A fatal accident occurred in a laboratory in Australia, resulting in the death of a technician. A standard geology technique, which involved dissolving sedimentary rock with mineral acids (hydrochloric and hydrofluoric), was being undertaken in a fume hood. The technician involved was believed to be seated when he knocked over a small quantity (between 100 – 230ml) of hydrofluoric acid (HF) onto his lap, splashing both thighs.
The only personal protective equipment worn was two pairs of wrist-length rubber gloves and a pair of polyvinyl chloride sleeve protectors. The technician sustained burns to 9% of his body surface area, despite washing his legs with water from a makeshift plumbing arrangement that supplied water at 1.5 gallons/min. No calcium gluconate gel was applied to the affected area, and contaminated clothing was not removed during the water flushing.
Following flushing, the technician, who appeared to be in severe pain and shock, immersed himself in a chlorinated swimming pool at the rear of the workplace, where he remained for approximately 35-40 minutes before ambulance help arrived.
The injured man was hypothermic (e.g., low body temperature)and hypocalcaemic (e.g., blood calcium levels are lower than normal) on admission to an intensive care unit at a nearby hospital, and soon became unconscious. His condition continued to deteriorate despite subcutaneous injections of calcium gluconate and administration of intravenous calcium and magnesium.
His right leg was amputated 7 days after the incident.
He subsequently died from multi-organ failure 15 days after the hydrofluoric acid spill
Source: https://www.uvm.edu/cosmolab/safety_manuals/Fatality%20due%20to%20acute%20HF%20exposure.pdf