Blog #2 Safety Goggles: Tangible Objects

Jon Abe

9.8.16

Honors Research

Although they may not be the most stylish of eye wear, theres no questioning the effectiveness of safety goggles.  These big clunky glasses look more like something one would wear when they go snorkeling rather than conducting a science experiment.   However, its unfair to judge this eye wear solely based on its appearance.  In fact, these glasses weren’t designed to be worn at a red carpet event, but instead were meant to protect your eyes.  They protect one from poisonous fumes, splattering liquids, flying objects, and even prevent you from rubbing/scratching your eyes after handling chemicals.  Maybe even after hearing all the protective benefits of safety goggles, one still isn’t convinced that the pros of wearing the goggles outweigh the abominable look of the goggles.  Perhaps it takes an anecdote, a story that makes one think “that could happen to me,” to wear the safety goggles.

One day in Chemistry, my lab partner and I were working on a rocket lab to understand how certain compounds interact with each other.  The experiment consisted of filling a film canister with water and dropping an alka-seltzer pill in the canister before quickly capping off the canister.  Within a few seconds the lid of the canister would explode off and fly into the air.  As immature 10th graders, my lab partner and I began a rocket war in which we would aim these mini rockets at each other.  One of these caps came flying directly towards my right eye.  Had my goggles not been on, the cap may have taken out or severely damaged my eye.  Instead the cap bounced off the goggles and we continued our war. 

Safety goggles play an important role in laboratory experiments.  They may not look fashionable, but they protect your eyes from vapor and foreign objects.  If after all this, one is still not convinced to wear the goggles, then it is up to them to live with the consequences of his/her choice.  It may not happen this lab or possibly the next lab, but one day you will be happy that you decided to put on these goofy looking goggles.