Eye Accidents

Causes/Nature:

• Chemical liquids or solids which splashed onto the eyes, giving rise to slight irritation or discomfort.
• Students unintentionally rubbed their eyes with hands contaminated with chemicals.
• The chemicals commonly involved were copper(II) sulphate, dilute acids and alkalis.
• Students looked at bright light through a magnifying glass.

Safety Precautions:

• Eye injuries can be very damaging and hence for accidents involving the eyes, medical advice should be sought immediately and the cases reported to the Education Department as soon as possible.
• Each laboratory should be equipped with enough safety spectacles for use by every student. Other protective equipment like safety screens should be used where appropriate to safeguard against injuries.
• Teachers should ensure that safety spectacles are worn by all students whenever there is any risk of eye injury. This will include activities involving heating chemicals, handling acids, alkalis and other corrosive chemicals, working with glass apparatus under pressure, carrying out potentially violent or exothermic reactions.
• Whenever safety spectacles are required, they should be continually worn by all until everyone has finished the activity.
• Students should also be asked to wear safety spectacles even when observing science experiments demonstrated by the teacher and washing up laboratory apparatus.