Bunsen and Lab Safety Awareness

     Today marks the 200^th birthday of Robert Bunsen. Robert Bunsen is best known for the Bunsen burner though he has made many contributions to science. Bunsen made his biggest impact to the scientific world during his study of spectroscopy , the study of the rays in light, leading him to invent the Bunsen-Kirchoff spectroscope.  Using the spectroscope he eventually discovered the elements, cesium and rubidium (Source: www.wisegeek.com). 

Cartoon depiction of a bunsen burner

     To celebrate Bunsen’s birthday and his contributions to science, SafetySkills™ is featuring the Laboratory Safety series. The series is available at http://www.safetyskills.com/laboratory-safety. The series features Basic Laboratory Safety, Chemical Hygiene Safety and Hexavalent Chromium Safety.  

     If Bunsen had watched these courses, he may have obtained safety skills that could help prevent laboratory catastrophes. In 1838 when Bunsen was studying cacodyls, a compound made with arsenic, the substance nearly poisoned Bunsen and an explosion in his lab sent a sliver of glass in his one eye causing him to lose sight in the damaged eye.  Let’s honor Bunsen by practicing safe laboratory skills. For more information on other safe work practices, please visit www.safetyskills.com for a complete listing of all our course offerings.