Re: Chemical nastiness (poke in eye/contacts)

[Jerry Kimberlin <kimberln@xxxxxxxxx>]

byard pidgeon wrote:
> 
> Are there any common problems with wearing contact lenses in the darkroom?
> 
> I've never been able to tolerate contacts, and always felt a little safer
> with glasses. (made it almost impossible to poke myself in the eye, like
> Gary does...sorry, couldn't let it pass)

In the chemical laboratory where I worked, contact lenses were not
permitted.  In addition safety glasses were always required and
sometimes face shields were required when transferring liquids from
one container to another.  Contact lenses can trap splashed
chemicals against the cornea and cause devestating damage.  They are
not recommended for work in laboratory or even for general shop type
work.

As far as chemical toxicity is concerned, every individual is
different.  Science is the place to start in order to find out about
chemical hazards.  But the MSDS just takes into account a generic
type human being and doesn't concern itself with individuals.  Any
individual can become sensitized to any particular chemical or
foodstuff for that matter.

Safety in the working environment is always an individual
responsibility, regardless of what the MSDS, label, or common
practise dictates. Anyone who continues to suffer dermatitus or
breathing difficulties while working with chemicals is sort of a
fool.  But what one person cannot tolerate doesn't mean that others
can't either.  I don't like the do-gooders who try to impose
conditions on others in the guise of safety since they really don't
know - only the individual really knows.

JerryK
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