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Cleanup Of Fluorescent Tubes

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A broken fluorescent tube is more hazardous than a broken conventional incandescent bulb due to the mercury content. Because of this, the safe cleanup of broken fluorescent bulbs differs from cleanup of conventional broken glass or incandescent bulbs. 99% of the mercury is typically contained in the phosphor, especially on lamps that are near their end of life [6]. Therefore, a typical safe cleanup usually involves first opening a window and then leaving the room (restricting access) for at least 15 minutes, wearing gloves carefully dispose of any broken glass, as well as any loose white powder (fluorescent glass coating) you can use sticky tape to pick up small pieces… double bag any waste. Dispose of waste in accordance with local hazardous waste laws. Finally a wet paper towel should be used instead of a vacuum cleaner for cleanup of glass and powder, to reduce the vaporization of the mercury into the air.

The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.