Chemical and Mercury Management Resources

Chemicals, although sometimes useful, can be very dangerous to you and the environment, especially if they are not handled or stored properly. Chemicals are found in many locations throughout the school, including labs, custodial closets and nurse’s offices. The key to chemical safety is proper handling, storage and disposal.

Under a new law, Wisconsin schools are now required to remove all mercury from school facilities and grounds. Effective in 2010, schools are no longer allowed to purchase any equipment or materials that contain mercury. Starting January 1, 2012, schools can no longer store mercury anywhere in the building and are required to remove all traces of mercury from science labs, equipment and machinery.

This section will help identify various chemicals within your school, as well as chemical handling, storage and disposal practices. It will start you thinking about safe handling of chemicals, reducing the amount of chemicals stored in your school and lowering the risk of an accident or spill. This section will also help you identify mercury-containing devices and become familiar with the school’s mercury disposal practices.

Discovery and Inventory

In addition to completing the Chemical & Mercury Management section of the Green & Healthy Schools Assessment, schools registering into the Green & Healthy Schools program must keep a current inventory of all their chemicals and have Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for chemicals easily accessible.Schools that store and use chemicals for laboratory exercises must also have a Chemical Hygiene Plan.

Qualifying schools must also include mercury in the curriculum and the school must be mercury free. "Mercury free" is defined as not having elemental mercury or mercury containing devices (mercury thermometers, barometers, etc.) on school grounds. For more information on mercury in schools, disposal information and exemptions to the mercury law, please visit: New Law Bans Mercury in Schools

Action and Implementation

Schools qualifying to be a Green & Healthy School must meet the following requirements:

• chemicals are accurately labeled and properly stored,
• school has a chemical management and spill plans to promote safe storage, prevent accidents, and manage spills,
• chemical safety and awareness is included in the curriculum,
• students and staff wear appropriate personal protective equipment,
• school is mercury free.

The resources below can provide you with ideas on how to meet these requirements.

Reaching Higher

If you choose to go further after your school becomes a Green & Healthy School, the following resources can also be used to help you meet the Reaching Higher requirements.

Teaching

Students should know the dangers of chemicals and mercury and how to store, handle and dispose of them properly. The following websites contain chemical-related lessons and curriculum connections.

• Chemicals and the Environment Lessons - Middle School [exit DNR]
• Environmental Health and Science Ed. Resources [exit DNR]
• EPA Kids House Tour [exit DNR]
• Kids and Chemicals - Facts and Laws [exit DNR]
• Mercury in Schools - Curriculum [exit DNR]
• Mercury Fact Sheets [exit DNR]
• Mercury Lessons [PDF exit DNR] Lessons can be adapted for younger elementary age students.

Chemical Storage and Labeling

All chemicals should be stored as instructed by the manufacturer to prevent accidents and dangerous reactions. See the following websites for guidelines and procedures on how to safely store and label chemicals within your school.

• Household Product Database [exit DNR]
• Toxic Chemical Fact Sheets [exit DNR]
• Vermont School Chemical Inventory Guidelines [PDF exit DNR]

Chemical Management Plans

Chemical Management Plans will help you manage your chemicals and develop policies and procedures to keep your school safe. The following resources provide some directions and examples on how to develop a Chemical Management Plan for your school.

• Guide to Chemical Management Plans [exit DNR]
• School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guide [exit DNR]

Minimize Chemical Use

The most effective way to reduce exposure to, and accidents caused by, chemicals is to minimize the amount of chemicals your school uses. The following resources will give you some ideas on how to reduce your chemical inventories and replace some existing chemicals with less hazardous alternatives.

• University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee: Chemical Recycling and Waste Reduction [exit DNR]
• Waste Minimization Strategies [PDF exit DNR]
• Worldwide Regional Pollution Prevention Network [exit DNR]

Mercury Free Schools

Removing mercury and mercury containing items from the school is the best way to eliminate the dangers associated with a mercury spill. Starting January 1, 2012, schools may no longer store mercury anywhere in the building and are required to remove all traces of mercury from science labs, equipment and machinery. Use the following Web sites for ideas on how you can make your school mercury free.

• 9 Steps to becoming Mercury free [PDF exit DNR]
• Getting Mercury out of Schools [exit DNR]
• Mercury in Schools Brochures [exit DNR]
• New Law Bans Mercury in Schools
• Successful Mercury Reduction Programs [exit DNR]
• Where is the mercury in schools? [exit DNR]

Community Outreach and Chemical Management

Use what you’ve learned about chemical and mercury management to educate your community. Here are a few ideas: design pamphlets or posters identifying ways to reduce toxic chemical use and encourage proper handling, storage and disposal of chemicals and/or mercury; work with your community to help organize/promote a household hazardous waste collection event; or develop a chemical audit for community members so they can look at the chemical practices in their homes and businesses. Use the resources above to help you come up with ideas.