Broken florescent light bulb?

ChattanoogaPhil

ChattanoogaPhil

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I have evacuated my family, warned the neighbors from any attempted visits, opened all the windows and doors, shut off my HVAC system, and am now studying this 3 page US Environmental Protection Agency What To Do if a Compact Florescent Light (CFL) Bulb or Florescent Tube Light Bulb Breaks in Your Home Cleanup and Disposal Procedures.... as my wife is driving us to Ace Hardware to buy cleanup materials and required contamination jars. http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.pdf
 
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Makes me wonder why the terrorists don't employ fluorescent tubes in their "dirty bombs."
 
In the past when we broke one we swept up the debris and installed a new bulb. Now we have to call 911.
 
I'm amazed that they even allow us uneducated commoners to have such things in our homes and even now are in the process of mandating that we all convert to CFL's.

(I see a conspiracy here somewhere......;))
 
There is only one safe course of action-
Leave immediately.
Take nothing with you- nothing. Leave nude and arrange to have the fire department hose you down at the front door, spraying all possible residue back into the house.
Then, have the EPA drop concrete from helicopters like the Russians did with Chernobyl, completely encasing the house.

Sorry- I know it's tough, but it is the only safe way. Oh, and since you contaminated the car, I'm afraid it has to go under also.
:D
 
Level B gear with SCUBA is required before you can enter the contamination zone to initiate decon activities. You will require long term chelation therapy afterwards, with copious quantities of sodium EDTA injected directly into your (..technical information withheld due to public sentitivities..) and complete epidermal scrub. You will be charged enough for disposal to ensure completion of 10-12 power generation windmills, or a fake environmental cause propaganda movie,
or to send 5 delegates to the next global warming confrence in Cancun or Tahiti, whichever is more likely to have snow after they arrive. Do not even think of the shovel-backyard approach!! Black helicopters have sensors aboard to detect that sort of activity.
 
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Whew.... made it to Ace Hardware and picked up the required stiff paper and cardboard, paper towels and disposable wet wipes, sticky tape, glass jars with metal lids and large plastic bags. I got the extra thick garden bags but I guess that won't be enough because on page 2 it says that Mercury vapor can escape from plastic bags.

Not sure when if ever the carpet can be vacuumed again.... I'm on hold with the EPA now for clarification of pages 2 and 3. We also bought the recommended large drop cloth and beach towels (had to stop by Walmart for the beach towels) for bulb replacement in case we drop and break another Energy Star - Environmental Protection Agency - US Department of Energy approved CFL light bulb.

EDIT --- Lee, thanks for the tips. It is very windy and raining hard. With all the doors and windows open I was hoping the rain would flush most of it out of my home without involving the Fire Department. Will keep you posted.

ps. My wife checked her Department of Homeland Security Active Shooter Pocket card and discovered there are no directions for what you should do if a stray bullet should break a CFL light bulb in your hiding place. I just hope nothing like that will happen until the Active Shooter Pocket Card is updated with the proper course of action.
 
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Due to my job description I'm trained in HazMat emergency response. If you need someone to evacuate and decontaminate your firearms let me know.
 
Shouldn't someone from the gov't come over to make sure the waste is disposed of properly? :p
Or are they waiting to make it a Federal offense with a big fine attached? :rolleyes:

And we trust them with our healthcare?
 
Wow, I broke one a couple of weeks ago. I just swept it up and threw it in the trash can. How much longer before I grow a second head or a forked tail?
 
Beer.
For the love of everything holy don't forget the beer :eek:

Remember when we were little when mom or somebody dropped and broke the thermometer and we got to play with the mercury? :D
That explains a lot ;)
 
Hey Chattanooga Phil,
Don't sweat the small stuff. Back in mid 50's while shoulder carrying heavy pipe up an elevation w/a buddy, hit a flurorescent tube. Shattered down on my head and shoulders.Brushed off shards of glass, went on with my rat killing (little EPA mandates then). Later swept up glass on floor.Most bulbs and tubes plus clean up material now made in China, shipped here weekly.
Strongly suggest they have input in writing regulations.
 
ladder13 said:
Shouldn't someone from the gov't come over to make sure the waste is disposed of properly?
Click to expand...

Once I carefully scooped up glass fragments and powder with stiff paper and cardboard... then used sticky tape to pick up any remaining glass fragments and powder... and then wiped the area clean with wet paper towels and disposable wet wipes, I placed everything in glass jars with metal lids and then placed all of jars in plastic bags and took the plastic bags to a trash container. This is all explained on pages 2 and 3. THEN I contacted my local and state governments for further disposal requirements. I think I hear the sirens now.
 
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Broom, dustpan, trash.

Working at Lowe's, I've cleaned up literally hundreds of broken fluorescents (they come off the truck pre-broken). I'm still nearly normal, considering my age and attitude.
 
DavidA said:
Wow, I broke one a couple of weeks ago. I just swept it up and threw it in the trash can. How much longer before I grow a second head or a forked tail?
Click to expand...

Don't look now but . . . .

Is it taking twice as long to shave? Are your pants getting tight in the seat? These could be signs.
 
A friend of mine in the Coast Gaurd told me their disposal method for spent florescent tubes was to break them against the hull so they would sink!:eek: The coasties had a saying, "those who rule the waves, waive the rules.":rolleyes:
 
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