UCSD Blink: How to Handle Hydrogen Fluoride

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How to Handle Hydrogen Fluoride

Summary: Hydrogen fluoride (HF) and its liquid form, hydrofluoric acid, are among the most dangerous chemicals in UCSD laboratories. If your lab inventory includes HF, follow these guidelines to protect yourself from injury.

In this document:

What to do		How to do it
	Obtain approval before beginning work.	Request approval from your principal investigator (PI) before any new project involving HF begins. Back to top
	Evaluate the hazards before beginning work.	Consult safety resources available on Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Sources. Consider these hazards specific to HF: Liquid HF is one of the strongest and most corrosive acids. It can be irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Contact with exposed body parts can cause painful burns and even death. In high concentrations (more than 50%), HF usually causes immediate burns that are extremely painful and slow to heal. In lower concentrations, exposure may not be apparent for several hours, but can still cause burns and further damage if not washed off. HF causes such severe burns because it penetrates beneath the skin and dissociates into hydrogen and fluoride ions. When fluoride ions bind with calcium in the body, it can result in tissue destruction, decalcifcation of bone, cardiac arrhythmia, liver and kidney damage. Calcium gluconate gel will bind to the fluoride ions and prevent further tissue destruction, but it must be applied quickly (even if burns have not been felt) to be effective. Use a less dangerous product than HF if one is available that can perform the same task. Back to top
	Follow these training guidelines.	A PI or knowledgeable designee must provide appropriate safety training. Inform employees about handling HF, its specific hazards, and health effects. Explain possible routes of exposure, as appropriate: Skin absorption Inhalation Provide personal protective equipment and engineering controls, and train employees in their proper use. Post HF emergency procedures in the lab and make sure everyone who works with HF is familiar with them. Include the location of calcium gluconate in the lab in your emergency procedures. Consult the chemical safety officer, (858) 822-1579, on training procedures for any new or revised projects that will: Use large quantities of HF Heat HF Keep training records on file, including: Information covered Date Names Employee signatures Back to top
	Be prepared for accidental spills.	HF spills are very serious and require immediate cleanup. Read How to Handle Chemical Spills in Laboratories. Keep a chemical spill kit containing unexpired calcium gluconate gel easily accessible. Order calcium gluconate gel from the Chemistry Stockroom, part #715198. Print and keep the Material Safety Data Sheet for HF with your emergency supplies. Know the location of safety equipment, including eyewash, shower station, first aid kit, and Emergency Guide. Clean up only very small quantities of dilute HF, and only if you have been properly trained. Dispose of all spill containment material as hazardous chemical waste. Back to top
	Follow these purchasing and storage guidelines.	Buy the least amount of HF the work requires. Do not buy in large quantities to "save money." Label all containers with this information: Name of the material Concentration Warnings Date, when appropriate Preparer's initials, when appropriate Label the work area with a sign saying "HF Use Area." Storage guidelines for liquid and gas forms: Liquid (hydrofluoric acid): Select a compatible container, preferably polyethylene. HF will react with glass, ceramics, and some metals, which may generate explosive hydrogen gas. Place it in a compatible secondary container to capture spills or leaks. Contact an EH&S Research Assistance Program specialist if you have questions about chemical and container compatibility. Store with other inorganic acids. Gas (hydrogen fluoride): Follow all compressed gas use and storage guidelines. HF is a class II hazard. Hydrogen fluoride stored in lecture bottles can become extremely hazardous. If your lab has any of these old lecture bottles in its inventory, do not handle them. Immediately contact the Environmental Management Facility, (858) 534-2753, for disposal. Back to top
	Control the hazards.	Engineering controls: Use a chemical fume hood to minimize inhalation exposure and contain processes. Perform a dry run of your process to work out any potential pitfalls. Wear this personal protective equipment: Lab coat with full sleeves Safety glasses or splash goggles and face shield Neoprene outer gloves, nitrile surgical inner gloves Full-length pants Rubber apron Closed-toe shoes Follow these PPE guidelines: Always double-check your PPE before each use of HF. Leave all personal protective equipment in the lab when your work is complete. Restrict access to the work area. Keep container sizes and quantities in the work area as small as possible. Line work surfaces with removable plastic-backed absorbant paper. Back to top
	Act quickly if an exposure occurs.	Give first-aid treatment, then seek medical attention immediately for any and all HF exposures. Treat any exposure seriously, no matter how slight it may seem at the moment. For all exposures: Seek medical attention immediately at an emergency room. Call Campus Police at (858) 534-4357 (534-HELP) and request an ambulance if transportation is necessary. Call the Poison Control System, (800) 876-4766, if additional information is needed. Skin exposure: Flush exposed skin with water for at least 15 minutes while removing any contaminated clothing. Apply calcium gluconate gel to any affected skin. This can be done on the way to the emergency room. Eye exposure: Flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes. The affected person may need help holding their eyes open under water. Ingestion: If the affected person is alert and able to swallow, administer any of these to dilute stomach contents: Most effective: Calcium-containing medication (e.g., Tums) Magnesium-containing medication (e.g., Maalox, milk of magnesia) Milk Back to top
	Dispose of waste properly.	Read about how to: Identify hazardous chemical waste Store and dispose of hazardous and extremely hazardous chemical waste Request a hazardous waste collection Back to top

If you are a UCSD employee and have questions, contact the chemical safety officer, (858) 822-1579.

Notice: Disposal of hazardous waste using sinks, intentional evaporation, or as regular trash is against the law. Campus laboratories must abide by strict state and federal waste disposal requirements. You may be held liable for violations of applicable laws.