By definition, cryogenic liquids are extremely cold. The temperature difference between room temperature and liquid nitrogen is more than 200°C (~390°F), making liquid nitrogen about as cold compared to room temperature as a 450°F (~230°C) oven is hot. Just as a hot oven can burn, so can cryogenic liquids. Burns from cryogenic liquids and objects cooled to cryogenic liquid temperatures are fairly common and can be quite serious, potentially causing nerve damage and coming with a very high risk of secondary infection. But while the consequences of a cryogenic liquid burn can be serious, such burns are rarely deadly. On the other hand, cryogenic liquids also pose a very real risk of asphyxiation or explosion if stored or handled improperly, both of which can prove fatal.
ES&H Manual Chapter 29: Safe Handling of Cryogenic Liquids
The EHS Division and cryogenic liquids subject matter expert strive to continuously improve. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. If you have ideas for additional resources, or suggestions for how we can improve either the resources available here or other aspects of the cryogenic liquids program, please don’t hesitate to contact the cryogenic liquids subject matter expert.
