Thermometer breaks, mercury spills in cardiology ward

A thermometer unit broke, causing mercury to spill over at the Cardiology Ward in the Penang Hospital here today.

Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Operations Commander Kamarul Ariffin Abd Ghani said a fire brigade team and the Hazardous Materials Unit (Hazmat) rushed to the scene as soon as a call was received at 11.50am.

"As soon as we arrived at the scene, we found all the patients had been taken away from where the mercury had spilled at the registration counter of the ward. We immediately cleaned the area because we were worried as the ward had heart patients.

"Luckily, the incident occurred before visiting hours, so only the patients and hospital staff were there. We were worried that the mercury would affect them as it can cause cancer," he said when met at the hospital here.

He added that seven members of the Hazmat Unit and eight from the fire brigade cleaned the mercury up.

Kamarul Ariffin said the ward has resumed operations after the cleaning works were completed at 12.45pm. - BERNAMA