Occupational Health and Safety Hazard Alert - Eye Injury from a Shattering Pasteur Pipette

This hazard alert is issued following an eye injury received in a laboratory in February 1996, during the course of normal laboratory procedures. Fortunately no permanent injury to the eye was sustained.

What Happened

A research worker was performing a routine procedure in the laboratory. The technique involved the heating of a glass pasteur pipette, stretching it out and then quickly breaking off the tip to obtain a sharp end. Some fragments of glass hit the worker in the eye becoming lodged in the eye and causing some scratching of the cornea, resulting in a corneal ulcer. The worker was not wearing eye protection at the time of the incident. Several other people in the area who also performed the same operation; did not usually wear safety spectacles or work behind safety screens.

What Should Have Happened

Under section 1.5(c) of Australian Standard AS2243.1: Safety in Laboratories, Part 1: General, it is recommended that eye protection should always be worn by all personnel (this includes visitors) in all laboratory areas, medical as well as chemical. This would prevent eye injury from shattering glass, splashes from drugs and chemicals as well as radioisotopes. Each laboratory should have appropriate eye protection for the use of all visitors to a laboratory area and personnel carrying out procedures that could be considered potentially hazardous to eyes. All areas should be signposted and the wearing of eye protection enforced.

Types of Eye Protection Available in Laboratories

1. Safety Spectacles

Some safety spectacles may provide satisfactory protection from injury from flying particles. However, if they do not fit tightly against the face they are of little use as protection against splashes or sprays of chemicals. "Wrap around" safety spectacles with clear plastic side shields are available and if they are reasonably tight fitting they may be used as protection from chemical splashing. [Note: Care should be taken as the fit achieved with any spectacles depends on individual face shape. Thus they may not afford full protection against chemical splashes and sprays. Where a tight fit is not obtained there is a risk that liquid splashes can bounce off the face and into the eye.] Ordinary prescription spectacles do not provide adequate protection for the eyes. Prescription safety glasses and goggles can be obtained.

Minimum acceptable eye protection requires the use of hardened glass for protection against projectiles or thickened "wrap around" plastic safety spectacles for protection against splashes. Where the chemical is likely to damage the skin as well as the eyes a face shield should be used. In areas where ultraviolet light, lasers or X-rays are in use specialised spectacles which absorb the radiation should be worn.

2. Splash Goggles

Splash goggles are sometimes preferable over regular safety spectacles. These should be worn where the eyes need to be fully protected from chemical splashes, sprays or aerosols. Goggles should be tight fitting. They should also be impact resistant to provide protection from flying particles. In areas where glass blowing or heating, is performed hardened goggles should be worn.

3. Full Face Shields

Full face shields protect the face and throat as well as the eyes and should always be worn where maximum protection from flying particles or hazardous, highly corrosive chemical splashes is needed. A toughened full face shield should be worn when an operation involves a pressurised system which may either implode or explode.

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are NOT recommended as eye wear in laboratories as there is a risk that a chemical substance may become trapped under the contact lens. Thus greater eye damage can result because of increased contact time of the harmful substance with the eye until the lens is removed. In the event of a chemical splash to the eye, the eyelid may go into involuntary spasm making it impossible to quickly and easily remove the contact lens to adequately irrigate the eye. The soft plastic material of some types of contact lenses can also absorb some chemicals. This may cause the lens to adhere to the cornea and result in corneal damage. If contact lenses must be worn for medical reasons, then tight-fitting safety goggles MUST be worn over the contact lenses. The laboratory supervisor should be notified when contact lenses are being worn in a laboratory.

Recommendations

In general, the type of eye protection chosen should provide maximum shielding from chemical splashes or sprays as well as adequate protection from flying particles. It is important therefore that each laboratory operation be fully analysed to ensure that the appropriate eye protection is used. No operations should be undertaken in a laboratory unless the potential hazards of the operation are known as precisely as possible, the appropriate precautions are taken and the appropriate personal protective equipment is used.

The primary goal of laboratory safety procedures is the prevention of accidents and emergencies. Nevertheless accidents and emergencies will still occur. At such times, appropriate personal protective equipment and correct emergency procedures can help minimise injuries or damage.

It is strongly recommended that Heads of Departments with the assistance of their Safety Officer and/or Zone OHS Committee:

1. assess the eye hazards in each area;
2. determine the appropriate protective eye wear for each type of hazard;
3. signpost all hazardous areas where eye protection is to be worn;
4. ensure a supply of appropriate eye protection is provided to visitors
5. enforce the use of eye protection in all signposted areas.

Please contact Occupational Health and Safety enquiries on extension 51016 or email if you have any queries in relation to this matter.

August 1996