Welcome to The Hand Lettering Forum!
This is an interactive Bulletin Board on the topics of Sign making, design, fabrication, History, old Books and of coarse Letterheads, Keepers of the craft. The Hand Lettering Forum features links to resources, sign art history, techniques, and artists profiles. Learn more about Letterheads at https://theletterheads.com. Below you'll see Mchat has been added as a live communication portal for trial, and the Main forum Links are listed below.

HF Safety

Hand Lettering topics: Sign Making, Design, Fabrication, Letterheads, Sign Books.

Moderators: Ron Percell, Mike Jackson, Danny Baronian

Post Reply
Roderick Treece
Posts: 1086
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:04 pm
Location: San deigo Calif
Contact:

HF Safety

Post by Roderick Treece »

I had a talk today with a friend about HF safety and the subject of Calcium Gluconate cream came up. For those that don't know this cream when applied to skin that has been exposed to Hydrofluoric Acid will help nutaralize the acid. Here is a description.

Essential first aid topical gel for Hydrofluoric Acid exposure to skin. Minimize risk of painful (even fatal) HF burns, hypocalcemia, or bone damage by having this safety product available wherever people could come in contact with HF. Calcium gluconate neutralizes HF when applied quickly and appropriately.


Here is a link to what I found to be the best buy so far. Two tubes of creame and two bottles of eye wash. The creame has a 18 month shelf life. The eye wash 20 months.
$ 102.83 with shipping

http://www.hfacidsafety.com/
Roderick Treece
Posts: 1086
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:04 pm
Location: San deigo Calif
Contact:

Re: HF Safety

Post by Roderick Treece »

I received my Calcium Gluconate cream and eye wash. Shopped around and found Tychem coveralls and proper gloves at Grainger.
Spoke with Ron at Delamo chemicals today about nuterizing the HF solution. Having a bucket of water and soda ash mixed up and ready will take care of that.
Getting ready on Tuesday to host a small gathering to do some Acid work so I feel we'll be very safe.

Here is a great chemical Resistance Guide for gloves
http://www.ansellpro.com/download/ansel ... eGuide.pdf
Roderick Treece
Posts: 1086
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:04 pm
Location: San deigo Calif
Contact:

Re: HF Safety

Post by Roderick Treece »

Here is information on treatment for HF burns & management

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/7 ... ment#a1126
Colt Bowden
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 8:06 pm
Location: Brea California
Contact:

Re: HF Safety

Post by Colt Bowden »

"And that is how they found him... he was the consistency of Margarine, and they had to shovel him up with sno-shovels..." - Pat Mackel, story about a bad ending to an acid etcher.

Listen to Treece!
Ars Longa Vita Brevis
Art is Long, Life is Short

- Reverand Joshua Sloan
pat mackle
Posts: 162
Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:35 pm

Re: HF Safety

Post by pat mackle »

Hi Colt,
That was "warm" margarine to be exact. As accounted to me by Mr. Frank Zarra, an old time wheel cutter in his 90's who sold me his lathe and wheels.
Roderick Treece
Posts: 1086
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:04 pm
Location: San deigo Calif
Contact:

Re: HF Safety

Post by Roderick Treece »

I have been getting ready to host my gold leaf glass workshop which starts next Sat. Part of which will include Acid embossing. This lat year I have been sending time working on educating myself and who ever cares to listen about all the safety issues involved. The last few this to do are
Post the MSDS link for HF
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924296

Monday I will take a copy down to my local emergency hospital room to make sure they have the necessary medical treatments available in case of an emergency.

Here are the first aid Measures,
Eye Contact:
Check for and remove any contact lenses. In case of contact, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15-30
minutes. Cold water may be used. Keep the eyelids apart and away from the eyeballs during irrigation. Do not use oily drops
or ointment or HF skin burn treatments on the eyes. Get medical attention immediately, preferrably an eye specialist. If a
physician is not immediately available, apply one or two drops of ophthalmic anesthetic (e.g. 0.5% Pontocaine Hydrochloride
solution). Place ice pack on eyes until reaching emergency room.
Skin Contact:
In case of contact, immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing
and shoes. Cover the irritated skin with an emollient. Cold water may be used. Wash clothing before reuse. Thoroughly clean
shoes before reuse. Get medical attention immediately. While waiting for medical attention, it has been shown that flushing
the affected area with water for one minute and then massaging HF Antidote Gel into the wound until there is a cessation of
pain is a most effective first aid treatment. HF Antidote Gel contains Calcium Gluconate which combines with HF for insoluble
Calcium Fluoride, thus preventing the extraction of calcium from the body tissue and bones. Another alternative first aid
treatment, after thorough washing of the burned area, is to immerse the burned area in a solution of 0.2% iced aqueous
Hyamine 1622 or 0.13% iced aqueous Zephiran Chloride. If immersion is inpractical, towels should be soaked with one of
the above solutions and used as compresses for the burn area. Hyamine 1622 is a trade name for Tetracaine Benzethonium
Chloride. Zephiran is a trade name for Benzalkonium Chloride. Again, seek medical attention as soon as possible for all burns
regardless of how minor they may appear initially.
Serious Skin Contact:
Wash with a disinfectant soap and cover the contaminated skin with an anti-bacterial cream. Seek immediate medical
attention.
Inhalation:
If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical
attention immediately.
Serious Inhalation:
Evacuate the victim to a safe area as soon as possible. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. If
breathing is difficult, administer oxygen. If the victim is not breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. WARNING: It may
be hazardous to the person providing aid to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when the inhaled material is toxic, infectious or
corrosive. Seek immediate medical attention.
Ingestion:
If swallowed, do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an
unconscious person. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. Get medical attention immediately
Post Reply