My first personally-experienced lab accident involved glassware: I was a high school Junior, working in the HS chemical stockroom and (mis)handling glass tubing while inserting it into a single-hole rubber stopper. I didn't use glycerine or any other lubricant (like soap) and I did the typical twist-and push of an L-shaped tube. Predictably (or perhaps not so much predictably when you're 16), it sheared and I deftly inserted the tube into the webbing between my left thumb and forefinger. Clean through. Bleeding like a stuck pig, I went to the teacher (tube still in my hand), he looked at me and said, "That was pretty f***ing stupid, wasn't it?"
He pulled out the tube, stuck my hand under the faucet and went back to the stockroom. He came out with a bottle of 0.1N silver nitrate, a Q-tip and a towel. He grabbed my hand from the running water, still bleeding quickly dried it off (sort of), dipped the Q-tip into the silver nitrate and said, "This might sting a little" and cauterized the hole in my hand. Yes, it sting, but not a little. He then sent me over to the first aid kit for a band-aid and said, "Bet you won't do that again any time soon. Now, go get those tubes prepped for tomorrow."
And he was right, I have never sheared a glass tube into my hand again. And I still bear the reminder of it.
So what were the lessons learned?
1.. Glass tubing has a fairly low shear modulus (A physics lesson). Use some kind of lubricant when inserting tubing into stoppers. (An administrative control)
2. It's sharp when it breaks - perhaps one should consider leather gloves when handling glass tubing. (PPE control)
3. Through-and-through wounds, even small diameter ones, bleed a lot. (A physiology lesson.)
4. Silver nitrate is a great cauterizing agent. Looking back, I would have preferred a a sterile solution. (Emergency first aid knowledge and application).
In the immortal words of Dr. Genevieve Quigley, my Hillsdale College Literature Professor, "No education of any kind is ever wasted."
Harry
