Good point. HF is special. Use calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide as
the spill absorbent/neutralizer. Seems like I remember that this is
better than sodium bicarbonate because it prevents or minimizes the
evolution of fluorine gas but I'm not sure. Anybody know if this is
true?

Here's another tip... I have our Health Center mix up Calcium Gluconate
and KY Jelly for me and can get about 25 two oz. containers for $100
bucks which is much better price than the $25/tube commercial products.

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of
Gordon Miller
Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 11:04 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Spill kit portable vs. fixed

We use commercial spill kits located in each lab. HF is a special 
concern and special spill kits and calcium gluconate first aid 
ointment are needed for it.

>We provide a five gallon bucket with a labeled 1 gallon plastic jar of
>1:1 sodium bicarb (food grade) and clay (kitty litter or oil-sorb)
>inside. It comes with an instruction booklet inside. Emergency
>instructions and phone numbers on the label outside. A plastic dust pan
>and whisk broom. (PPE is already present in the labs.)
>
>I instruct our researchers to use the spill absorbent on the spill then
>collect everything, broken glass and absorbents, paper towels, etc,
with
>the dustpan and broom and place the waste into the 5 gallon bucket that
>the spill kit comes in. They label the bucket then we remove it as
>hazardous waste and give them a new spill kit.
>
>In general the system works really well. All the labs have spill kits,
>they are trained to use them in lab safety training, and it's not too
>expensive for us to put them together. The only disadvantage is that
>it's bulky and there seems to be a great temptation to remove the
>contents and use the bucket for other purposes. But we catch those
>during lab inspections.
>
>On the other hand the fact that it is bulky almost forces them to leave
>it out on the floor (rather than tucked into a drawer or cabinet) and
is
>easily spotted in the event of a spill.
>
>Christopher E. Kohler, MS
>Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer
>Laboratory Safety Manager
>Indiana University
>Office of Environmental, Health, and Safety Management
>2735 E. Tenth St., Room 160
>Bloomington, IN 47408
>
>"It's better to be safe 100 times than get killed once."
>
>                                                               -Mark
>Twain
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf
Of
>Kerry Smith
>Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 5:15 PM
>To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
>Subject: [DCHAS-L] Spill kit portable vs. fixed
>
>We are discussing the advantages and disadvantages of centrally
located,
>fixed (wall mounted) vs. portable spill kits for buildings with science
>labs.  Spill kit contents for each type would be the same.  Please
>respond if you have any assessments, experience, events or other ?
>Relating to this issue. 
>
>Thanks for your time
>
>Kerry J. Smith, CIH
>Senior Industrial Hygienist
>BYU Risk Management & Safety Dept.
>T 801-422-2943
>F 801-422-0711

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