ORNL/TM-1999/318 Compilation of Requirements for Safe Handling of Fluorine and Fluorine-Containing Products of Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion J. J. Ferrada J. R. Hightower J. M. Begovich ORNL/TM-1999/318 Chemical Technology Division COMPILATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE HANDLING OF FLUORINE AND FLUORINE-CONTAINING PRODUCTS OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE CONVERSION J. J. Ferrada J. R. Hightower J. M. Begovich Date Published: February 2000 Prepared by OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6285 managed by LOCKHEED MARTIN ENERGY RESEARCH CORP. for the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY under contract DE-AC05-96OR22464 CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................1 2. BACKGROUND......................................................................................................................................4 3. OBJECTIVE.............................................................................................................................................5 4. REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENTS .........................................................................................................6 4.1 TITLE 49—TRANSPORTATION..................................................................................................6 4.1.1 Part 172: Hazardous Materials Table, Special Provisions, Hazardous Materials Communications, Emergency Response Information, and Training Requirements..................6 4.1.2 Part 173: Shippers—General Requirements for Shipments and Packagings ......................7 4.1.3 Part 178: Specifications for Packagings............................................................................7 4.2 TITLE 10—ENERGY .....................................................................................................................8 4.2.1 Part 110: Export and Import of Nuclear Equipment and Material .....................................8 4.2.2 Part 30: Rules of General Applicability to Domestic Licensing of By-Product Material ...............................................................................................................................9 4.3 TITLE 29—LABOR........................................................................................................................9 4.3.1 Part 1910: Occupational Safety and Health Standards.......................................................9 4.3.2 Part 1915: Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Shipyard Employment ..........10 4.3.3 Part 1926: Safety and Health Regulations for Construction ............................................11 4.4 TITLE 40—PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................11 4.4.1 Part 68: Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions ......................................................11 4.4.2 Part 266: Standards for the Management of Specific Hazardous Wastes and Specific Types of Hazardous Waste Management Facilities ............................................12 4.4.3 Part 302: Designation, Reportable Quantities, and Notification......................................12 4.4.4 Part 355: Emergency Planning and Notification..............................................................12 4.4.5 Part 372: Toxic Chemical Release Reporting: Community Right-To-Know ..................13 4.5 DOE ORDERS ..............................................................................................................................13 4.5.1 DOE Order 6430.1A DIV 1-7: General Design Criteria (GDC)......................................13 4.6 OSHA ............................................................................................................................................14 4.6.1 Description of Substance...................................................................................................14 4.6.2 Health Effects....................................................................................................................14 4.6.3 Toxicity Hazard Rating.....................................................................................................15 4.6.4 Industry-Use Data .............................................................................................................15 4.6.5 Engineering Data Controls................................................................................................15 4.6.6 Personal Protective Equipment .........................................................................................15 4.6.7 Storage ..............................................................................................................................16 4.7 DOE PLANT SAFETY STANDARDS ........................................................................................16 4.7.1 ORGDP Safety Standards .................................................................................................16 4.7.2 LLNL's Health & Safety Manual, Supplement Document 21.12: Safe Handling of Fluorine.........................................................................................................17 4.8 INDUSTRIAL HANDLING OF FLUORINE COMPOUNDS.....................................................17 iii 4.8.1 Handling Hydrofluoric Acid .............................................................................................17 4.8.2 Handling Anhydrous Hydrofluoric Acid...........................................................................18 4.8.3 Handling >70% Aqueous Hydrofluoric Acid....................................................................20 4.9 FLUORINE: A COMPRESSED GAS MANUAL FROM THE COMPRESSED- GAS ASSOCIATION............................................................................................................................22 4.9.1 Description ........................................................................................................................22 4.9.2 Safe Handling and Storage................................................................................................22 4.9.3 Methods of Shipment: Regulations..................................................................................24 4.10 FIRE PROTECTION GUIDE ON HAZARDOUS MATERIALS .............................................25 4.11 EMERGENCY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT (EPCRA) ........26 4.12 URANIUM CONCENTRATION SPECIFICATIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL USE OF HYDROFLUORIC ACID ............................................................................................................27 4.13 DOE DRAFT HANDBOOK FOR CONTROLLING RELEASE FOR REUSE OR .RECYCLE OF NON-REAL PROPERTY CONTAINING RESIDUAL RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL..................................................................................................................................27 5. DESCRIPTION OF APPENDIX MATERIAL......................................................................................29 6. REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................................30 APPENDIX A .......................................................................................................................................... A-1 APPENDIX B ...........................................................................................................................................B-1 APPENDIX C ...........................................................................................................................................C-1 APPENDIX D .......................................................................................................................................... D-1 iv 1. INTRODUCTION Public Law (PL) 105–204 requires the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a plan for inclusion in the fiscal year 2000 budget for conversion of the Department's stockpile of depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6 ) to a more stable form over an extended period. The conversion process into a more stable form will produce fluorine compounds (e.g., elemental fluorine or hydrofluoric acid) that need to be handled safely. This document compiles the requirements necessary to handle these materials within health and safety standards, which may apply in order to ensure protection of the environment and the safety and health of workers and the public. Fluorine is a pale-yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor. It is the most reactive nonmetal and will react vigorously with most oxidizable substances at room temperature, frequently with ignition. Fluorine is a severe irritant of the eyes, mucous membranes, skin, and lungs. In humans, the inhalation of high concentrations causes laryngeal spasm and broncospasms, followed by the delayed onset of pulmonary edema. At sublethal levels, severe local irritation and laryngeal spasm will preclude voluntary exposure to high concentrations, unless the individual is trapped or incapacitated. A blast of fluorine gas on the shaved skin of a rabbit causes a second degree burn. Lower concentrations cause severe burns of insidious onset, resulting in ulceration, similar to the effects produced by hydrogen fluoride. Hydrofluoric acid is a colorless, fuming liquid or gas with a pungent odor. It is soluble in water with release of heat. Ingestion of an estimated 1.5 grams produced sudden death without gross pathological damage. Repeated ingestion of small amounts resulted in moderately advanced hardening of the bones. Contact of skin with anhydrous liquid produces