Two here, over the years:

Using a rotary evaporator, a grad student attempted to disconnect the distillation flask from the vapor tube, where it was attached by a ground glass connection.  When it stuck, torque was applied and the male fitting snapped, leaving a sharp edge that made a cut to the back of the hand above the thumb holding the flask that required several stitches.

Also, another insertion of a pipette into the "safety" rubber pipette filler for you.  Pressure not applied in a straight line, (both objects held freehand) pipette snapped, and punctured the hand holding the filler in same position as above injury.   In addition to stitches, some nerve damage plus fainting at the sight of blood.  

Don

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Does anyone have a relatively detailed favorite Lessons Learned report for a situation which involves significant cuts from broken glassware in a lab that doesn't involve over-pressurization of the vessel? I'm doing a training next week for undergraduate students and I'd like to make the point that it's not always the chemistry that creates the problem. The example I have in mind could involve hot glassware that breaks when someone tries to pick it up and drops it, but similar events would be helpful as well.

Thanks for any assistance with this.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Keene State College

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu