When sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) is not just a work issue, but a home issue as well
What happened?
A 13 month-old baby boy was with his mother while she was cleaning their bathroom at their flat in May 2025. The boy crept behind his mum and drank from a bottle. His father thinks his son thought it was milk, but it was caustic soda (sodium hydroxide – commonly used as a drain cleaner).
The baby suffered extreme burns to his airway, lips, mouth and tongue. He was taken to hospital and while in A and E suffered a heart attack. He spent two months in intensive care and was left unable to eat, drink or speak, and needs complex surgery.
Legal Outcome
N/A
What can we learn from what happened?
This accident happened in someone’s home, but sodium hydroxide is a well-known, and effective, chemical that may be used in a working environment. If that environment is one where children, or other vulnerable people, may be present, then the controls that ensure they can never have access to the chemical must be extremely effective, and must eliminate all risk. Sodium Hydroxide is highly corrosive, and has been the cause of serious injuries as covered in this case study library.
Source of Information
South West News Service Online