CONTROL NO : ER 05/A

REV : 0 DTD : JAN,08

FIRST AID FOR ACCIDENTS WITH
HFC/HCFC
(REFRIGERANT NOS.: R22 ­ R134a ­ R404A ­ R407C etc.)

HFC/HCFC form colourless and invisible gasses, which are heavier than air and smell faintly of chloroform at
high concentrations only.
Under normal operating conditions they are non toxic, non-inflammable, non-explosive and non-corrosive.
When heated to above approx. 300 ºC they break down into toxic, acid gas components, which are strongly
irritating and aggressive to nose, eyes and skin and generally corrosive. Heavy gases displace the
atmospheric oxygen and inhalation of larger concentrations may have an accumulating anesthetic effect
which may not be immediately apparent. 24 hrs medical observations are therefore recommended.
BASIC RULES FOR FIRST AID:
1. Wear breathing apparatus during moving the affected person (s) from low lying or poorly ventilated
rooms where high gas concentration is suspected.
2. Move the affected person into fresh air immediately. Keep the patient still and warm and loosen
clothing restricting breathing.
3. If the patient is unconscious, administrate artificial respiration and ask for medical help / advice.
4. If eye troubles:
 Force eyelids open and wash with sterile isotonic (0.9%) NaCl-solution or pure running fresh
water continuously for 30 minutes.
 Ask for medical help/advice.
5. Skin Injuries – Frost Sores:
 Wash immediately with large quantity of lukewarm water to reheat the skin for at least 15
minutes.
 Remove contaminated clothes carefully while washing.
 Treat exactly like burns and seek medical advice.
 Avoid direct contact with contaminated oil / refrigerant mixtures from electrically burnt-out
hermetic compressors.
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT:
 If Halogenated refrigerants are released directly to the atmosphere they will break the OZONE
layer in the STRATOSPHARE. The OZONE layer protects the earth from ULTRAVIOLET
radiation of the sun.
 Halogenated refrigerants must therefore NEVER be RELEASED to the atmosphere.
 Most of the refrigerants are miscible with oil. Oil drained from a refrigeration plant will often
contain significant amount of refrigerant. Therefore reduce the pressure in the compressor as
much as possible before draining the oil.
 Use separate compressor to draw the refrigerant into the plant’s condenser / receiver or into
separate refrigerant cylinders.
 If the refrigerant is not to be re-used, RETURN it to the supplier or to an authorized refuse
disposal plant.
 Never mix halogenated refrigerants.

NOTE: NO PLANT CAN EVER BE SAID TO BE TOO SAFE.
SAFETY IS A WAY OF LIFE

BY ORDER
 CONTROL NO : ER 05/A
REV : 0 DTD : JAN,08

CHIEF ENGINEER