Mercury Spillage — ORE Part 1 MCQ
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Correct answer: B — Ventilate the area, use the mercury spill kit, and arrange hazardous-waste disposal
**A is correct.** SDCEP advises practices to keep a mercury spillage kit available and follow its instructions if mercury is spilled. Good ventilation is part of safe mercury handling, and collected mercury/amalgam waste requires appropriate hazardous-waste management. **B** is unsafe because a standard vacuum cleaner can spread mercury contamination and increase vapour exposure. **C** is wrong because improvised wiping may leave droplets behind and mercury-containing waste must not enter the routine clinical-waste stream. **D** is unsafe because elemental mercury produces toxic vapour. **E** is incorrect because water does not neutralise elemental mercury. The immediate response is therefore controlled collection using the designated spill kit, with ventilation and correct disposal.
Reference: Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP). Practice Support Manual: Mercury handling, current. https://www.psm.sdcep.org.uk/topics/health-and-safety-general/mercury-handling/