Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2005 08:06:07 -0500
Reply-To: Russ Phifer <rphifer**At_Symbol_Here**GLASMESH.COM>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Russ Phifer <rphifer**At_Symbol_Here**GLASMESH.COM>
Subject: Hydrofluoric acid handling

I received the following request for information from Ernie Lippert, a
former CHAS member.  I provided my own response, but suggested he might also
want to get the opinion of the DCHAS-L, so here it is.   My response follows
his question; I'd also be curious what everyone else says.
 
Russ Phifer
 
With regards to bench chemists using HF there are two schools of thought:
(1) to wear gloves, or (2) not to wear gloves during operations digesting of
silicate glasses in Pt dishes. It has been our practice not to wear gloves
during these operations.
 
Pt tipped tongs are used to remove the dishes from the hotplate, etc. It has
been a long established practice in our laboratory (from which I am now
retired but active as a consultant) not to use gloves because good tactile
sense is paramount in handling HF. Further, our chemists are almost paranoid
about rinsing their hands. Over the past 40 years or so our safety record
with respect to HF has been excellent with (to my recollection) only one
serious incident.
 
In this current age of PPE it is sometimes hard to argue that perhaps not
wearing gloves is the best option. I can offer two arguments: (1) the loss
of tactile sense, and (2) the possibility of a pinhole in the glove. This
could be disastrous since the wearing of gloves gives a false sense of
security and precludes frequent washing. A HF burn does not manifest itself
for some hours, after which time extremely serious consequences result.
 
My question to you is do you know of any discussions in the literature that
speak to the laboratory handling of HF? I will greatly appreciate your
counsel and your thoughts on this matter.
 
Regards,
 
Ernest L. Lippert (Ernie)
ACS Member No. 00228463

   _____  

From: Ernest L. Lippert [mailto:ernielippert**At_Symbol_Here**toast.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 6:20 PM
To: Russ Phifer
Subject: Re: Attn: Russ Phifer

Russ,
I think it might be interesting to poll the DCHAS-L list on this question.
Eye protection is a no-brainer but, while neoprene gloves might sound like a
good idea (particularly to those who may not have experience with this
specific operation), they do reduce dexterity. I wonder if others might have
the same take on it that I do.
Regards,
Ernie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: HYPERLINK "mailto:rphifer**At_Symbol_Here**glasmesh.com"Russ Phifer 
To: HYPERLINK "mailto:ernielippert**At_Symbol_Here**toast.net"'Ernest L. Lippert' 
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 12:53 PM
Subject: RE: Attn: Russ Phifer

Ernie -
 
I would be glad to send this request out to the DCHAS-L list as a whole to
see what response you get, but I would bet the sentiment would be entirely
towards the wearing of gloves.  I refer you to page 339 of Prudent Practices
in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals, which  addresses the
handling of hydrofluoric acid by stating "splash goggles and neoprene gloves
should be worn at all times to prevent eye and skin contact".   
 
Please let me know if there is anything else you'd like on this.
 
Russ Phifer
Chair, DivCHAS
 

WC Environmental, LLC
PO Box 1718, 1085C Andrew Drive
West Chester, PA  19380
610-696-9220 ext. 12 /610-344-7519 fax
rphifer**At_Symbol_Here**glasmesh.com

   _____  

From: Ernest L. Lippert [mailto:ernielippert**At_Symbol_Here**toast.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 11:32 PM
To: rphifer**At_Symbol_Here**glasmesh.com
Subject: Attn: Russ Phifer

Dear Russ,
You may not remember me but I was once semi-active in CHAS a number of years
ago. I now solicit your help in providing information concerning
hydrofluoric acid.
 
With regards to bench chemists using HF there are two schools of thought:
(1) to wear gloves, or (2) not to wear gloves during operations digesting of
silicate glasses in Pt dishes. It has been our practice not to wear gloves
during these operations.
 
Pt tipped tongs are used to remove the dishes from the hotplate, etc. It has
been a long established practice in our laboratory (from which I am now
retired but active as a consultant) not to use gloves because good tactile
sense is paramount in handling HF. Further, our chemists are almost paranoid
about rinsing their hands. Over the past 40 years or so our safety record
with respect to HF has been excellent with (to my recollection) only one
serious incident.
 
In this current age of PPE it is sometimes hard to argue that perhaps not
wearing gloves is the best option. I can offer two arguments: (1) the loss
of tactile sense, and (2) the possibility of a pinhole in the glove. This
could be disastrous since the wearing of gloves gives a false sense of
security and precludes frequent washing. A HF burn does not manifest itself
for some hours, after which time extremely serious consequences result.
 
My question to you is do you know of any discussions in the literature that
speak to the laboratory handling of HF? I will greatly appreciate your
counsel and your thoughts on this matter.
 
Regards,
 
Ernest L. Lippert (Ernie)
ACS Member No. 00228463


-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.10/186 - Release Date: 11/29/2005
 

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.