Sheri Sangji's Story - UCLA Chemical Fire

Summary

Sherry Sanji, a 23-year-old chemistry graduate and aspiring law student, tragically died from burns covering 40% of her body after a laboratory accident at UCLA on December 29, 2008. While transferring a pyrophoric chemical, a syringe malfunction exposed the chemical to air, igniting it and causing a secondary fire. Despite UCLA's claims of safety training, California OSHA found no evidence and cited the university for inadequate protective measures. The incident has prompted UCLA to revamp its safety protocols, emphasizing the need for a strong safety culture to prevent future tragedies.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Sherry Sanji was a 23-year-old recent chemistry graduate working as a lab research assistant at UCLA.
• 🔬 She was passionate about making a difference in the world and was in the process of applying to law schools.
• 🧪 On December 29, 2008, a laboratory accident involving a highly reactive chemical led to her tragic death.
• 🔥 The accident occurred when tertiary butyl lithium, a pyrophoric chemical, sprayed onto her hands and ignited.
• 🚨 California OSHA cited UCLA's chemistry department for failing to require appropriate body protection for lab workers handling such chemicals.
• 👚 Sherry was not wearing a flame-resistant lab coat or the recommended protective clothing on the day of the accident.
• 📋 An internal safety inspection two months prior had already identified issues with personal protective equipment usage, which were not addressed.
• 📚 Dr. Jillian Kem reported on the incident extensively, highlighting the lack of documented safety training evidence.
• 🛠️ UCLA has since taken steps to improve safety, including better training, protective equipment, and unannounced inspections.
• 🏛️ Dr. James Gibson, director of UCLA's EHS office, emphasized the need for a multi-year process to change the safety culture.
• 💔 The incident had a profound impact on the campus, prompting a reevaluation of safety protocols and procedures.
• 🚨 The overarching message is the importance of safety as the first priority in any laboratory setting to prevent such tragedies.

Q & A

What was Sherry Sanji's age when she had her fatal accident at UCLA?

Sherry Sanji was 23 years old the day she went to work at UCLA for the last time.

What was Sherry Sanji's profession at the time of the accident?

Sherry Sanji was employed as a laboratory research assistant at the University of California, Los Angeles.

What degree had Sherry Sanji recently received before the accident?

Sherry Sanji had just received her bachelor's degree in chemistry.

What was Sherry Sanji's ambition at the time of the accident?

Sherry Sanji wanted to make a difference in the world and was applying to law schools.

What chemical caused the accident that led to Sherry Sanji's injuries?

The accident was caused by a highly reactive chemical called tertiary butyl lithium, which ignited spontaneously on contact with air.

What was the immediate cause of the chemical exposure to Sherry Sanji?

The plunger of the syringe came out while she was transferring the chemical, exposing it to air and causing it to catch fire.

What additional incident occurred during the accident?

Sherry knocked over an open flask of a flammable solvent in the hood, which also caught fire.

What was the reaction of the chemistry community to Sherry Sanji's death?

The entire chemistry community was shocked by the news of Sherry Sanji's death.

What were the findings of California OSHA regarding UCLA's safety measures?

California OSHA cited UCLA's chemistry department for failing to require appropriate body protection for laboratory workers handling pyrophoric materials.

What was the recommendation by pyrophoric chemical manufacturers regarding protective clothing?

The manufacturers of pyrophoric chemicals recommended more extensive protective clothing than what was provided to Sherry Sanji.

What steps has UCLA taken to improve safety following the accident?

UCLA has improved safety accountability, oversight, training, provided proper protective equipment, conducted unannounced safety inspections, and worked on improving the laboratory safety culture.

What is the long-term goal of the safety improvements at UCLA?

The long-term goal is to change the safety culture to prevent such accidents from happening again and to make safety the first priority in any laboratory.