The Importance of Eye Protection

Posted By Jyllian Kemsley on Jun 4, 2015 in Accidents, Featured, Personal Protective Equipment | 5 comments

Researcher’s glasses after explosion. One lens and a temple bar have been blown away. The other lens is shattered. (Credit: UC Berkeley Office of Environment, Health & Safety)

A graduate student researcher was working at a laboratory bench synthesizing approximately one gram of diazonium perchlorate crystals. The student was transferring synthesized perchlorate using a metal spatula when the material exploded, sending porcelain fragments into his face. The fragments shattered the lenses of his eyeglasses and lacerated his left cornea.

A researcher in an adjacent room assisted the student to the eyewash and called campus police. The student was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery on his eye, and treatment for several facial lacerations. He was released from the hospital that same evening.

Read the report for more details.

(h/t Chemjobber, who also posted about this and received a rather disheartening comment from a UC Berkeley graduate student)