299.49 Products containing mercury.

422 words·~2 min read·/wi/chapter-299/299-49-2

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(1)Definitions. In this section:

(a)“Mercury-added product” means a product to which mercury is intentionally added during formulation or manufacture, or a product containing one or more components to which mercury is intentionally added during formulation or manufacture.

(b)“Mercury-added thermostat” means a product or device that uses a mercury switch to sense and control room temperature through communication with heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning equipment. “Mercury-added thermostat” includes thermostats used to sense and control room temperature in residential, commercial, industrial, and other buildings, but does not include a thermostat used to sense and control temperature as part of a manufacturing process or in the generating, transmission, or distributing facilities for electric energy, gas, or water.

(c)“Mercury relay” means a mercury-added product or device that opens or closes electrical contacts to effect the operation of other devices in the same or another electrical circuit. “Mercury relay” includes mercury displacement relays, mercury wetted reed relays, and mercury contact relays.

(d)“Mercury switch” means a mercury-added product or device that opens or closes an electrical circuit or gas valve. “Mercury switch” includes mercury float switches actuated by rising or falling liquid levels, mercury tilt switches actuated by a change in the switch position, mercury pressure switches actuated by a change in pressure, mercury temperature switches actuated by a change in temperature, and mercury flame sensors. “Mercury switch” does not include a mercury-added thermostat.

(2)Restrictions on sale and use of mercury.

(a)Fever thermometers. No person may sell or supply a mercury fever thermometer to a consumer or patient, unless the thermometer has been prescribed for the consumer or patient by a practitioner, as defined in s. 450.01

(17). A mercury fever thermometer manufacturer shall supply with each thermometer clear instructions on the careful handling of the thermometer to avoid breakage, on proper cleanup if the thermometer breaks, and on proper disposal. For purposes of this subsection, “mercury fever thermometer” means a thermometer that contains mercury for the purpose of measuring body temperature, but does not include a thermometer containing mercury solely within a button cell battery.

(b)Manometers. No person may sell or distribute a mercury-containing manometer of the type in milking machines on dairy farms. Manufacturers of such mercury-containing manometers shall notify wholesalers and retailers that the sale or distribution of such manometers is prohibited and shall instruct them on the proper disposal of remaining inventory.

(c)Mercury-added thermostats. No person may sell, or distribute for promotional purposes, a mercury-added thermostat.

(d)Instruments and measuring devices.