What to do if a lamp containing mercury breaks

The only time you as a consumer may be exposed to mercury is if the glass of the lamp is cracked or broken. If this happens, follow these rules to minimize your exposure:

  • DON'T PANIC! Remember that a fluorescent lamp contains only a very small amount of mercury.
  • Be careful not to cut yourself on shards of glass
  • If the lamp was broken in a luminaire, make sure to disconnect the power to avoid the risk of electric shock
  • Gather up the fragments of the lamp, sweeping them up if possible.
  • Use a disposable towel or sticky tape to remove small pieces or dust.
  • Use a vacuum cleaner only if the surface leaves no alternative (carpet). Dispose of the vacuum bag containing the lamp fragments.
  • Remove the fragments of the lamp from the inside of your home, i.e. by placing them in a bag and carrying them outside.
  • Ventilate the room.
  • Dispose of both cracked and non-functioning lamps correctly.

OSRAM conducted a test, measuring the mercury contamination in a room in which a fluorescent lamp was broken. The actual mercury concentration stayed well below levels permissible for workplace exposure.

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A note on the methods for CFL disposals: A wide variety of guidelines can be found on the internet, published by distinguished institutions, some at odds with each other. The above rules are a slightly amended version of the Energy Star Guidelines. You can read these and other guidelines yourself:

Remembering the following points will allow you to make an informed decision for yourself:

  • Breathing in mercury vapour is the main avenue of entry into the human body.
  • At room temperature, mercury is a liquid which evaporates slowly. This evaporation quickens in higher ambient temperatures. If a lamp is broken while burning, most of the mercury is already in vapour form.
  • With a broken lamp, most of the mercury will cling to the fragments, and evaporate over time. Disposing of these fragments in a trash bin outside quickly keeps the mercury out of your home, while leaving them in a trash can in your kitchen is counterproductive. Equally, mercury on lamp fragments in your vacuum bag will slowly evaporate wherever the vacuum cleaner is kept and used.
  • Ventilating the affected area considerably reduces measurable mercury vapour levels.
  • Use quality compact fluorescent lamps by OSRAM - here you can be sure that the mercury content is well below RoHS Limits.