i understand where everyone is coming from, but have you ever been dealing with a hazardous material wearing gloves, and have the gloves leak and not realize it? i have
i'm going to continue being hazardous, but advise no one to follow my example. it's one thing to have a couple splatters on the hand that you can quickly rinse off, but it's a different thing to have this material held tightly against the skin, smeared across a greater surface area as you take the gloves off. in the meantime, you could have had the splash neutralized with vinegar and rinsed off.
eye protection, i agree with, though.
i also have to ask you to think twice against wearing loose clothing that can absorb the lye without you knowing it, and then sit on the skin.