A report on the Daily Bruin UCLA website reported that a 22-year-old lab assistant has died in a work accident in Los Angeles after sustaining second and third degree burns covering 40 percent of her body. Phil Hampton, a UCLA campus official said that they were in contact with family.
Hampton said, “This is a tragic accident that saddens the campus community.”
The woman was involved in a chemical fire on December 29, 2008 in a UCLA molecular science building. She was working with the extremely flammable compound t-butyl lithium. While extracting the t-butyl lithium, the stopper became unfastened, causing the fire. A coworker rushed to put out the flames and the assistant was taken to the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center. Afterwards she was taken to the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks where she sadly passed away. Hampton stated that the Health and Safety department was conducting an investigation into the fire.
Hampton added, “Lab safety is an important campus priority, and as a result of this tragic accident, lab safety protocols are being reviewed to ensure that a tragedy like this doesn’t happen again.”
Mistakes happen in the workplace, just as they do in other parts of life. But when an avoidable mistake in the workplace causes death or a lifelong disability, that explanation just isn’t enough. Statistics show that most burns acquired at home or at work are caused by preventable accidents, such as unattended cooking, dropped cigarettes or children playing with matches and lighters. Many others are the result of product defects and carelessness like bad electrical wiring, flammable furnishings and clothing. In workplaces involving open flames or chemicals, carelessness and lack of safety precautions are often to blame.
If you or a loved has been involved in a fire accident, contact the knowledgeable and experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at Panish, Shea, and Boyle. We have established ourselves as a premiere law firm and have a proven success record. Please call 1-866-992-1700 for a free consultation.
