Don't sit on chemical drums
I worked in a PCB plating factory for years. One of the production lines used fluorine-based chemistry of some sort (I forget what exactly) to etch off the patterns of circuits on PCBs.

Now, apparently, a new batch of this chemistry was being made up by the chemical company rep and one of our technicians. There are dozens of drum of chemicals being added into the production line - all very heavy hard work.

Chem Co rep, tired, takes a short sit down break on one of the empty drums.
He feels his arse dampen, then itch.
He stands up, and sees that the top of the barrel is wet with the dreaded fluorine-based etchant.

Fluorine compounds can be quite insidious and nasty, as many a chemist will tell you. As it was explained to me, the fluorine ion is small, and can pass through cell membranes without much fuss. It'll move through flesh without damaging it very much, cause it's not too interested in reacting with organic stuff.

Calcium, however, it loves. It'll chew through the calcium in bones, turning them rubbery and floppy.

So Chem Co rep had to be rushed to hospital, and have the flesh of his buttocks cut away to halt the spread of the fluorine to his pelvis.

Arsectomy.
( Invisible Wizard - 9th Level Pissant, Sat 7 Sep 2013, 13:49, 17 replies)

HIS ASS!

( drimble he'd been white, he'd been black, Sat 7 Sep 2013, 13:55, closed)

I have worked in environments that use HF - Hydrofluoric Acid
And I have stayed well clear of the stuff.

Apparently, if you get even the smallest splash, you have to strip off, rub a special neutralising lotion and then get to A&E.

There was a glass etching factory in Wales that used it. Apparently they had to use Platinum pipes to distribute it because, as you say, it is SO vigorously reactive.
(Frample Tromwibbler climbs an obstacle like old people fuck, Sat 7 Sep 2013, 14:04, closed)

Platinum?
Plastic pipes work just as well and are a hell of a lot cheaper.
( Ghoti Fingers, Sat 7 Sep 2013, 14:55, closed)

I thought that
There was definitely Platinum on site, though I suspected that the pipework bit was a tall tale that the operators would tell the contractors for a laugh.
(Frample Tromwibbler climbs an obstacle like old people fuck, Sat 7 Sep 2013, 16:43, closed)

Yup
I remember something like that.

We had ZERO H&S gear on that site, though. It was a disgrace. I got fired for complaining about it - and I was too dumb back then to kick up a fuss with tribunals and all that.
(I asked for a pump for the concentrated sulfuric acid, cause trying to tip up a 50l drum to pour it out into a jug was a bit dangerous.)
( Invisible Wizard - 9th Level Pissant, Sat 7 Sep 2013, 17:11, closed)

and forever after, he did a half-arsed job

( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Sat 7 Sep 2013, 14:44, closed)

This deserves recognition.
*recognises*
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Sat 7 Sep 2013, 19:11, closed)

*bows*

( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Sun 8 Sep 2013, 18:02, closed)

Yet again a reply that should win.

(s0ckpuppet logging out to reply to you if you're not careful, Sun 8 Sep 2013, 9:35, closed)

\o/

( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Sun 8 Sep 2013, 18:04, closed)

Nah, he just couldn't be arsed to do it.

(Shimrod, Sun 8 Sep 2013, 19:21, closed)

lazy arse

( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Mon 9 Sep 2013, 13:38, closed)

In a just world, this sort of industrial accident would result in superpowers, rather than emergency surgery.

( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Sat 7 Sep 2013, 21:22, closed)

Yeah,
But what can you do with a turbo-charged ass - other than start calling yourself the Heinous Anus?
(The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Sat 7 Sep 2013, 22:46, closed)

I was hoping that losing all the calcium in his bones
would have turned him into Plastic Man.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Sun 8 Sep 2013, 7:42, closed)

Maybe
he is the Phantom shitter? Would explain a lot...
(DownhillGardener no-one does it like that anymore, Sun 8 Sep 2013, 7:19, closed)

Woah!
That sounds nasty!..
(danniekavanagh did nothing constructive on, Sun 8 Sep 2013, 10:19, closed)