An earlier experiment with an different puke machine, known as Vomiting Larry, showed just how hard it can be to clean up a space contaminated with vomit. In a video, researcher Catherine Makison-Booth of the UK’s Health and Safety Laboratory attempts to clean up fake fluorescent vomit. Despite best efforts she misses lots of mess and ends up with vomit on her nose and mouth. It’s not pretty.

Holding your breath after someone vomits nearby isn’t a reasonable option, but there are ways to limit contamination and exposure. And if you are the unlucky person who ends up with the dirty work, for heaven’s sake, don’t touch your face.