In the explosion on January 21, the lab was damaged and an employee was taken to the hospital for treatment for injuries. Jessica van de Vosse, arbo and environmentalcoordinator, carried out the accident investigation on behalf of the Faculty of Science and Technology, in collaboration with colleagues from the UT's Department of Health and Safety. According to her, the cause is probably in the chemical corner, but an exact explanation of the incident remains unclear. 'It is very likely that we will never find out exactly what happened,' says Van de Vosse. 'The research shows that a strong acid came into contact with other chemicals. Which chemicals these were is unknown and can no longer be traced afterwards.' The investigation at the scene of the accident, conversations with witnesses and the employee involved therefore did not provide sufficient details. Van de Vosse does not rule out that external factors played a role in the incident. 'It remains human work.'
Injured employee
The person who was injured worked independently in the fume hood. After the incident, the person spent some time in the hospital to recover from the injuries sustained. 'Fortunately, the employee is back at work at the university. The colleagues from the faculty who were present in the department and clearly heard the bang of the explosion were shocked. A similar incident last took place more than twenty to thirty years ago,' says the accident investigator. 'This explosion could have ended much worse.' The lab is still working on repairing the damage incurred.
Policy and protocol
To prevent similar incidents in the future, adjustments are needed, according to Van de Vosse. That is why there are several action points on the agenda this year. 'For that reason, we focus on policy, the structure of the organisation, the protocols and the responsibilities that someone carries. These changes are going to take some time, because we want to implement them carefully and step by step. In addition, it is difficult to change something if certain tasks go on autopilot for years.'
That is also the lesson that Van de Vosse takes from her research and wants to pass on to others. 'Be aware of what you are doing and what you are doing. We want this to never happen again and for everyone to go home safely at the end of the day,' said the accident investigator.
