HYDROFLUORIC ACID (HF) ? What you need to know What you need to know Adapted from Fontaine et al. (2005) "L’acide fluorhydrique, ce qu’il faut savoir". July 2008 version by the occupational health teams in Montréal CSSS. Revised in April 2015 by Comité des soins infirmiers en santé au travail – Direction de santé publique Approved on 7 April 2015 by Service régional de médecine du travail – Direction de santé publique
Objectives What is HF? Where is it found? What are the health effects? Recognizing at-risk situations Providing first aid in case of accidental exposure Adopting safe work methods
HF is a chemical solution... Made of hydrogen fluoride mixed with water (concentrations vary from 0.1% to 100%) That produces toxic, irritating and corrosive vapours That evaporates easily That is colourless
According to WHMIS Class E Class D1B, D2A Corrosive effects E.g.: Burns Class D1B, D2A Toxic effects E.g.: Heart problems
Where is HF found?
Routes of entry Nose Skin Eyes Mouth
Health effects Lungs Skin Eyes Digestive system
Health effects: Inhalation Convulsions Tingling Palpitations Disordered heart rhythms Burns in the lungs Water on the lungs
Health effects: Ingestion Burns (mouth, throat) State of shock Ulcers
Health effects: Contact with skin Concentration Pain Consequences 50% + Immediate and intense Wounds or necrosis 20% to 50% 1 to 8 hours after the accident Redness, pale skin, blisters 0,1% to 20% 24 hours after the accident Redness
Health effects: Contact with eyes Tears Red eyes Swollen eyes Pain Whites of the eyes damaged Loss of eyesight
At-risk situations ?
At-risk situations Lack of awareness Unsafe work methods Personal protective equipment unavailable, inadequate or not used Poor hygiene measures Industrial equipment break Increase in tank temperature
At-risk situations: Examples Using bare hands to wring out a cloth contaminated with a chemical product Eating or drinking at a workstation Cleaning personal protective equipment or work tools with bare hands Slipping on a surface on which a chemical product has spilled
Prevention methods Substituting another product for HF Closed process (no contact) Evacuation plan Information Personal protective equipment Work methods First aid
First aid in case of accidental spill Act quickly Apply the emergency measures plan or evacuation protocol Call 9-1-1 Tell the operator that there's been an HF leak and your location Use adequate personal protective equipment Read the material safety data sheet to know what to do in case of a spill or leak
First aid: Inhalation CAUTION! Wear personal protective equipment: Mask and oxygen tank (e.g. respiratory equipment used by firefighters, Scott Air Pack) Coveralls Neoprene gloves Take the victim out of the dangerous zone, if personal protective equipment is available
IF YOU DON'T HAVE personal protective equipment First aid: Inhalation IF YOU DON'T HAVE personal protective equipment Victim CAN'T move Don’t go into the danger zone Wait for the firefighters Victim CAN move Ask the person to leave the area Put on neoprene gloves, if available Rince the victim's skin under running water
First aid: Inhalation Oxygen recommended and available If the victim IS BREATHING Place the person in a comfortable position Administer 100% oxygen using a high concentration mask with a reservoir bag Oxygen recommended and available
First aid: Inhalation Oxygen recommended and available If the victim ISN'T BREATHING Perform resuscitation Give 100% oxygen using a bag-mask device DON'T perform mouth-to-mouth DON'T use a mask with a one-way valve
First aid: Ingestion Victim is CONSCIOUS Victim is UNCONSCIOUS Ask the person to rinse his or her mouth with water Ask the person to either drink a glass of milk take 4 tablespoons of Maalox have a TUMS DON'T induce vomiting Victim is UNCONSCIOUS Place the victim on his or her side Monitor ABC
First aid: Skin contact Antidote UNAVAILABLE Put on neoprene gloves Remove the victim's clothing under the emergency shower Rinse the skin under running water until ambulance attendants arrive Examine the victim to see if all affected body parts have been rinsed Dispose of the victim's clothing correctly
First aid: Skin contact Antidote AVAILABLE
First aid: Skin contact Antidote AVAILABLE Put on neoprene gloves Remove the victim's clothing under the emergency shower Rinse the skin under running water for 3–5 minutes After rinsing, apply the antidote every 15 minutes and massage continuously until pain is relieved or ambulance attendants arrive Examine the victim to make sure the antidote has been applied on all affected body parts Use a new pair of neoprene gloves to avoid HF contamination
First aid: Eye contact Put on neoprene gloves Remove the victim's contact lenses carefully, if required Rinse the victim's eyes under running water at the eye-wash station for about 15 minutes Cover the eyes with sterile non-adhesive pads and affix the pads NO ANTIDOTE IN THE EYES
First aid: Reminder Call 9-1-1 Contact Québec's Poison Control Centre at 1-800-463-5060 Symptoms can appear immediately or a few days after exposure Always see a doctor when there is accidental exposure
First aid: Reminder Don't forget to give ambulance attendants The product safety data sheet The antidote on hand An oral report of the situation and what has been done
Conclusion HF is a powerful acid that can cause serious damage to workers when there is an accident Replace HF with another product if possible Do you use HF? Preventive measures must be put in place: Adopt strict and safe work methods Organize appropriate and effective first aid