C&EN: "Hokkaido University is cited in fatal HF accident"

Via C&EN, this update (article by Katsumori Matsuoka): 

Following a fatal accident involving hydrofluoric acid (HF), the city of Sapporo, Japan, has cited Hokkaido University for violations of Japan’s poisonous substances control act. One student died and two were injured in the Aug. 27 incident.

The city sent a violation letter after an Aug. 28 municipal inspection of the laboratory where the accident occurred. It identified four areas of noncompliance related to the management of hazardous substances.

Inspectors found that nontoxic reagents were stored in a cabinet designated exclusively for toxic substances. They also found that the ledger used to record the receipt and use of HF was unaccounted for and that the key to the toxic substance storage cabinet was not being properly checked in and out. Finally, they determined that containers into which HF and other substances were poured lacked required labeling to identify the contents as poisonous...

...In response to an inquiry by C&EN, Hokkaido University’s public relations office writes in an email, “Each laboratory is required to implement risk‑reduction measures appropriate to the types of chemicals handled and their associated hazards. The laboratory concerned had calcium gluconate prepared.” The office adds, “Going forward, we will require laboratories that possess HF to prepare calcium gluconate and other advance measures, and we will distribute posters summarizing procedures for responding to chemical burns.”

From my perspective, we still don't understand a lot of details about this case. Who was the PI? Why was there so much HF? What exactly happened? I guess we will see what develops over this next year.