Risk of injury to skin or eyes from hydraulic fluid spraying out under pressure.Risk of poisoning from swallowing hydraulic fluid.

Eventual dangers

Risk of injury

Slackening hydraulic pipe connections without having first depressurized the system, can, due to the extremely high pressures (above 200 bar), result in dangerous skin and eye injuries. Hydraulic fluid, especially central hydraulic oil (particularly harmful to health) reaching unprotected skin can cause skin damage.

Risk of poisoning

By swallowing hydraulic fluid, poisoning symptoms may arise such as headache, dizziness, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, cramps and unconsciousness.

Protective measures/ procedure rules

- To start a job in a hydraulic system, these are to be depressurized, eventually the system needs to be drained.

- Do not store hydraulic fluid in beverage reservoirs.

- Especially in the case of central hydraulic oil, provide for abundant ventilation.

- Only permit access to hydraulic fluid to authorized personnel.

- Pipes, hoses, as well as connections on aggregates isolated from the system are to be immediately sealed with plugs.

- Use protective gloves, clothes and glasses.

If protection gloves cant be used, the following points are to be observed:

- Do not let hydraulic fluid act on the skin for a long time, wash immediately the affected skin area with water and soap.

- As soon as possible take off the contaminated clothes.

First-aid measures

 Allow to drink plenty of water with addition of activated charcoal .

 After swallowing larger amounts, seek medical attention.

 In the hydraulic fluid reaches the eyes, rinse the eyes immediately with plenty of clean water or with an eye rinsing bottle.

 Seek medical help immediately in case of eye or skin injury by hydraulic fluid jet.