Solution

Such a large bottle of bromine should not have been in use when just 5ml was needed. COSHH principles require using only an appropriate amount for any activity – in this case, the technician should have first decanted some bromine into a more suitably sized flask, before attempting to measure out 5ml.

In this situation, the technician should remove the glove as soon as possible and run the affected hand under cold water for at least 10 minutes. During this time a colleague should call 999 and follow the advice they are given. Following Toxbase guidance, no neutralising agents should be applied to this or any other chemical spill on the skin.

Scenario and solution provided by CLEAPSS

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