State HazMat Team Called to Salem Mercury Spill

A mercury spill at North Shore Cardiovascular Associates Monday forced Salem firefighters to seal off an examination room and enlist the support of a state Hazardous Materials Response team.

At 12:19 p.m., police and fire units responded to the Highland Avenue cardiovascular practice after receiving word that a blood pressure unit had broken loose from the wall and spilled mercury onto the floor, Deputy Fire Chief Gerry Giunta said.

"It somehow ended up tipped upside down and its contents spilled out onto the floor," Giunta said. "It just looked like a bunch of small metal ball bearings."

At the time of the spill, the state's Hazmat team was conducting a monthly exercise in Dracut, so their response time was "significantly delayed", Giunta said.

While waiting for the Hazmat team, local firefighters cordoned off the examination room and sealed the area with tape.

Once on scene, members of the Hazardous Materials Response Unit used a mercury vacuum to clean up the spill and a professional cleaning company was called in to finish the task and make sure mercury levels were back to normal.

The scene was cleared by 6:45 p.m., Giunta said.