Stuck standard taper joints are the worst glass injury hazard I have encountered. Once some years ago a student brought me an rb flask stuck to the distillation head. It was close to 5:00 and he was anxious about his (innocuous) product in the flask. I tried a quick tug on the pieces and snapped the distillation head in my hand. That was the only time in 40 years I needed medical attention from a lab injury. Lesson Learned: I have puncture resistant gloves to wear and start with gentle tapping at the joint with a wood block. If that does not work I soak it for a day or two in dilute lab soap ( one vendor recommends diet cola for soaking.) After that a gentle twist is often enough or gentle heating of the outer joint to expand it. The student needs to salvage any product before I take over.

This works with 90% of our problem joints. The other 10% go to glass disposal.

Richard York
Coordinator of Chemistry Labs
Wittenberg University

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of LaCroix, Steve (DOH)
Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2015 11:48 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Glassware injury lesson learned report?

We recently had an glass ampoule break in opening with a minor spill but no injuries resulted........resulted in our standardizing of opening the ampoules.....

Steve LaCroix MS, CBSP
Environmental Health, Safety and QA Manager Department of Health Disease Control and Health Statistics
1610 NE 150th St.
Shoreline, WA 98155
Phone: (206) 418-5437
Cell: 206-391-9025
FAX: (206) 418-5445
email: steve.lacroix**At_Symbol_Here**doh.wa.gov
ergonomic information: http://dohweb/Risk/employee_safety_and_health/ergo/ergonomics.htm
"The Department of Health works to protect and improve the health of people in Washington State"

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Stuart, Ralph
Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2015 8:26 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Glassware injury lesson learned report?

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

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