TIL you can hit 500 rolls developed before your first major chemical accident - I almost did

I kept a log since I started developing at home back in 2022 and I just ticked over 500 rolls last night. I was mixing up some fresh D-76 when I splashed a bit of developer on my arm. Not a big deal usually but this time it got into a tiny cut and burned like crazy for a few minutes. Made me realize I have been way too casual about safety gear. I always wear gloves but I skip the apron and eyewear half the time. After 499 rolls without issues I got lazy. That little burn was a wake-up call because one slip could ruin a lot more than film. Anyone else get too comfortable after hitting a big number?

2 comments

2 Comments

thomas_roberts22d ago

That's exactly how things go wrong in any hobby or job, you get comfortable after enough success and the little safeguards start slipping. What's the smallest safety corner you have started cutting lately?

evannelson22d ago

I don't know @thomas_roberts, some of this feels like we're looking for problems where there aren't any yet. Not every little shortcut is the start of a disaster. Sometimes you just know what you're doing and don't need to go through every single step like you're still learning. I've been doing my own thing for years and I've never had a serious problem from skipping the extra fuss. The real danger is when you stop paying attention entirely, not when you stop being paranoid about every tiny thing.