The U.S. Chemical Safety Board releases a final report on an explosion in a Texas Tech chemistry lab that seriously injured a graduate student in January 2010.
Recommendations announced in a live webcast include expanding measures to address and control physical safety hazards and implementing an incident and near-miss reporting system.
Texas Tech's Vice President for Research, Taylor Eighmy, says all of the agency's recommendations will be followed.
He says since the accident, hundreds of previous deficiencies have been addressed.
“The fact that we had 1660 in this department at that time suggests that there was a huge issue at play,” Eighmy said. “We just went back earlier this year and went back through all the laboratories again in that department and we had 125 deficiencies. That's getting better. Much, much, much better. But it's not perfect.”
Dr. Eighmy said Friday's small explosion in another chemistry lab shows the need for continuing improvement.
Tech released new details about that incident.
According to a statement, employees of a chemical production company had been working in that laboratory, which was unoccupied at the time.
The explosion sprayed dilute acids onto the floor, prompting a hazmat team response.
Outside experts and tech's office of environmental health and safety are investigating.
To find the link to the official reports look under the "seen on FOX 34" tab at MyFOXLubbock.com.
