Chemical SOP - Hydrofluoric Acid

Location(s):
CHESS Chemical Lab (Wilson 170)

Specified Hazards:
Harmful, corrosive, causes severe burns to the skin and other tissues.

1. Purchasing:  CHESS Laboratory personnel (Staff Scientists, Operators, and Technicians) have approval to purchase hydrofluoric acid.  The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for hydrofluoric acid is available in the folder outside the CHESS chemical room door (Wilson 170).  All staff members and operators must receive training from a senior CHESS staff member and familiarize themselves with the MSDS information before working hydrofluoric acid.  Quantities of this material will be limited to the smallest amount necessary to complete the experiment.

2. Storage:  Materials will be stored according to compatibility and label recommendations in a designated area:  CHESS Acid Cabinet or in the CHESS Chemical Lab Hood (if being used).  Storage areas will be regularly inspected by the CHESS chemical safety officer to ensure safety.

3. Authorized Personnel:  Use will be limited to the following personnel (when properly trained):
   CHESS Senior Staff Scientists
   Technical Staff
   Post doctoral employees
   CHESS Users (if they can demonstrate previous safety training)

4. Training Requirements:  CHESS staff training should include the following:
   Review of current MSDS
   Special training provided by the department
   Review of the departmental safety procedures
   Review of the Cornell Chemical Hygiene Plan
   Taking Chemical Safety for Laboratory Workers by Cornell (EH&S)
   Taking Chemical Waste (Hazardous Waste/RCRA) Training from Cornell (EH&S)

5. Use Location:  Materials shall be used only in the following designated areas in Wilson 170 (the CHESS Chemical Room) in the fume hood.  All other uses must be cleared by the CHESS Safety Committee.

6. Personal Protective Equipment:  All personnel are required to wear the following personal protective equipment whenever handling this material:  Face shield, Neoprene Gloves or Nitrile gloves, Lab Coat, Rubber Apron, and Closed Shoes (absolutely no sandals, open toed or open healed shoes).

7. Waste Disposal:  Hydrofluoric acid should be neutralized to a pH of >5.5 and disposed of by pouring down the fume hood drain and flushing with large quantities of water (as per Appendix A of The Chemical Hygiene Plan).  The authorized person using this material is responsible for the safe collection, preparation and proper disposal of waste unless otherwise stated below.  Waste shall be disposed of as soon as possible and in accordance with all laboratory and University procedures.
   Specific instructions:  Neutralize waste acid with sodium bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate solutions until a pH of 5.5 or higher is achieved.  Drain dispose with large volume of water.

8. Decontamination:  Specific instructions:  All laboratory equipment used with hydrofluoric acid should be neutralized with bicarbonate of soda and rinsed thoroughly.  The CHESS Chemical Room hood sink should be thoroughly rinsed until all of the bicarbonate of soda is gone.  Double check to make sure that no acid has been spilled in the hood.

9. Exposures:  Emergency procedures (from MSDS):

   Skin Exposure- IMMEDIATELY WASHING OFF the acid is of primary importance!
   For small areas of skin exposure:  Flush the area exposed with cool water for at least 15-20 minutes.  Remove any clothing that has been contaminated.  Using gloves, to avoid further contamination, apply calcium gluconate gel to the entire affected area.  Seek medical attention.

   ALL Hydrofluoric Acid exposure SHOULD be CONSIDERED a MEDICAL EMERGENCY

   If you are assisting an individual who has spilled a large amount of HF acid on himself or herself, do the following being extremely careful not to contaminate yourself.  Use Neoprene or Nitrile gloves to assist.

   1)  Move the victim immediately under an emergency shower or other water source and flush the affected area with large amounts of cool running water for at least 15 minutes or until emergency personnel arrive.

   2)  While the victim is flushing with water, they should also take off all clothing, shoes and jewelry, removing goggles last.  Have the victim close their eyes, face water flow and pull goggles over head.  Remove all contaminated clothing while flushing with water.  Some clothing may absorb the toxic material and maintain it close to the skin.

   3)  While the victim is being rinsed with water.  Call 911 and arrange for medical transport.  Tell the dispatcher the following:

   • There is a person that has been exposed to Hydrofluoric Acid and where the victim's location is.

   • Please send an EMT and ambulance.

   4)  The victim should be escorted to the hospital by the responding person or assisting lab personnel.

   5)  A copy of the MSDS should be also taken to the hospital.

   Eye Exposure
   Immediately flush eyes for at least 5 minutes with copious amounts of cool flowing water.
   Call 911 and request medical transport.  Inform the dispatcher of the nature of the exposure.  The victim should then be transported to a medical facility.

   Inhalation
   If a large volume of HF gas is inhaled:

   1. Immediately remove the victim to clean air.

   2. Call 911.  Inform the dispatcher of HF exposure and request medical transport.

   3. Inhalation of HF fumes may cause swelling in the respiratory tract up to 24 hours after exposure.  Persons who have inhaled HF fumes may need prophylactic oxygen treatment.  Immediate medical attention is required.

   Ingestion
   Symptoms:  Burns of mucus membranes, vomiting, diarrhea
   First aid:  Get immediate medical attention.  Do NOT induce vomiting.  If vomiting occurs, keep head lower than hips to prevent aspiration.  Give large amounts of water or milk.
   (Note:  Never make an unconscious person vomit or drink fluids.)  If person is unconscious, turn head to side.

10. Spills:  The acid spill cleanup is available in the CHESS chemical room in the cabinet to the right of the door, marked, "SPILL KITS IN THIS CABINET".  Gloves, face shield, lab coat, and neoprene apron should be used when cleaning up spills.
    Wearing the personal protective equipment described above, sprinkle solid sodium carbonate or bicarbonate over the spill.  Scoop up the spill mixture and place it in a sturdy plastic container such as a rubber bucket.  In a fume hood slowly fill up the bucket with water.  Add additional sodium bicarbonate with stirring until a pH of 5.5 or higher is obtained.  Rinse the neutralized acid down the drain with large volumes of water.

11. Phone Numbers
    Cornell Campus Police - 911 (accidents, spills)
    Environmental Health and Safety - 5-8200
    Gannett Health Center - 5-5155

12. Other:  All hydrofluoric acid will be stored in the CHESS acid cabinet in the CHESS Chemical Room when not in use.  The etching mixture will be stored in the appropriately labeled bottle with secondary containment in the fume hood.

Prepared by:  David J. Jones
Date:  9 July, 2001

Last Update: 2006-09-21