UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Any recommendations for protective glasses and gloves to use with some serious drain acid?

I've had sink drainage problems and the plumber recommended this 'One Shot drain cleaner' which is pure acid.
He gave me instructions on how to use it and showed me the burns to his arms and holes in his clothes to labour the point about safety.
I want to get some glasses and gloves that would protect me which are strong enough because I will need to use this once a month and want to be very cautious especially regarding my eyes!

Louise

Only sympathy from me, I am afraid. i know nothing about these things, although I am pretty sure that Gareth does.

All the best

Andrew

Louise,

Gloves you want good thick nitrile rubber gloves Chemical Resistant Gloves and a pair of box goggles Anti-mist goggles; indirect ventilation which make it harder for any vapours to get near your eyes. A face shiled Browguard is best just incases it fizzes and spits towards your face.

These are taken from the http://www.screwfix.com web site which you can use to order on line and they aim to deliver next day, if you need these quicker, print off the pictures and go down a builders merchants on your local safety equipment supplier listed in the yellow pages.

Hope this helps and rememer to read the instructions carefully. Have a good supply of water nearby so you can rinse any acid off the gloves. With outside stuff I have a bucket of water to hand so I can dunk my gloved hands in. If I can have a tap running nearby I have that on so I can rinse any splashes off before taking the gloves off.

I had a student last year who accidently spilt acid on her gloves and as she took the gloves off, got acid on her wrist as she was taking them off and was left with a very nasty burn and a couple days worth of paper work for me to explain how the incident happend and how it could be prevented!

Take your time, don't rush it, check and double check what you are doing.

If we meet at the confrence or a social I will show you (not rude) what a small acid spill can do to your legs!

Lets just say you can see where I had my legs together, where my lab coat ended and where I got the chemical burn I have never had to wax again

Well Gareth, we didn't know you used to wax your legs!

Yet another revelation

Thankyou so much Gareth that's really helpful to me, I do want to be careful, these things make me very nervous!
I think we should all see your legs, burnt side and waxed side for comparison!!

I knew youd pick up on that, just ilustrating how dangerous acids are.

NEVER waxed my legs but where the burn was it's far smoother than any womans leg that has been waxed or shaved.