The mercury spillage at the Merchang Health Clinic in Marang recently was an isolated incident allegedly due to the negligence of the clinic’s staff, said Terengganu Health director Dr Mohammad Omar.

He said the incident could have been avoided if the staff had followed the standard operating procedures.

“By right, all equipment and materials need to be placed, kept and used with caution. It’s the same with a syringe, it needs to be handled carefully to avoid unnecessary incidents,” he told reporters when asked to comment on the mercury spillage incident in the clinic last Wednesday.

The incident happened when a thermometer fell off a table and broke on the floor of a treatment room.

Another incident of mercury spillage happened on Aug 20 in Desa Rusila Clinic, also in Marang.

Dr Mohammad said the public need not to worry about the incident as it only involved a very small amount mercury and did not pose a threat to anyone.

- Bernama