Important lessons from US university lab safety investigations

All of us in Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) at the U of A were deeply affected by a video produced recently by the US Chemical Safety Board (USCSB). Called "Experimenting with Danger," the video is about some of the hazards found in a university laboratory. Focusing on three serious accidents at three different US universities, the video shows the potentially terrible cost of breakdowns in laboratory safety. We think it provides good information for anyone who works in any kind of science laboratory at any university, including the University of Alberta.

We've excerpted three vital segments of the video and invite you to watch any or all of them. You will see evidence of systemic breakdowns, procedural breakdowns, and breakdowns in communication.

We are also using this opportunity to provide a one-page list of things you can do right now to enhance safety in your lab.

In addition, we've included an opportunity to comment on the video or any element of health and safety at the U of A. We are all managers of risk and I believe we can always strive to do even better.

Rob Munro
Director
Environment, Health & Safety
rbmunro@ualberta.ca

The first excerpt features the terrible tragedy of the accident at UCLA in 2008 that took the life of a young lab worker. This segment is 6:46 in length.

The second excerpt tells the story of a distinguished academic who died as the result of contact with a small amount of dangerous material. This segment is 3:26 in length.

The final excerpt features an explosion in a lab at Texas Tech that critically injured a grad student. This excerpt also includes the conclusions and recommendations of the Chemical Safety Board regarding safety in university laboratories. This segment is 7:13 in length.

Useful information and tools

Critical things you can do in your lab right now!

The University of Alberta and the recommendations highlighted in the video

Link to the full length video on Youtube

Contact information for Occupational Hygiene and Chemical Safety 

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