The Carol Never Wore Her Safety Goggles. Now She Doesn't Need Them safety poster is one of several science and safety-related posters published by Flinn Scientific, Inc. a leading educational science supply company and manufacturer. The poster was introduced in the 2003 Flinn Scientific Catalog/Reference Manual and distributed free to science teachers who placed an order for laboratory chemicals with Flinn Scientific. Since its inception in 1978, Flinn Scientific has dedicated itself to reducing accidents and improving safety in high school science labs by promoting safety awareness in working with laboratory chemicals. This business philosophy is reflected in the company motto, "Your Safer Source for Science Supplies," which appears on the bottom of the safety poster and has appeared on every Flinn Scientific Catalog/Reference Manual since 1981. The poster definitely struck a chord with students and teachers alike but has also attracted some controversy due to its dark nature.

Poster analysis

The original poster has a stark black and white look. Other individuals and groups that have appropriated the poster without permission from Flinn Scientific have sometimes added color accents to the graphics. The poster features a simple image of a blind girl, with the text below the image reading: "Carol never wore her safety goggles. Now she doesn't need them." The purpose of the poster was to remind students of the importance of wearing safety goggles whenever working with chemicals, heat or glassware in the lab. Wearing safety eyeware that is approptiate for the hazards is a key requirement of federal and state Right to Know Laws, and the poster helps teachers reinforce on a daily basis the importance of this laboratory safety requirement. Although the poster has drawn some criticism for its stark imagery, the importance of the message cannot be overstated. Teachers face enormous challenges every day in enforcing this most basic rule of laboratory science. The image is stark because the possible consequences of not wearing goggles are stark.

Controversy

Since the posters introduction several years ago, a number of complaints have popped up, most falling into one of two main categories. The first category belongs to complaints/beliefs that the poster is too dark, particularly for high school students. In an interview with various teachers around the country, Frank Nelly (a high school chemistry teacher teaching in Alaska) told reporters that: <blockquote>
"I've taught for 16 years in Bush Alaska... I try and order all of my supplies through [Flinn] in appreciation for their efforts to help science teachers... but when I got this poster, and kids started seeing it, I began to feel that... Flinn had gone too far. It feels more like a scare tactic... rather than actually establishing good safety rules in today's youth."
</blockquote>
The poster has also come under fire from several disability groups who believe that the poster paints the blind and other disabled individuals in a negative light. The key aspect of this belief is that the poster may convince youths that those who are blind have done something to 'deserve' it. Flinn Science Inc has responded stating that "This could not be further from the truth. First of all... we would never allow that... we love the disabled... enough to make posters about them." The comments brought Flinn under even more criticism, due to the somewhat sarcastic nature of the comments. Flinn later apologized again, stating that the taken meaning was not what they meant.

Cult status

Recently, the poster has become a cult status symbol, particularly among college students. The popular social site FaceBook has a group dedicated to the poster, with over 46 thousand members. Many find the poster's melodramatic appeal humorous, and hang it on their dorm room walls. The poster is also able to be found on the internet, such as the YTMND page, Why Carol Why? and carolneverworehersafetygoggles.ytmnd.com