Friday Fun: Missing the Incandescent Lightbulb

For many, this video hits close to home and always remember, if you break one of those fancy, not so eco-friendly light bulbs, the EPA has both detailed and quick instructions about how to clean up the mercury covered broken glass while avoiding breathing in mercury vapors.

Before Cleanup

Have people and pets leave the room.
Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning system, if you have one.

Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb: stiff paper or cardboard; sticky tape; damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces); and a glass jar with a metal lid or a sealable plastic bag.

During Cleanup

Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
Place cleanup materials in a sealable container

After Cleanup

Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors. If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours.