Safety Hazard Alert: Attention! Car Wash, Truck Wash, Auto Detailers, and Truck Drivers – Hydrofluoric Acid Causes Burn, Amputation and Death

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Washington (State). Department of Labor and Industries
• Description:
  Do you remember the first season of Breaking Bad when Walter asked Jesse to pick up some hydrofluoric acid and a plastic tote at the hardware store? Walt knew that hydrofluoric acid (HF) eats through bodies. Your wash products, rust removers & brighteners may contain HF because in addition to bodies, it eats away metal, rock, concrete, and road grime (but not plastic!). Even minor contact, like on your fingertips, needs immediate rinsing and medical attention. HF kills nerves and people often delay emergency action because they can't feel the burn. Real people: In 2012 a truck wash worker died from swallowing Fast Bright (NW Chemical LLC), a common truck wash product that contains HF at <12%; Another car wash worker sustained a finger amputation after using latex gloves contaminated with HF. It can take up to 24 hours to feel severe pain when exposed to dilute HF, at which time you might already have permanent damage. Skin contact, even with dilute HF solutions (<2%) will burn. Permanent pain, paralysis, or disability can result. Splashes to the eye may cause blindness. What to do: Restrict access to concentrate HF products; Label ALL containers; Have an eyewash station; Educate and train workers; Annually re-stock calcium gluconate gel for first aid; Upon contact, remove soiled clothes, rinse skin for 15 min, apply gel, call 911. Protect yourself: Wear rubber boots, thick neoprene gloves and a face shield; Car wash mitts, latex, and leather gloves DO NOT protect workers from HF; Routinely rinse protective equipment with water, turn inside out, let dry; Replace torn gloves ASAP. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Automobiles
  • Hazardous Substances
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Occupational Health
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Safety
  • Skin
• Keywords:
  • Hydrofluoric acid
  • Occupational exposure
  • Chemical hazards
  • Cleaning compounds
  • Chemical burns
  • Automotive industry
  • Protective equipment
  • Skin exposure
  • Injury prevention
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20060714
• Citation:
  Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 83-9-2015, 2015 Sep; :1
• CAS Registry Number:
  • Hydrofluoric acid (CAS RN 7664-39-3)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Safety hazard alert: attention! Car wash, truck wash, auto detailers, and truck drivers - hydrofluoric acid causes burn, amputation and death
• End Date:
  20260630
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/224545/cdc_224545_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 172.72 KB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:eb1e81a72169be94c25fd4946a4b6f28cc036f2594afa663fd3e5400c1a249749b6bacf3dc161831dbbdb99a195bbab379d193c708401de9b4accb13e7f20cc3