AMHERST, Mass. — Yale University is disputing a claim made by federal safety regulators that lab equipment responsible for the accidental death of a student this spring lacked some essential safety features.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) alerted the university in a letter on August 15 that the lathe that killed Michele Dufault lacked required safeguards, such as emergency shut-off switch and a guard or shield to protect a person using the lathe, Reuters reports. The letter also stated that Yale’s policies and practices for the operation of the lathe were unsafe.
Officials found other safety flaws in the shop, including warning signs that were missing and insufficient record keeping, according to OSHA. Yale officials said OHSA’s assessment contained “significant inaccuracies.”
Related Articles: