Lab Safety

Applied Materials and Surface Science Laboratory 

Before you even start thinking about using chemicals in the lab, please read through the following:

DO NOT OVERLOOK THESE SAFETY MATERIAL. IT IS REALLY (SERIOUSLY: REALLY) IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE AWARE OF THE DANGERS THAT YOU CAN EXPOSE YOURSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE WHEN HANDLING CHEMICALS. IT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE PROPER SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. FAILING TO DO SO, MAY AND WILL PUT YOU AND OTHER PEOPLE IN SERIOUS DANGER (yes, that includes death). Also remember you won't have time to read all this material in case of emergencies.

Chemical Hygiene Manual 

Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) fact sheet 

Emergency response 

Personal Injury 

College of Chemistry - Health and Safety Manual

Further information: 

Environmental, Health and Safety - UC Berkeley 

HF burns

HYDROFLUORIC ACID FATALITY TO LAB WORKER IN PERTH
Extract from Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists Newsletter, December 1994: An accident in Perth highlighted just how hazardous this acid can be and it is worth recounting for the benefit of any lab working or hygienists whose work may involve advising others who use this substance. On November 12, a 37 year old man died in the Intensive Care Unit of Fremantle Hospital after he accidentally splashed about 100 ml of a 70% solution on his right leg on October 28. It was estimated that
the extent of the spill covered about 10% of his total body area. The individual was working as a technician in a small paleontology laboratory, which was attached to a private residence. HF is used in the industry to digest silicates in ore samples. The victim immediately attempted to remove the spill from his clothing hosing himself down with a hose attached to a sink in the laboratory. He then ran from the laboratory to the swimming pool in the garden, and he remained in the pool until the ambulance arrived
within the hour. At the time he appeared confused, possibly as a result of shock. The following week his right leg was amputated, however despite this, the individual eventually succumbed to the toxic effects of the hydrofluoric acid 2 weeks after the initial spill. There are a number of points that need to be emphasized as a result of this, which are relevant to all users of HF.

BY WHAT MECHANISM DOES HYDROFLUORIC ACID CAUSE DEATH?
Posted By: William M. Rich, MD Faculty, University Med. Center

Hydrogen fluoride is a gas which when in solution with water forms hydrofluoric acid, HF. Although a weak acid, i.e., it is not strongly disassociated, is used to etch glass. Like it's sister, HCl acid, it reacts with water with the release of heat and can cause burns on the skin. Hydrofluoric acid has an even more detrimental effect that can affect many internal structures. Fatalities have been reported from a skin exposure to as little as 2.5% of body surface area. The weak disassociation allows it to be absorbed through the skin as the intact molecule. Once it penetrates the skin it slowly disassociates into the hydrogen ion and fluoride ion. The fluoride ion affects tissue integrity and metabolism by liquefaction necrosis, decalcification and destruction of bone, and production of insoluble salts. Loss of calcium, (hypocalcemia), results from precipitation of calcium form the blood as CaF2. This will eventually result in loss of calcium from the bones to try to equilibrate the decreased serum calcium. This may be a delayed fatal event. The rapid development of hypocalcemia can be rapidly fatal because calcium is important for muscles, including cardiac muscle, to function properly. Without calcium, many metabolic pathways breakdown. Fluoride from any source has the same toxicity. A mass poisoning occurred at a state hospital many years ago when a bug poison containing NaF was mistaken for powdered milk and added to scrambled eggs. There were reported to be 47 deaths. In some regions of the country the levels of fluoride in the water are too high and this causes mottling of the teeth and loss of calcium from the bones. Inhalation of HF produces an immediate injury to the lining of the lungs with hemorrhage pulmonary edema and death. It may take only about 5 minutes of exposure to inhaled HF to produce death in a couple of hours.
All in all, fluoride from whatever source can be very dangerous.

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