Philosophy
No mea culpa from UCLA. The lawyers are in a frenzy to establish limited responsibility.
UCLA has appealed state regulators' findings of serious workplace-safety violations in the fatal burning of a staff research assistant last year in a lab fire.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health found last month that Sheri Sangji, 23, was not properly trained and was not wearing protective clothing Dec. 29 when an experiment with air-sensitive chemicals burst into flames.
University officials say they have made the required changes and have paid the more than $31,000 in fines assessed by regulators.
Kevin Reed, vice chancellor for legal affairs, said the May 26 appeal will allow UCLA to stipulate that it admits no fault in connection with Cal/OSHA's findings, a move aimed at limiting the university's liability.
The appeal is necessary to make clear "that there was no citation or finding that can be used against the university in any future proceeding," Reed said in a statement.
Such proceedings might include lawsuits by labor unions or criminal action by prosecutors, Reed said in an interview. Cal/OSHA officials have said they routinely present their findings in death cases to district attorneys for review.
Workers' compensation rules may limit the family's legal options. But Sangji's sister, Naveen, said the family is pushing for an investigation by the district attorney. More than 1,300 people have signed an online petition urging one.
"We would like to see the district attorney take this up," said Naveen Sangji, a Harvard medical student who has been critical of the investigations by UCLA and Cal/OSHA. "It is time for an independent party to step up, someone who is not affiliated with UCLA."
Among other things, Cal/OSHA cited UCLA for not addressing deficiencies noted in an internal safety inspection two months before the fatal fire in professor Patrick Harran's organic chemistry laboratory, where Sheri Sangji worked, including a finding that workers were not wearing lab coats.
When the lab fire occurred, Sangji was transferring about 2 ounces of t-butyl lithium from one sealed container to another when a plastic syringe came apart in her hands, spewing a chemical compound that ignites when exposed to air.
The flash fire set ablaze her rubber gloves and synthetic sweater, causing serious burns over nearly half of her body. She died 18 days later.
Cal/OSHA's $31,875 fine included $18,000 for Sangji's lack of a lab coat, which might have kept her highly flammable sweater from catching fire.
Reed said in his statement that many of the corrective measures ordered by UCLA inspectors had been completed before the Dec. 29 fire but were not properly documented.
"Accordingly, the campus filed a technical appeal on these limited grounds," he said.
Although UCLA's appeal asserts that none of the safety orders cited by Cal/OSHA were violated, Reed said the legal maneuver "does not question the serious nature of the issues" the safety regulators raised.
"On the contrary," he said, "it is UCLA's goal to operate a laboratory safety program that is a model for other universities, and the campus implemented multiple and far-reaching improvements as a result of the comprehensive review ordered by the chancellor after the accident."
UCLA fined in Sheharbano Sangji death
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Philosophy
UCLA to appeal OSHA's finding in Sheri Sangji's death
No mea culpa from UCLA. The lawyers are in a frenzy to establish limited responsibility.
"UCLA appeals state findings in fatal lab fire"
Cal/OSHA had cited workplace-safety violations in the December death of staff research assistant Sheri Sangji. The school says it has made required changes and paid more than $31,000 in fines.
by
Kim Christensen
June 6th, 2009
The Los Angeles Times
Cal/OSHA had cited workplace-safety violations in the December death of staff research assistant Sheri Sangji. The school says it has made required changes and paid more than $31,000 in fines.
by
Kim Christensen
June 6th, 2009
The Los Angeles Times
UCLA has appealed state regulators' findings of serious workplace-safety violations in the fatal burning of a staff research assistant last year in a lab fire.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health found last month that Sheri Sangji, 23, was not properly trained and was not wearing protective clothing Dec. 29 when an experiment with air-sensitive chemicals burst into flames.
University officials say they have made the required changes and have paid the more than $31,000 in fines assessed by regulators.
Kevin Reed, vice chancellor for legal affairs, said the May 26 appeal will allow UCLA to stipulate that it admits no fault in connection with Cal/OSHA's findings, a move aimed at limiting the university's liability.
The appeal is necessary to make clear "that there was no citation or finding that can be used against the university in any future proceeding," Reed said in a statement.
Such proceedings might include lawsuits by labor unions or criminal action by prosecutors, Reed said in an interview. Cal/OSHA officials have said they routinely present their findings in death cases to district attorneys for review.
Workers' compensation rules may limit the family's legal options. But Sangji's sister, Naveen, said the family is pushing for an investigation by the district attorney. More than 1,300 people have signed an online petition urging one.
"We would like to see the district attorney take this up," said Naveen Sangji, a Harvard medical student who has been critical of the investigations by UCLA and Cal/OSHA. "It is time for an independent party to step up, someone who is not affiliated with UCLA."
Among other things, Cal/OSHA cited UCLA for not addressing deficiencies noted in an internal safety inspection two months before the fatal fire in professor Patrick Harran's organic chemistry laboratory, where Sheri Sangji worked, including a finding that workers were not wearing lab coats.
When the lab fire occurred, Sangji was transferring about 2 ounces of t-butyl lithium from one sealed container to another when a plastic syringe came apart in her hands, spewing a chemical compound that ignites when exposed to air.
The flash fire set ablaze her rubber gloves and synthetic sweater, causing serious burns over nearly half of her body. She died 18 days later.
Cal/OSHA's $31,875 fine included $18,000 for Sangji's lack of a lab coat, which might have kept her highly flammable sweater from catching fire.
Reed said in his statement that many of the corrective measures ordered by UCLA inspectors had been completed before the Dec. 29 fire but were not properly documented.
"Accordingly, the campus filed a technical appeal on these limited grounds," he said.
Although UCLA's appeal asserts that none of the safety orders cited by Cal/OSHA were violated, Reed said the legal maneuver "does not question the serious nature of the issues" the safety regulators raised.
"On the contrary," he said, "it is UCLA's goal to operate a laboratory safety program that is a model for other universities, and the campus implemented multiple and far-reaching improvements as a result of the comprehensive review ordered by the chancellor after the accident."
UCLA fined in Sheharbano Sangji death
- Patrick Harran Plea Bargains
"UCLA chemistry professor avoids prison time in fatal lab fire case" by Kim Christensen June 20th, 2014 Los Angeles Times UCLA chemistry professor Patrick Harran on Friday struck a deal with prosecutors that all but frees him from criminal liability...
- Settlement Has Been Made...now Individual Prosecution?
A settlement has been made for this unfortunate tragedy, but it looks like this is going beyond culpability and turning into a vicious prosecution. "California Chemistry Professor Arraigned In Lab Death Case" Lab Safety: Court enters not guilty...
- Culpability In The Lab
Who is culpable here? Looks like a "he said, she said" situation."Report faults professor, UCLA in death of lab assistant"Cal/OSHA says Sheri Sangji was not properly trained to handle the chemicals that killed her. The university criticizes the findings.by...
- Ucla Chem Prof To Plead "not Guilty"
This is going to be an ugly mess. Is the suit about negligence or money?"UCLA chemistry professor to plead not guilty to felony charges associated with 2008 lab fire death" by Nichole CgiangJanuary 9th, 2012Daily BruinUCLA chemistry professor Patrick...
- Ucla Fined In Sheharbano Sangji Death
"UCLA Fined in Researcher's Death" State safety and health agency cites university for training lapses, unsafe practices by Jyllian N. Kemsley May 5th, 2009 Chemical & Engineering News A stiff fine has been meted out to University of California,...