EPA's recently-published evaluation of several unnamed commercially-available drum-top fluorescent lamp tube (FLT) crushers found that the crushers release mercury during use at levels exceeding OSHA work-protection standards. 

Most FLTs contain mercury vapor and are considered a hazardous waste (HW).  Some Army installations have purchased or manufactured devices to crush the tubes and capture the mercury vapors in a filter.  This process reduces waste management bulk and costs.  EPA's testing found that all of the tested crushers leaked mercury vapor at levels exceeding OSHA permitted exposure levels at some point during routine crushing and during drum changes, when the drum is uncovered.  In addition, EPA found that 2 of the devices released more mercury the longer they were used, possibility because seals deteriorated or filters became saturated. 

EPA made recommendations for operator safety, including personal protection equipment, having 2 operators to speed up drum changes, worker training in mercury exposure hazards, and a separate ventilation system for the crushing area to protect other workers in the crushing building.  EPA also made recommendations to manufacturers for improving the devices. 

Although the EPA report states that EPA did not intend to discourage the use of drum-top crushers, regulators may use the report as evidence of failure to contain hazardous emissions.  In the past, regulators have given enforcement actions to Army installations if glass was found lying around the crusher.  Installation hazardous waste POCs should review the report and evaluate FLT management. 

Mercury Lamp Drum-Top Crusher Study

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