I'm posting this for all of you who don't wear all your protective gear! Think about the results of this if the soaper had been in her kitchen!!
"Today, I mixed about five gallons of 33% lye solution in a bucket. I was inthe soap/laundry room which has a very deep sink. When I went to lift it out of the sink after it had cooled, my foot slipped and the whole container splashed onto the floor, and the bottoms of my feet. The lid was on the container, but apparently not tightly. A few drops also splashed on my face and onto my safety goggles. The rest hit the floor.
I opened the outside laundry room door, and ran to the nearest garden hose. I flushed my face with the hose on full blast, then sprayed my
feet. Fortunately, the skin on the bottom of my feet is pretty thick.
I escaped lye burns. I chased the dogs out of the yard and into the
house where they couldn't get into the laundry room. Then I found all of
the old towels and sheets that I could to mop up the mess, still
wearing gloves, mask, and goggles. I shoved the lye loaded items into the
washer with a quart of white vinegar for a whole cyccle, then
washed the load again with detergent. Meanwhile, I mopped the still
damp floor with a strong vinegar solution. After that was done, I
tested the tile with phenolpthalein to make sure the lye was gone. No
pink reaction, so it's good to go.
I am so grateful that I didn't skip the goggles and gloves, "just this
once". I am glad that the laundry room inside door was securely
closed, so none of the bubbas could go investigate. I am relieved that
I had a clear shot to running water, without tracking lye solution
through the house. I think of what could have gone wrong, and didn't.
I didn't hurt myself or anyone or anything else.
Please, everyone...don' t ever think that your safety equipment is optional.
Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you like.
Diane (last name withheld because I don't know if that was to be shared)"
"Today, I mixed about five gallons of 33% lye solution in a bucket. I was inthe soap/laundry room which has a very deep sink. When I went to lift it out of the sink after it had cooled, my foot slipped and the whole container splashed onto the floor, and the bottoms of my feet. The lid was on the container, but apparently not tightly. A few drops also splashed on my face and onto my safety goggles. The rest hit the floor.
I opened the outside laundry room door, and ran to the nearest garden hose. I flushed my face with the hose on full blast, then sprayed my
feet. Fortunately, the skin on the bottom of my feet is pretty thick.
I escaped lye burns. I chased the dogs out of the yard and into the
house where they couldn't get into the laundry room. Then I found all of
the old towels and sheets that I could to mop up the mess, still
wearing gloves, mask, and goggles. I shoved the lye loaded items into the
washer with a quart of white vinegar for a whole cyccle, then
washed the load again with detergent. Meanwhile, I mopped the still
damp floor with a strong vinegar solution. After that was done, I
tested the tile with phenolpthalein to make sure the lye was gone. No
pink reaction, so it's good to go.
I am so grateful that I didn't skip the goggles and gloves, "just this
once". I am glad that the laundry room inside door was securely
closed, so none of the bubbas could go investigate. I am relieved that
I had a clear shot to running water, without tracking lye solution
through the house. I think of what could have gone wrong, and didn't.
I didn't hurt myself or anyone or anything else.
Please, everyone...don' t ever think that your safety equipment is optional.
Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you like.
Diane (last name withheld because I don't know if that was to be shared)"
