GUIDE
166
Radioactive Materials - Corrosive (Uranium Hexafluoride/ Water-Sensitive)
POTENTIAL HAZARDS
HEALTH
  • Radiation presents minimal risk to transport workers, emergency response personnel and the public during transportation accidents. Packaging durability increases as potential radiation and criticality hazards of the content increase.
  • Low radiation hazard to people. Chemical hazard greatly exceeds radiation hazard.
  • Substance reacts with water and water vapor in air to form toxic and corrosive hydrogen fluoride gas, hydrofluoric acid and an extremely irritating and corrosive, white-colored, water-soluble residue.
  • Toxic; may be fatal if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through skin.
  • Direct contact causes burns to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract.
  • Low-level radioactive material; very low radiation hazard to people.
  • Runoff from control of cargo fire may cause low-level environmental contamination.
FIRE OR EXPLOSION
  • Substance does not burn.
  • The material may react violently with fuels.
  • Containers in protective overpacks (horizontal cylindrical shape with short legs for tie-downs), are identified with "AF", "B(U)F" or "H(U)" on shipping papers or by markings on the overpacks. They are designed and evaluated to withstand severe conditions including total engulfment in flames at temperatures of 800°C (1475°F) for a period of 30 minutes.
  • Bare filled cylinders, identified with UN2978 as part of the marking (may also be marked H(U) or H(M)), may rupture in heat of engulfing fire; bare empty (except for residue) cylinders will not rupture in fires.
  • Radioactivity does not change flammability or other properties of materials.
PUBLIC SAFETY
  • CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If Shipping Paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.
  • Priorities for rescue, life-saving, first aid, fire control and other hazards are higher than the priority for measuring radiation levels.
  • Radiation Authority must be notified of accident conditions. Radiation Authority is usually responsible for decisions about radiological consequences and closure of emergencies.
  • Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.
  • Keep unauthorized personnel away.
  • Detain or isolate uninjured persons or equipment suspected to be contaminated; delay decontamination and cleanup until instructions are received from Radiation Authority.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
  • Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
  • Wear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer when there is NO RISK OF FIRE.
  • Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection.
EVACUATION
Immediate precautionary measure.
  • Isolate spill or leak area immediately for at least 25 meters (75 feet) in all directions.
Large Spill
  • See Table 1 - Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances.
Fire
  • When a large quantity of this material is involved in a major fire, consider an initial evacuation distance of 300 meters (1000 feet) in all directions.

In Canada, an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) may be required for this product. Please consult the shipping document and/or the ERAP Program Section.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
FIRE
  • DO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM ON MATERIAL ITSELF.
  • If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.
Small Fire
  • Dry chemical or CO2.
Large Fire
  • Water spray, fog or regular foam.
  • Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out.
  • If this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn.
  • ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire.
SPILL OR LEAK
  • Do not touch damaged packages or spilled material.
  • DO NOT GET WATER INSIDE CONTAINERS.
  • Without fire or smoke, leak will be evident by visible and irritating vapors and residue forming at the point of release.
  • Use fine water spray to reduce vapors; do not put water directly on point of material release from container.
  • Residue buildup may self-seal small leaks.
  • Dike far ahead of spill to collect runoff water.
FIRST AID
Refer to the "General First Aid" Section
Specific First Aid:
  • Medical problems take priority over radiological concerns.
  • Use first aid treatment according to the nature of the injury.
  • In case of skin contact with hydrogen fluoride gas and/or Hydrofluoric acid, if calcium gluconate gel is available, rinse 5 minutes, then apply gel. Otherwise, continue rinsing until medical treatment is available.
  • Do not delay care and transport of a seriously injured person.

ERG 2024