Fatal UCLA Fire Prompts Scrutiny of Lab Safety
LOS ANGELES
On Dec. 29, a UCLA research assistant working on an organic chemistry experiment was severely burned when the chemical compound she was working on caught fire. Two and a half weeks later she died of her injuries. The accident has put UCLA’s lab safety under a microscope.
Sheri Sangji, 23, sustained burns over 43 percent of her body during a flash fire that, according to the Los Angeles Times, started while she was using a plastic syringe to extract from a sealed container a small quantity of t-butyl lithium. The chemical ignites instantly when exposed to air.
Prior to the accident, inspectors had found several problems with the lab, including the improper storage of liquids and workers not wearing protective lab coats. The deficiencies were supposed to be fixed by Dec. 5, but at the time of the incident, corrective action had not been taken.
For additional information, click here.
If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Related Content
Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century
This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!
