I’ve been working in the labs now for 5 years and this is the first time I was involved in a lab investigation… hopefully the last time too!!
I was doing some extractions using acetic acid and isoamyl alcohol - smelly, stinky, stupid, gay chemicals!!! There was a small spill in the fume hood which I cleaned up thoroughly, threw the lab paper into the bin and shut the lid. Apparently, the smell from the lab paper accumulated over night and spread throughout the lab. The first person to walk in the lab the following morning decided to investigate where the smell was coming from.
She lifted up the lid of the bin and inhaled the extremely unpleasent fumes. She started feeling sick with an irritated throat and stomach. You can imagine what I was going through when I heard about it (Yes, I did cry, that’s how afraid I was for her safety). I was so mad at myself for not thinking about the risk that now seemed so obvious!!
So anyway, we looked up my risk assessments and MSDS sheets. I would’ve been in trouble if these weren’t in place but thankfully I had been very careful about lab safety documentation. According to the documents, inhalation of these chemicals isn’t toxic but medical attention is required if one feels sick and that vomitting should not be induced even though you really do feel like throwing up when you smell these gay chemicals. So she was taken to the doctor who said everything was fine, she just needs to stay out of the lab now for 2 days just to be on the safe side. phew
The head of research could probably tell how worried I was and she then calmed me down by saying things like this happen all the time in the lab, it’s happened to you the first time but it happens very often, you had the documentation in place, you didn’t do anything wrong, don’t worry about it. That is when I calmed down and promised myself to be extra extra careful in the lab from now on. I’m going to get the poor girl some chocolates or somethin
Come to think of it, this was much less severe than some of the other incidents that have happened in the labs. One of the techs set a little fire once but it was taken care of straight away. Please do share some of the accidents you have come across at workplace to make me feel less retarded!
She didn’t have a clue I had cried Besides, there’s no reprimanding involved when something like this happens unless you were really really foolish … like if you decided to light a match and throw it in a flammable liquid container… All that happens in cases like these is a thorough investigation as to what happened, how it happened, who was involved, what were the consequences and how you are going to avoid it in the future. The lab supervisor then sends an email around reminding people to take extra care when doing this this and this. That is all.
I put my lunch in microwave, powered it on for 2 mins and went to get a soda from vending machine. The person who used microwave before me somehow managed to leave aluminum foil in the microwave and i didnt see it when i put my food in the microwave. When i came back there were few guys outside the break room wondering who was the last person to use microwave. There was a big fire in the break room.
i work with formaldehyde and other chemicals, and cant stand then smell.
i remember once i accidently spilled some HCHO while decanting it in a smaller container...even in the fumehood it took forever for the smell to go away.
these days i developing some fertilizer products, and everyone that comes in my lab complains about the amino smell.....urgh....
I put my lunch in microwave, powered it on for 2 mins and went to get a soda from vending machine. The person who used microwave before me somehow managed to leave aluminum foil in the microwave and i didnt see it when i put my food in the microwave. When i came back there were few guys outside the break room wondering who was the last person to use microwave. There was a big fire in the break room.
Hope you feel better.
Zobia, that I am, girl. Lesson learned.
Pakilarka :O Hope no one got hurt!
Oh am all fine... No one got hurt coz it was a fiction story to make you feel better :(
In high school our teacher was showing us something, I've completely forgotten what, but he had safety screen up and everything because there were flames and stuff. Anyway, one flam thingy flies over the safety screen and lands on this boys head (I hated the boy so yeah, no tears there) everyone burst out laughing and they guy still has a bald spot on his head.
Fun times.
There was a small spill in the fume hood which I cleaned up thoroughly, threw the lab paper into the bin and shut the lid. Apparently, the smell from the lab paper accumulated over night and spread throughout the lab. The first person to walk in the lab the following morning decided to investigate where the smell was coming from.
(Yes, I did cry, that’s how afraid I was for her safety). I was so mad at myself for not thinking about the risk that now seemed so obvious!!
That is when I calmed down and promised myself to be extra extra careful in the lab from now on. I’m going to get the poor girl some chocolates or somethin 
poor guy.