United Steelworkers Union Calls for Industry-wide Phase-out of Hydrogen Fluoride in Oil Refinery [View All]

[Omaha Steve]

Source: USW News

Pittsburgh - The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that it is calling for the nationwide phase-out of hydrogen fluoride alkylation units.

“Hydrogen fluoride is such a deadly component, and there are new and safer technologies available,” said USW Vice President Gary Beevers, who is in charge of the union’s oil sector.

“It’s a matter of health and safety to us. It’s a matter of money to the industry. We think they should change to a safer alternative,” Beevers added.

Hydrogen fluoride is an acid used as a catalyst in the alkylation unit to make high-octane petroleum and is deadly in large amounts. The chemical turns into hydrofluoric acid when it is in contact with moisture and becomes an extremely corrosive liquid and contact poison that burns skin, tissue and eyes. It rapidly penetrates tissues and can cause systemic toxicity, damaging the heart and lungs and causing death. Under the right conditions, a large release could form a lethal plume of acid vapors that could extend for miles downwind, putting thousands of people at risk.

Read more: http://www.usw.org/media_center/releases_advisories?id=0207

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Full story at link. Contact: Lynne Baker, USW Communications, (o) 615-831-6782, (c) 615-828-6169