A laboratory worker picked up a container of trifluoroacetic acid with her ungloved hand to move it. She did not notice that there was a small amount of residue on the glass. Several hours later, she experienced pain in the palm of her hand and the inside aspect of her thumb. The result was a serious burn that required skin grafting. She was not aware that this type of burn could result from handling trifluoracetic acid.
Trifluoracetic acid can form hydrofluoric acid upon contact with moisture.
Hydrofluoric acid can cause deep burns that may not be painful for hours. A laboratory worker received burns to the face and chest while carrying chemicals from one area of the laboratory to another. The worker placed unsealed centrifuge tubes filled with phenol-chloroform into a Styrofoam centrifuge tube shipping container. The Styrofoam broke and the phenol-chloroform splashed onto the worker's face and dripped down the chest. The worker immediately flushed the area with a drench hose, but still suffered from second-degree burns to the face, chest and abdomen.