Three fire crews spent about two hours at the Ara Institute of Canterbury's new K block on Moorhouse Ave from 4.20pm after a technician dropped a 10ml vile of mercury.
Christchurch city senior station officer Gerald Wilson said one person received a splash of the heavy metal on their leg but immediately decontaminated themselves.
No medical attention was required.
Crews from the Christchurch City, Spreydon and Woolston stations attended the incident. They were wearing chemical splash suits and breathing apparatus.
Mr Wilson said it was the first time in his career he has had to deal with mercury. The crews took advice from experts in Melbourne about how to deal with the spill.
"Once it was cleaned up, we put sulphur powder down which reduce's the mercury's volatility," Mr Wilson said.
"Then that is left for a couple hours and then it was swept up.
"It pays to take great care with any element, especially breathing in its vapours," he said.
Mercury poisoning can affect the nervous system, leading to neurological symptoms such as nervousness or anxiety, irritability or mood changes, numbness, memory problems, depression and physical tremors.
