California university to appeal sanctions in lab researcher's death - June 12, 2009
Posted on behalf of Rex Dalton
The accidental death earlier this year of a researcher in a chemistry laboratory fire continues to reverberate at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
UCLA officials have recently switched to a defensive mode, after last month agreeing to pay nearly $32,000 in fines and accepting health and safety citations for violations following the 16 January death of Sheri Sangji.
A statement posted on 8 June says the university will engage in a partial appeal of the state sanctions to prevent their use in any future civil or criminal proceeding against UCLA. Sangji's family and friends are pushing for more scrutiny of the 29 December accident. Sangji, age 23, was critically burned when a syringe malfunctioned when she was removing volatile t-butyl lithium from a container.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health cited UCLA in May for inadequate training, not providing protective clothing, and failing to correct previously identified lab safety deficiencies. At the time, UCLA noted it had taken all required corrective actions.
But now a UCLA attorney’s statement says the university had corrected the noted deficiencies prior to the incident – only failed to document those remedies. The university says the appeal doesn’t mean it isn’t serious about maintaining safe laboratories.
The appeal will be heard during an administrative hearing process in the coming months.
Comments
This tragic death is just the tip of the iceberg. UC's teaching labs combine dangerous materials, out-dated equipment, underpaid and disgruntled technical staff with students anxious to finish their work before finals. A recipe for disaster.
I work at UC Berkeley and am active with my union. The discussion among the workforce about these issues is frightening.
Posted by: hank chapot | June 14, 2009 01:24 AM
From France, UCLA look perfect,...
But this post makes me realize that the realities of universities is the same as in France.
Eric
Posted by: eric | August 10, 2009 02:28 PM
Increased safety awareness at our University of California campuses would prevent needless injuries, deaths, lawsuits and settlement payouts. This is an example of how cutting corners leads to higher tuition at California colleges.
Posted by: Californiality | November 2, 2009 04:36 AM