1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. According to WHMIS Class E Class D1B, D2A Corrosive effects
E.g.: Burns
Class D1B, D2A
Toxic effects
E.g.: Heart problems

5. Where is HF found?

6. Routes of entry
Nose
Skin
Eyes
Mouth

7. Health effects
Lungs
Skin
Eyes
Digestive system

8. Health effects: Inhalation
Convulsions
Tingling
Palpitations
Disordered heart rhythms
Burns in the lungs
Water on the lungs

9. Health effects: Ingestion
Burns
(mouth, throat)
State of shock
Ulcers

10. 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

11. Health effects: Contact with eyes
Tears
Red eyes
Swollen eyes
Pain
Whites of the eyes damaged
Loss of eyesight

12. At-risk situations ?

13. 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

14. 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

15. Prevention methods Substituting another product for HF
Closed process (no contact)
Evacuation plan
Information
Personal protective equipment
Work methods
First aid

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. First aid: Skin contact
Antidote AVAILABLE

24. 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

25. 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

26. First aid: Reminder Call 9-1-1
Contact Québec's Poison Control Centre at
Symptoms can appear immediately or a few days after exposure
Always see a doctor when there is accidental exposure

27. 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

28. 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