Instruction on hydrofluoric acid and cyanides

Simone Gevers / Christel Renders

Achmea Vitale / MiPlaza ESH

February 2009

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Hydrofluoric acid (HF)

• Appearance

• Toxicology

• Safety measures

• Exposure route

• Effects from poisoning

• First Aid measures

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Appearance HF

• Liquid• Clear solution

• Resembles water

• A dangerous concentration of HF in air is reached very quickly through evaporation at 20°C!

• Gas• Higher density than air

• Upon release: immediate danger!!

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Toxicology HF

• Odor threshold: 0.25 mg/m3

• Legal Limit HF: 1 mg/m3 TGG 15 min.

Highly toxic Corrosive

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Safety measures HF

• Before you start working:– If possible, replace HF with a less dangerous substance

– RWV-069-930-519/01: Protocol ongevallen met fluorwaterstof (HF) (English version not yet available)

– Material Safety Data Sheet

– Check availability medication and expiration date

• During work:– Prevent exposure: work under a fume hood

– Use personal protective equipment: safety glasses, nitril gloves

• In case of emergency:– Use medication

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Exposure route HF

skin

Inclusion in the body

lungs

stomach

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Effects from HF poisoning

• InhalationStinging, sore throat, coughing, laboured breathing

• Skin exposureStinging, redness, pain, severe burns,

penetrates to the bone, without immediate pain!

• Eye exposureStinging, redness, pain, poor eyesight

• IngestionStinging, sore throat, stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea, etching of mouth/throat, esophagus and stomach, shortness of breath through swelling upper airways

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Effects from HF poisoning

• Severity of effect depends on concentration and length exposure

• Severity varies from mild irritation to... necrosis and burns

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First Aid HF

General measures:

• Check for danger to yourself!

• Give First Aid

• Alert security (44444) to arrange transport to the hospital (victim always goes to hospital, even when there are no complaints!)

• HF-kit from security lodge goes with victim to hospital

• Report incident to management and VM&B

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First Aid HF

Skin exposure:

• Remember to check for danger: wear gloves!

• Remove contaminated clothing

• Irrigate with water

• Apply calcium gluconate hydro gel

Eye exposure:

• Remember to check for danger: wear gloves!

• Irrigate with copious amounts of water

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First Aid HF

Inhalation:

• Move victim to fresh air

• Give Calcium gluconate 4% to drink

Ingestion:

• Rinse mouth with water

• Give 200 ml Calcium gluconate 4% to drink (if not available: milk or water)

• Do not induce vomiting!

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Questions about HF?

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Cyanides

• Appearance

• Toxicology

• Safety measures

• Exposure route

• Effects from poisoning

• First Aid measures

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Appearance cyanides

• Solid• White solid

• Sodium cyanide, potassium cyanide

• Reacts with acids to Prussic acid

(e.g. H2SO4 + NaCN →HSO4- (aq) + Na+ (aq) + HCN (g)↑

• Gas/vapour• Approximately same density as air

• Prussic acid gas (HCN)

• Upon release: immediate danger!!

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Toxicology cyanides

• Legal Limit cyanides (incl. HCN):

1 mg/m3 8 hr TWA skin notation

10 mg/m3 15 min TWA skin notation

• HCN typical almond smell (odor threshold 2.2-5.5 mg/m3; not everyone can

smell it)

• Immediately fatal 300 mg/m3!

Very toxicCorrosive Dangerous for the environment

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Safety measures cyanides

• Collective measures:– Replace cyanide with less hazardous substance

– Material Safety Data Sheet

– Seperate area or room

– Access for authorized personnel only

– Eating/ drinking prohibited

– Exhaust/ventilation

– Instruction

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Safety measures cyanides

• Individual measures:– Open packaging under exhaust

– Use personal protective equipment: gloves (butyl rubber, PVC), safety glasses

– Hygiene (wash hands regularly)

• Use of cyanides for authorized personnel only!

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Exposure route cyanides

• InhalationPrussic acid gas or powder/dust

• Skin exposurePrussic acid as gas or in solution or cyanide salts in solution

• IngestionCyanides in combination with hydrochloric acid from stomach → HCN

Inclusion of cyanides in bowels

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cell

Iron

cytochrome oxydase

• Cyanide adheres irreversibly to cell enzyme of respiratory system

• Consequence: oxygen use by cell is blocked

• Result: internal asphyxiation

Cyanide poisoning on cell level

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Case

Accident with Potassium cyanide-solution and acid: in a watery cyanide solution (containing 65 gram KCN) 30 ml 98% H2SO4 is spilled.

• Room has a content of 75 m3

• 1 mole HCN is formed => 27 gr HCN

Concentration without ventilation = 360 mg/m3 …lethal

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Effects cyanide poisoning

Inhalation:• Headache

• Dizziness

• Weakness

• Laboured breathing

• Sinking feeling in chest

• Pain behind sternum

• Cramps

• At first red colour, followed by blue lips and nails

• Disruptions in vital signs

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Effects cyanide poisoning

Skin:• Redness

• Other effects like for inhalation

Eyes:• Redness

• Pain

• Troubled eyesight

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Effects cyanide poisoning

Ingestion:• Irritation

• Blue skin

• Diarrhea

• Sore throat

• Vomiting

• Loss of consciousness

• Other effects like for inhalation

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First aid cyanide by first aiderGeneral:

• Remember to check for danger! Use rescue mask and gloves, monitor concentration HCN

• Remove victim from contaminated room

• When necessary, remove contaminated clothing and rinse continuously

• Alert security (44444) for ambulance

• Provide information about poisoning to hospital

• Report incident to group leader and VM&B (ESH-department)

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First aid cyanide by first aider

Conscious Unconscious and still breathing

Unconscious and not breathing

Remember to check for danger!

Remember to check for danger!

Remember to check for danger!

Half sitting pose Lateral recumbent position (recovery position)

CPR

Administer oxygen Administer oxygen Administer oxygen

Rinse mouth (when ingested)

Do not give rescue breathing!

Victim is:

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First aid cyanide by first aider

Administer oxygen:

• Oxygen 100 % met hose and mouthpiece (sufficient for 40 minutes)

• Open valve completely, 5 liters/minute

• Cover mouth and nose of victim with mouthpiece

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First aid cyanide by doctor or nurse

• 2 ampoules 4-DMAP ( ampoule of 5 ml DMAP 50 mg/ml)

• 100 ml 25 % Sodium thiosulfate

• Syringe 50 ml and 5 ml including neadles

• Disinfectant (Sterilon)