Energy saving bulbs are becoming more and more popular in households in order to help save on electricity consumption and ultimately the electricity bill.  These bulbs come in various shapes and have different ratings in terms of Voltage or Watts.

However, energy saving bulbs can pose serious health and safety issues if they are not handled correctly.  The bulbs contain Mercury, which can be extremely dangerous and poisonous!!  Please review the warnings below before handing or replacing these types of bulbs.

If broken: 

• Evacuate the room immediately for at least 15 minutes, taking are not to step on the shards of glass on the floor.  The bulbs contain Mercury, which can cause migraines, disorientation, loss of balance and various other health problems if inhaled.
• Severe skin conditions and other diseases are possible for people with allergies just by touching or inhaling the substance.
• Do NOT clean the debris of the broken bulb with a vacuum cleaner as it could spread the toxic mercury droplets to other rooms in the house when using the vacuum again.  Instead, the debris should be cleaned up with gloves and a broom or brush, kept in a sealed bag and disposed of immediately in a bin for hazardous materials.