Russell Furr

Director 8/20/13

Laboratory Safety & Compliance

Research Safety

Full Time

Students

Part-Time

Organizational Changes Office of Research Safety Research Safety Advisors

Safety Culture Survey Fire Marshal Inspections Laboratory Plans Review

New Research Safety Initiatives

Sherharbano (Sheri) Sangji, a 23 year old Research Assistant in an organic chemistry lab, was performing a synthesis involving tert-butyllithium (tBuLi), a pyrophoric chemical on December 29, 2008

UCLA Accident Summary

Sheri Sangji

During the transfer of tBuLi, the syringe barrel came out of the plunger and the tBuLi ignited

Sheri Sangji’s clothing caught fire and she sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns to over 40% of her body

Sheri Sangji died from her injuries on January 16, 2009

UCLA Accident Summary

Cal/OSHA investigated the accident UCLA fined $31,875 in 2009

Failure to ensure employees wore appropriate PPE Failure to maintain health & safety training records for

laboratory employees Failure to correct unsafe conditions identified in

October EH&S inspection

UCLA Accident Investigation

LADA filed felony charges against the PI, Dr. Patrick Harran, and the Regents of the University of California in December, 2011

UCLA Criminal Charges

3 counts each of the crime of “Willful Violation of an Occupational Safety & Health Standard Causing the Death of an Employee”

The Regents of the University of California reached a settlement agreement with the LADA in July, 2012

Dr. Harran was ordered to stand trial

UCLA Criminal Charges

Arrest Warrant

Regents “acknowledge and accept responsibility for the conditions under which the laboratory was operated on December 29, 2008”

Establish a $500,000 scholarship for Environmental Law at UC Berkeley in Sheri Sangji’s name

Regents agreed to implement a number of safety measures at all UC schools

Key Components of Settlement

1. Safe Science is Good Science 2. Safety is operation specific Training

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

Procedures for prior approval

Personal Protective Equipment

3. Importance of good documentation 4. Importance of support for safety by

administration

Lessons Learned from UCLA

1. Demonstrate commitment to safety

2. Assess risks and plan for hazards

3. Implement controls

4. Ensure all lab members receive training specific to the hazards of the lab

5. Continuous Improvement

Managing Safety – Expectations

Assistance with assessing research hazards Evaluating hazards and selecting controls SOP review Hazard specific training

Inspections Training database Incident Investigation Lab closeout and move-in Hazardous waste disposal

DES Services

OSH facility modification funds Sustainability

Refrigerator/freezer buy back Student sustainability fund

Facilities Management Risk Mitigation Matching Fund (proposed/beta) Spill clean-up assistance (4-2000)

Resources

Training documentation Encourage PIs to identify a laboratory safety

coordinator Faculty safety committee Assigning appropriate space – pull DES in at design/

recruitment stage Incident reporting

Department Support for Labs

Questions?