EMPLOYMENT LAW: UCLA Penalized by Cal/OSHA on unreported lab accident

March 18, 2010

Los Angeles – The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has fined University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) of $23,900 this week, for not reporting a fatal lab accident in November 2007 that killed a graduate student.

A Cal/OSHA investigator found out an unreported incident in UCLA laboratory, while scanning the files in September 2008. In February 2008, the agency found recurring violations on safety procedures, protective gear, and chemical storage.

Sheharbano Sangji, a paid research assistant for UCLA, died in November 2007 when t-butyl lithium ignited and burned her body.

Sangji was experimenting on T-butyl when it exploded and caused fire upon exposure to oxygen. It made contact on Sangji's synthetic clothing and melted on her skin. She eventually died after two weeks of medication.

As a result, Cal/OSHA fined UCLA of $31,000 for the death case of Sangji. The agency commented on UCLA's failure to adhere to safety laboratory procedures despite updated policies announced in July 2007.

Cal/OSHA discovered in May 2008 that Sangji was not wearing standard laboratory protective clothing. American Chemical Society Chairman Russ Phifer commented that Sangji violated a safety procedure when she worked at the chemicals alone in the laboratory.

UCLA clarified that it issued an updated safety laboratory rules before Sangji's accident. The university asserted its cooperation with Cal/OSHA.

UCLA settled the fines, yet contested on the university violations. A protest from Sangji's relatives and union prompted the university to withdraw from its contention.