Table 2.

Personal and general protective equipment and measures, medicaments used in the first aid kit, and managing HF containing waste and acid spills

Personal Protective Equipment when working with/using HFA	General Protective Equipment at the working/laboratory place
Laboratory coat Long pants Acid resistant apron Close-toed shoes Tightly sealed goggles Full-face shield in conjunction with goggles Rubber gloves: nitrile, butyl or neoprene Respiratory filter device	Handled inside of a fume hood Ventilation/exhaust system Sign “Danger, Hydrofluoric Acid Used in this Area.” Easy access to a good supply of running water Safety shower and eyewash The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document
Protective Measures HFA containers	First aid kit medicaments
Polyethylene or Teflon Clearly labelled Securely supported and not likely to tip over Tightly closed and kept in a safe place Away from heat and direct sunlight	2.5% calcium gluconate gel 1% calcium gluconate eyewash a solution of 0.13% benzalkonium chloride
Managing HF Containing Waste	Managing HF Acid Spills
Neutralisation of the solution using powder: Na2CO3, Ca2CO3 Neutralised diluted solution should be disposed under running water Chemically resistant container, clearly labelled with a “Hazardous Waste” tag	HF-specific absorbents Aqueous Ca(OH)2 or Mg(OH)2 The neutralisation should be performed slowly to avoid an exothermic reaction that will speed up the evaporation of the HF and increase the risk of exposure and intoxication