Recent Acid Waste Accidents

Stand-Down Cease all operations that generate

strong acid waste Review operations to ensure

1. Incompatible waste materials are kept separate

2. Procedures and practices are in place to prevent mixing of such materials

3. Personnel performing these operations are aware of and familiar with the approved procedures and practices

Accident at B/66

2 waste containers next to each other in fume hood waste area (SAA) Glass Bottle for acids (nitric acid & hydrochloric acid) Flam Can for flammable solvents

Guest researcher, 2nd day at LBNL, put waste isopropyl alcohol into acid bottle, tightened cap and left room

Oxidizing acid mixture reacted with solvent, releasing gases and building up pressure in bottle

Acid bottle exploded in fume hood in empty room 30 minutes after IPA addition

Lessons Learned? Separate incompatables in chemical storage and in waste

areas Staff & guests need to be trained before they work

unsupervised

Accident at ALS Bottle at back of fume hood exploded while researcher

was working on something else – not her container Labeled HNA (Hydrofluoric Acid, Nitric Acid, Acetic

Acid) She was wearing Personal Protective Equipment

(gloves, labcoat, goggles) which she removed after the accident and she used eyewash to wash face.

She applied calcium gluconate cream as a precaution and was transported to the hospital

Lessons learned? PPE usage important Fume hood may not be best place for an SAA Know location of emergency equipment (shower,

eyewash, fire extinguisher, calcium gluconate)

Accident & Injury Prevention Think about research hazards and

control them (ISM) Be trained for the hazards Use appropriate PPE Know location of emergency equipment Store incompatible wastes in separate

areas Except for flammable solvents, do not

combine waste streams Quickly dispose of waste Fume hood might not be best place for

an SAA