Mitigating the Risks of Hydrofluoric Acid Burns: Proper Storage and Personnel Training

Mitigating the Risks of Hydrofluoric Acid Burns: Proper Storage and Personnel Training

A palm-sized chemical burn by 40 percent hydrofluoric acid is usually fatal by resorptive toxicity. How can you mitigate this risk?

Understand the dangers of hydrofluoric acid and limit user access to properly trained personnel.

Understanding the risk: Hydrofluoric acid is toxic and quickly penetrates the skin, destroys deeper dermal tissue layers, and can lead to acutely threatening metabolic disorders of the liver or kidney function by inhibiting vital enzymes.

Limiting user access: Acid and alkali storage cabinets are available with a newly designed HF built-in compartment for storage of hydrofluoric acid.  This allows the separate storage of hydrofluoric acid in the cabinet interior and is separately lockable in addition to the cabinet.

Hydrofluoric acid should be respected as a highly toxic chemical. Protect yourself and your staff through proper storage and by limiting access to properly trained personnel.

Do you use Hydrofluoric acid in your lab? Were you aware of the risks associated with improper handling? Email us to chat more about it.

- Meghan Magnussen, Product Manager - Instruments