Metallic murcury can't actually be absorbed through the skin, and it can theoretically be handled without protective equipment if you know what you're doing. Not that I would recommend it.
See the crazy stuff that Cody's Lab does on YouTube, and he hasn't gotten poisoned yet:
My friends Dad showed us one time handling it in his hands, he said you just have to be absolutely certain you have no cuts or injuries that would let it get to your bloodstream. That was a long time ago now, today's parents would probably freak.