Fwd: [BME_All] Safe working in the machine shop
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Ankur Asthana
Apr 14, 2011, 3:39:37 PM4/14/11
to Cha...@googlegroups.com, Andrea Morgan
just a friendly reminder since we do a lot of shop work ...be safe in the shop
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John Troy <j-t...@northwestern.edu>
Date: Thu, Apr 14, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Subject: [BME_All] Safe working in the machine shop
To: bme...@mccormick.northwestern.edu
Dear BME Community:
Please take the following story as a cautionary note:
Yale Student Killed In Lab Accident.
The AP (4/14) reports, "A Yale University student nearing graduation was killed inside a school chemistry lab when her hair was pulled into a piece of machine-shop equipment, school officials said Wednesday. Michele Dufault, a senior majoring in physics and astronomy, died Tuesday night after her hair became caught in a fast-spinning lathe, university President Richard Levin said," calling the death "a true tragedy."
The New York Times (4/14, Foderaro, Subscription Publication) reports Dufault "worked on underwater robotic vehicles last summer as a fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution," and "also traveled to Houston as part of a team of undergraduates chosen by NASA to perform a plasma physics experiment in reduced gravity." She also served as a mentor to encourage young girls in science. Dufault was working in the Sterling Chemistry Laboratory "on her senior thesis: investigating the possible use of liquid helium for detecting dark matter particles."
The university "is mourning the death of a 'brilliant' and 'vibrant' senior," according to the Hartford Courant (4/14), which reports condolences and praise for Ms. Dufault from administrators, faculty and fellow students. Yale is "conducting a 'thorough review' of the safety policies and practices of laboratories, machine shops, and other facilities with power equipment that is accessed and operated by undergraduates."
CNN (4/14, Hanna) reports that, in the wake of the tragedy, Yale President Richard C. Levin said, "The university has programs to train students before they use power equipment. Nonetheless, I have initiated a thorough review of the safety policies and practices of laboratories, machine shops and other facilities with power equipment that is accessed and operated by undergraduates."
Another AP (4/14, Christoffersen) article reports, "OSHA spokesman Ted Fitzgerald in Boston says the agency is reviewing jurisdiction in the case and evaluating whether it would conduct an inspection."
The Boston Globe (4/14, Irons) reports, "Until the review is completed, Levin said, the university will limit undergraduate access to facilities with power equipment and will require monitors in the laboratories at all times." The chemistry lab was closed yesterday, and the university has cancelled classes and some other activities. "University officials also encouraged students to reach out to deans, chaplains, and the mental health and counseling services to help them cope." The Chronicle of Higher Education (4/14) also briefly reports the story.
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL USERS OF THE BME MACHINE SHOP WITH LONG HAIR TAKE MEASURES (E.G. A CAP) TO ENSURE THAT AN ACCIDENT LIKE THE ONE DESCRIBED HERE DOE NOT OCCUR. ALSO< PLEASE WORK IN THE MACHINE SHOP WITH ANOTHER PERSON.
Best wishes,
John Troy
From: John Troy <j-t...@northwestern.edu>
Date: Thu, Apr 14, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Subject: [BME_All] Safe working in the machine shop
To: bme...@mccormick.northwestern.edu
Dear BME Community:
Please take the following story as a cautionary note:
Yale Student Killed In Lab Accident.
The AP (4/14) reports, "A Yale University student nearing graduation was killed inside a school chemistry lab when her hair was pulled into a piece of machine-shop equipment, school officials said Wednesday. Michele Dufault, a senior majoring in physics and astronomy, died Tuesday night after her hair became caught in a fast-spinning lathe, university President Richard Levin said," calling the death "a true tragedy."
The New York Times (4/14, Foderaro, Subscription Publication) reports Dufault "worked on underwater robotic vehicles last summer as a fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution," and "also traveled to Houston as part of a team of undergraduates chosen by NASA to perform a plasma physics experiment in reduced gravity." She also served as a mentor to encourage young girls in science. Dufault was working in the Sterling Chemistry Laboratory "on her senior thesis: investigating the possible use of liquid helium for detecting dark matter particles."
The university "is mourning the death of a 'brilliant' and 'vibrant' senior," according to the Hartford Courant (4/14), which reports condolences and praise for Ms. Dufault from administrators, faculty and fellow students. Yale is "conducting a 'thorough review' of the safety policies and practices of laboratories, machine shops, and other facilities with power equipment that is accessed and operated by undergraduates."
CNN (4/14, Hanna) reports that, in the wake of the tragedy, Yale President Richard C. Levin said, "The university has programs to train students before they use power equipment. Nonetheless, I have initiated a thorough review of the safety policies and practices of laboratories, machine shops and other facilities with power equipment that is accessed and operated by undergraduates."
Another AP (4/14, Christoffersen) article reports, "OSHA spokesman Ted Fitzgerald in Boston says the agency is reviewing jurisdiction in the case and evaluating whether it would conduct an inspection."
The Boston Globe (4/14, Irons) reports, "Until the review is completed, Levin said, the university will limit undergraduate access to facilities with power equipment and will require monitors in the laboratories at all times." The chemistry lab was closed yesterday, and the university has cancelled classes and some other activities. "University officials also encouraged students to reach out to deans, chaplains, and the mental health and counseling services to help them cope." The Chronicle of Higher Education (4/14) also briefly reports the story.
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL USERS OF THE BME MACHINE SHOP WITH LONG HAIR TAKE MEASURES (E.G. A CAP) TO ENSURE THAT AN ACCIDENT LIKE THE ONE DESCRIBED HERE DOE NOT OCCUR. ALSO< PLEASE WORK IN THE MACHINE SHOP WITH ANOTHER PERSON.
Best wishes,
John Troy
--
Ankur Asthana
McCormick School of Engineering, 2011
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