katherine,
 
What you describe does not sound safe to me.  However, in order to decide what needs to be done in order to make it safe, you need to have some one who is competent to do so conduct an inspection of the situation. 
 
I suggest that you contact your local OSHA people to ask for their recommendation of names of a few persons who would be competent to give you the help you need.  Or, if you are reluctant to contact OSHA, perhaps you could ask for names from the chemistry Department at the University in Urbana-champagne.
 
Jay A. Young
----- Original Message -----
From: Katherine Wall
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 9:27 AM
Subject: [DCHAS-L] old Chemistry lab

We have two old chemistry labs connected by the old chemistry stockroom that are no longer being used for chemistry classes, but rather as storage of unwanted computers and what I consider to be general trash.  (Why these items are being stored here - no one seems to know!)The rooms are locked but many on campus have keys.  Two years ago, I had a chemical waste disposal company come in and all of the chemicals were packed up and taken away.  Several had to be stabilized due to peroxide formation, etc.  As I segregated the chemicals, I put all of the mercury compounds (many were so old they had elemental mercury in them) and broken mercury thermometers in one hood with the ventilation on.  It is next to this hood that most of the 'trash' is being stored.
 
My question is:  Is the area safe to use as general storage or are there still chemical hazards?
 
Thank you for your help.
 
 
 
Kathy Wall
Chemistry Lab Coordinator
Office SCI 204
Waubonsee Community College
Rt 47 at Waubonsee Dr.
Sugar Grove, IL  60554
(630) 466-7900 ext 2347
email kwall**At_Symbol_Here**waubonsee.edu

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