[zack-m]

Tragic. It’s always scary to handle needles in a lab. Even with good needle safety protocols, accidents are bound to happen.

There’s this case that my PI showed me of a student who pricked his finger with a needle filled with DCM [1] (which is very common solvent in used in lab). The residual DCM at the tip of the needle caused the damage shown in the pictures.

When your work involves handling tens of needles daily, accidents are bound to happen. I pricked myself once with a needle. Thankfully it was brand new and dry, so nothing happened. It was just the idea of it was terrifying. In an alternate world, I could’ve gone to the ER because of it. Hope someone invents a safer needle.

[1]: https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/gruesome-accident-prompt...

[refurb]

Just my opinion, but that’s not DCM residue on a needle, that’s someone using a needle to transfer and forcing DCM under their skin.

I drenched myself in DCM and stick myself with needles a few times.

Not to say the lab isn’t dangerous. I knew one person who peppered their abdomen with glass when a perchlorate exploded, scarred their face when a peroxide exploded and burned themselves with an organolithium.

But a simple needle stick with DCM residue won’t do that.

[ajnin]

Blunt needles are a thing. They are used for example in electronics as a way to dispense tiny amounts of solder paste or flux on components pads on a PCB. Presumably when transferring solutions from container to container, you don't need a sharp needle, unless the container is closed with a membrane that needs to be pierced.

There are also gloves that protect against puncture. If you're using both sharp needles and non-protecting gloves then it is probably time to revise the procedures.