Hi gang:

 From our intranet for your information.  If you want copies of the photos,
lemme know.

BTW, I did have a potentially scary situation with HBr in lecture bottles -
quite ancient stuff.  It has a similar nasty habit of over-pressurizing
over time.  It was managed without incident, several $10K later.

Ya'll be safe,
Debbie

>Priority: NORMAL
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>Date:         Fri, 8 Jul 2005 13:55:39 -0700
>Reply-To: UCIH Program Management Group 
>Sender: UCIH Program Management Group 
>From: Kevin Kaboli 
>Subject:      recent lab explosion 
>To: SBUCIH-L**At_Symbol_Here**LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
>
>Hi Folks,
>FYI-Here is the report of the explosion by Dave Vandenberg:
>
>Best
>Kevin
>
>
>
>UC EH&Sers:  Below is a note describing an accident that occured recently
>on our campus.  You may already be aware of this potential safety issue
>with hydrogen fluroride cylinders.  If not, would recommend that you
>identify and dispose of old cylinders of this material.  We were fortunate
>that no one was injured in this accident.  Feel free to contact me with any
>questions about this incident, but I will be away next week.
>
>- Dave Vandenberg, UCSB Laboratory Safety Manager
>
>
>
>This past Sunday evening (7/3/05) an old gas lecture bottle cylinder of
>anhydrous hydrogen fluoride spontaneously exploded within a gas cabinet on
>the first floor of the Chemistry building.  Thankfully, no one was injured
>because no one was in the room, or adjoining spaces.  However, given the
>extensive damage to the lab, it is likely that anyone present would have
>been seriously injured from flying debris and/or HF exposure.  The
>explosion also resulted in the building being locked down for about 12
>hours by the Fire Department.
>
>Attached are pictures showing the remains of the lecture bottle and a shelf
>about 10 feet away where the heavy-duty window from the gas cabinet can be
>seen after it was hurled.
>
>Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride in carbon steel cylinders may react slowly over
>years with the iron in the steel to form iron fluoride and hydrogen.  The
>hydrogen pressure can ultimately build to the point where it ruptures the
>cylinder.  This is discussed more fully on the bottom of pg. 5 of this MSDS
>from Air Products:
>
>http://www.airproducts.com/MSDS/searchresults.asp
>
>Given this potentially serious hazard, WE ASK THAT EACH RESEARCH GROUP
>VERIFY WHETHER THEY HAVE ANY GASEOUS HYDROGEN FLUORIDE IN STOCK.  If some
>is  on hand, please do not move it, but inform EH&S at x-4899 (after Friday
>call x-3293). Each cylinder will be evaluated individually as to it's
>condition and ultimate fate.
>
>Thanks for your cooperation.
>
>
>
>----------------------
>David Vandenberg
>Laboratory Safety Specialist
>UCSB Env. Health & Safety
>(805) 893-4899
>David.Vandenberg**At_Symbol_Here**ehs.ucsb.edu
>--- End Forwarded Message ---
>
>
>----------------------
>Kevin Kaboli, MA, MS, CIH
>Industrial Hygiene Program Manager
>University of California
>Santa Barbara, CA 93106
>Kevin.Kaboli**At_Symbol_Here**ehs.ucsb.edu
>(805)893-8787
>(805)893-8659 FAX
>
>
>

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