Alessandra,

 

Historically, every few years we would do an outreach on HF to check in with labs, give them calcium gluconate, etc. Before an outreach a year or two ago, we added HF to a list of chemicals that required an SOP. Two months ago we began another outreach, and this time we also contacted labs with lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) and tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF). We did not require SOPs for these compounds, but we did still give the labs calcium gluconate. There are many other fluoride ion-generating materials on campus that we could have included, but LiPF6 and TBAF were chosen due to them being some of the most common. In practice our assessments of whether a material should have an SOP etc. are on a case by case basis. For example, we worked with a lab that works with bromine tetrafluoride, and with them we developed an extensive SOP. For other labs, if they’re just going to be using NaF in (roughly) pH neutral aqueous solution, we will note that some SDSs recommend treating NaF exposure with the same first aid as HF exposures, but also note that the relative hazard is less.

 

Hope this helps, and if you have any questions please feel free to get in touch.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jack Reidy (he/him)

Research Safety Specialist, Assistant Chemical Hygiene Officer

Environmental Health & Safety

Stanford University

484 Oak Road, Stanford, CA, 94305

Tel: (650) 497-7614

 

 

 

 

Hi Everyone,

 

I am interested in knowing how manage safety of fluorinated compounds.

 

For example, do you request an SOP and exposure management plans for everything?

 

We have a very well defined policy for hydrofluoric acid but I am curious to know how other universities manage safety for other compounds such as ammonium fluoride and sodium fluoride. Where do you draw the line?

 

Thank you,

 

Alessandra

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