UCLA, Professor Face Lab Death Charges
Posted by Daniel Antolin on Dec 27, 2011 - 9:50:00 PM
Sheharbano "Sheri" Sangji. Photo courtesy of her dedication website.
WESTWOOD—On Tuesday, December 27, a UCLA chemistry professor and the university were charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office with three felony counts each of willfully violating occupational health and safety standards. Violation of these standards allegedly resulted in a chemical laboratory fire that killed a staff research assistant in late 2008.
An arrest warrant has been issued for the chemistry professor, 42-year-old Patrick Harran, who trained and supervised then 23-year-old Sheharbano "Sheri" Sangji, the research assistant who sustained fatal burns to half her body in the December 29, 2008 fire. A California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) report states that Sangji on that date was working with t-butyl lithium, a highly flammable compound that burns when exposed to air, when a syringe component came loose and ignited her clothes. Though Sangji was wearing a synthetically made sweater, her not wearing a lab coat largely factored into the severity of her burns, according to the report.
"The district attorney's decision to file charges today is truly baffling and directly contradicts the findings of the state agency responsible for evaluating workplace safety. The facts provide absolutely no basis for the appalling allegation of criminal conduct, and UCLA is confident an impartial jury would agree," a statement posted on the university's website states.
If found guilty, UCLA could be fined up to $4.5 million.
UCLA deemed the fire to be a tragic accident. Though UCLA initially did not dispute the report's findings or appeal a $31,875 fine, the university later appealed the findings so that there is nothing that can be used against its case in a legal proceeding. The findings include that Sangji was not wearing a lab coat on the day of the fire even though two other researchers there with her were wearing coats. Also, there was no documentation available to account for her general lab training and for actions deemed necessary to correct noted lab deficiencies.
Patrick Harran. Photo courtesy of UCLA.
"Sheri was an experienced chemist and published researcher who exuded confidence and had performed this experiment before in my lab. Sheri had previous experience handling ... chemicals that burn upon exposure to air, even before she arrived at UCLA. Her most recent position prior to joining the group involved 'scale-up process safety,'" Harran said in a statement following the incident. "However, it seems evident, based on mistakes investigators tell us were made that day, I underestimated her understanding of the care necessary when working with such materials."
"Throughout my career, I have strived to create a culture of safety. I am haunted by memories of this tragedy and wish that nothing like it happens again – in my lab or any other. In continuing our research, I go forward with a heavy heart in remembrance of Sheri and with a rededication to safety," Harran said.
If found guilty, Harran faces four years in prison.
A UC Santa Barbara Environmental Healthy and Safety summary of the incident indicates that Sangji was also wearing safety glasses and nitrile gloves on the day of the fire. When a mixture of t-butyl lithium and pentane ignited the sweater and gloves, Sangji ran in a direction that was a few feet away from an emergency shower, that is, until a researcher used a lab coat to smother the flames. EMTs put her in the shower for gross decontamination before transporting her to the ER with second and third-degree burns.
"Sheri was a young girl living life to the fullest—looking forward to a game of soccer, starting law school, a trip to the the beach, hanging out with her friends, laughing- when it was cruelly cut short," said Naveen Sangji on a website dedicated to her younger sister. "No one should have to suffer the pain and horror Sheri suffered. No family should have to bear such a profound loss."
A similar incident occurred in November 2007 when a paid graduate researcher, who was not wearing a lab coat, accidentally spilled ethanol on himself, according to a Cal/OSHA inspection document. Thereafter, flames from a Bunsen burner ignited his hands and shirt, which the ethanol had made highly flammable. He consequently suffered first and second-degree burns to his chest and hands.
UCLA was fined $23,900 by Cal/OSHA for not reporting what happened.
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