Skip to main content
OSTI.GOVU.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
 

Lessons Learned—Fluoride Exposure and Response

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical Health and Safety
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations
Laboratory research can expose workers to a wide variety of chemical hazards. Researchers must not only take personal responsibility for their safety but also inevitably rely on coworkers to also work safely. The foundations for protocols, requirements, and behaviors come from our history and lessons learned from others. For that reason, here, a recent incident is examined in which a researcher suffered hydrofluoric acid (HF) burns while working with an inorganic digestion mixture of aqueous HF (8%) and nitric acid (HNO3, 58%). HF education is critical for workers because delays in treatment, improper treatment, and delay of symptoms are all factors in unfavorable outcomes in case reports. Furthermore, while the potential severity of the incident was elevated due to bypassed engineered controls and lack of proper personal protective equipment, only minor injuries were sustained. We discuss the results of a causal analysis of the incident that revealed areas of improvement in protocols, personal protective equipment, and emergency response that could help prevent similar accidents from occurring. We also present simple improvements that anyone can implement to reduce the potential consequences of an accident, based upon our lessons learned.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
OSTI ID:
1765746
Report Number(s):
SAND--2021-1060J; 693723
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical Health and Safety, Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Health and Safety Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 28; ISSN 1871-5532
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (10)

Pathological demonstration of rapid involvement into the subcutaneous tissue in a case of fatal hydrofluoric acid burns journal March 2007
Dermal absorption and skin damage following hydrofluoric acid exposure in an ex vivo human skin model journal April 2016
Development and Implementation of a Hydrofluoric Acid Safety Program in an Academic Institution journal May 2020
Lessons Learned—Fluoride Exposure journal January 2020
Topical Treatment of Experimental Hydrofluoric Acid Skin Burns by 2.5% Calcium Gluconate journal January 2006
Hydrofluoric Acid Burns: A 15-Year Experience journal January 2008
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation combined with continuous renal replacement therapy in cutaneous burn and inhalation injury caused by hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid journal January 2017
Hydrofluoric acid burns in the western Zhejiang Province of China: a 10-year epidemiological study journal December 2016
Survival after hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia and cardiac arrest following mild hydrofluoric acid burn journal November 2010
Hydrofluoric Acid: Burns and Systemic Toxicity, Protective Measures, Immediate and Hospital Medical Treatment journal November 2018

Similar Records

Lessons Learned Class
Conference · Thu Feb 10 23:00:00 EST 2005 · OSTI ID:15011589
Release of UF/sub 6/ from a ruptured Model 48Y cylinder at Sequoyah Fuels Corporation Facility: lessons-learned report
Technical Report · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · OSTI ID:5598605
Lessons Learned Concerning the Human Element in Events and Training
Conference · Tue Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 2006 · OSTI ID:911163

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
Hydrofluoric acid
anatomy
anions
calcium
exposure
lessons learned
peptides and proteins
personal protective equipment
safety