1 / 8

Safety Update

On April 13, 2009, an explosion occurred in a fume hood at LBNL due to chemical incompatibility. A guest researcher improperly disposed of isopropyl alcohol into an acid waste container containing Aqua Regia, leading to a pressure buildup and subsequent explosion. As a result, their status was revoked, and the Principal Investigator's summer pay was suspended. This incident underscores the need for proper chemical storage practices and training for staff and guests before unsupervised work. Additionally, to comply with safety regulations, LBNL is conducting an electrical equipment survey by September 30, 2009.

carney
Télécharger la présentation

Safety Update

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Safety Update Marty White April 13, 2009

  2. Accident at B/66 • 2 waste containers next to each other in fume hood waste area (SAA) • Glass Bottle for acids (containing Aqua Regia) • Flam Can • Guest researcher, 2nd day at LBNL, put waste isopropyl alcohol into acid bottle, tightened cap and left room • Oxidizing acid mixture reacted with fuel, releasing gases and building up pressure in bottle • Acid bottle exploded in fume hood in empty room 30 minutes after IPA addition • Guest status was revoked and the PI’s summer pay was suspended • Lesson Learned? • Separate incompatables in chemical storage and in waste areas • Staff & guests need to be trained before they work unsupervised

  3. Electrical Equipment Survey • Code requires that we have NRTL-inspected equipment or inspect the equipment ourselves for safety. • By 9/30/09 LBNL must survey electrical equipment and document which equipment needs to be inspected (contract measure). • Each Division is responsible to survey their own equipment. Divisions will not be responsible for the inspection at a later date.

  4. What needs to be surveyed? • Commercially-built scientific equipment • Custom-built equipment • Lab built-equipment • Customized Facilities-type equipment used in NSD space

  5. What does not need to be inspected? • Standard office equipment (copy machine, plug strips, etc.) • Consumer appliances (microwave, desk fans, lamps, etc.) • Personal computers • Common electrical construction devices (switches, receptacles, conduits, etc.) • Equipment that operates at less than 50 V or less than 5 milliamps

  6. Some specifics • All affected equipment purchased from now on must be NRTL-certified or inspected by EHS before it may be used. • Surveyors must complete training (EHS0381) • On-line • Special NSD class by Keith Gershon TBA – Those needing the class will be invited to attend

  7. HSS Lessons Learned • LBNL tends not to do a good job of requirements/program management • Time-constraints • User input not often requested • HSS CAP Team requests feedback from LBNL staff on proposed corrective actions. • Contact Marty if interested.

  8. HSS Findings • Job Hazard Analysis • Nonradiological Exposure • Radiation Protection • Document Infrastructure • Electrical Safety • Self Assessment Program • Issue Management • Occupational Injury/Illness • Lessons Learned • Chemical Management

More Related