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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 300869591 - Uc Los Angeles Dept Of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Inspection Information - Office: Los Angeles District Office
Site Address:
Uc Los Angeles Dept Of Chemistry & Biochemistry
609 Charles E. Young Dr. East
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Mailing Address:
501 Westwood Plaza, 4th Flr., Los Angeles, CA 90095
Union Status: Union
SIC:8221
NAICS: 611310/ Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: StateGovt
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 05/04/2009
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 12/31/2009
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 102574183 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||
| Current Violations | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $31,500 | $0 | $0 | $375 | $0 | $31,875 |
| Current Penalty | $31,500 | $0 | $0 | $375 | $0 | $31,875 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Other | 3203 B02 | 05/04/2009 | 05/28/2009 | $375 | $375 | $0 | 05/26/2009 | W - Empr Withdrew | |
| 2. | 02001 | Serious | 3203 A06 | 05/04/2009 | 05/18/2009 | $6,750 | $6,750 | $0 | 05/26/2009 | W - Empr Withdrew | |
| 3. | 03001 | Serious | 5191 F04 A13 | 05/04/2009 | 05/28/2009 | $6,750 | $6,750 | $0 | 05/26/2009 | W - Empr Withdrew | |
| 4. | 04001 | Serious | 3383 B | 05/04/2009 | 05/07/2009 | $18,000 | $18,000 | $0 | 05/26/2009 | W - Empr Withdrew |
Investigation Summary
At approximately 3:00 p.m. on December 29, 2008, a research assistant was working in her laboratory and was withdrawing approximately 20 ml. of tertiary butyl lithium in pentane from a sealed container using a plastic syringe. The maximum capacity of the syringe was 60 ml. As she was withdrawing the liquid, the syringe came out of the barrel, causing the mixture to leak out and spill on the research assistant's clothing, torso and hands. Upon contact with air the liquid immediately caught fire. (The compound is pyrophoric and will ignite spontaneously in contact with air.) A coworker smothered the flames with his lab coat. Another coworker threw water from a sink at her. Emergency responders were called and wheeled the research assistant under the laboratory's emergency shower, and then transported her to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. She was then transferred to Grossman Burn Center located in Sherman Oaks on the same day. The injured worker died on January 16, 2009, while being treated at the Grossman Medical Center.
Keywords: BURN, ABDOMEN, PPE, WORK RULES, FIRE, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, CHEMICAL REACTION, SKIN, SPILL, CHEMICAL
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 300869591 | Fatality | Burn(Chemical) | Chemists, except biochemists |