FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B
Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices
Aircraft Inspection and Repair
AC 43.13-1B | 6. Corrosion, Inspection, and Protection | 6. Corrosion Removal Procedures | 6-90. Safety Precautions
9/8/98
SECTION 6. CORROSION REMOVAL PROCEDURES
AC 43.13-1B
6-89. GENERAL. General safety precau
tions for handling materials with hazardous
physical properties are outlined in the follow
ing paragraphs. They also address emergency
procedures for immediate treatment of person
nel who have inadvertently come into contact
with harmful materials. All personnel respon
sible for using or handling hazardous materials
should be thoroughly familiar with the infor
mation in the following paragraphs.
when cleaning, stripping, etching, or conver
sion coating overhead surfaces.
(6) When mixing alkalies with water or
other substance, use containers that are made
to withstand heat generated by this process.
(7) Wash any paint stripper, etchant, or
conversion coating material immediately from
body, skin, or clothing.
6-90. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.
a. Chemical. When required to use or
handle solvents, special cleaners, paint strip
pers (strong alkalies and acids), etchants (cor
rosion removers containing acids), or surface
activation material (Alodine 1200), observe
the following safety precautions:
(1) Avoid prolonged breathing of sol
vent or acid vapors.
(2) Never add water to acid. Always
add acid to water.
(3) Mix all chemicals per the manufac
turer’s instructions.
(8) Materials splashed into the eyes
should be promptly flushed out with water, and
medical aid obtained immediately.
(9) Do not eat or keep food in areas
where poisons may be absorbed. Always wash
hands before eating or smoking.
(10) Verify that the area within 50 feet
of any cleaning or treating operations where
low flash point (140 °F or below) materials are
being used, is clear and remains clear of all
potential ignition sources.
(11) Suitable fire-extinguishing equip
ment should be available to the clean
ing/treating area.
(4) Clean water for emergency use
should be available in the immediate work area
before starting work.
(12) Equipment should be effectively
grounded where any flammable materials are
being used.
(5) Avoid prolonged or repeated contact
with the skin of solvents, cleaners, etchants
(acid), or conversion coating material (Alodine
solution). Rubber or plastic gloves should be
worn. Goggles or plastic face shields and suit
able protective clothing should be worn
(13) If materials (acid, alkali, paint re
mover, or conversion coatings) are spilled on
equipment and/or tools, treat immediately by
rinsing with clean water, if possible, and /or
neutralizing acids with baking soda and alka
lies with a weak (5 percent) solution of acetic
acid in water.
Par 6-89
Page 6-17