Laboratory mishaps can have serious consequences for researchers, scientists, and even university students. No matter what the scientific specialty is, laboratories are rife with caustic chemicals, power equipment, and other potential hazards that can cause serious injuries and sometimes a wrongful death. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversees laboratories in medical, scientific and some collegial settings.
In April, a Yale University student was killed in a deadly lab accident involving a lathe machine. Michele Dufault was found by students working in the building and Connecticut’s chief medical examiner later ruled the cause of death as “asphyxia due to neck compression.” Dufault’s hair had been pulled into the lathe machine as she worked in the lab during the evening on her senior thesis. OSHA is investigating the incident and Yale is stepping up training for individuals who oversee the use of power equipment.
A lathe is a fast-spinning machine that has a rotating axis that holds pieces such as wood or metal to help fabricate an object to be used, for example, in research and experiments. OSHA sets requirements for power machines to have guards in place to protect individuals who use these types of machines and sets protocol for a user’s clothing and hair. Dufault had completed shop courses on lab safety and even wrote a 60-page paper on safeguards for a NASA reduced-gravity experiment she had conducted previously.
“You have to be really careful around a machine like this because it has immense power,” said Manfred Philipp, a chemistry professor at Lehman College. “The lathe has revolving moving parts, and if your hair gets stuck in that, then your head would be pulled toward the machine.”
Yale had safety and machine precautions in place before the accident occurred, but a staff member was not present during the evening hours when Dufault was in the Sterling Chemistry lab. Staff members were typically present during the day and it was normal for advanced students to use the lab after hours. After the incident, Yale has restricted lab hours with a monitor present and is reviewing all safety procedures.
As OSHA and Dufault’s family proceeds to uncover all the details of the incident, the legal community stands by to see if Yale truly followed all federal regulations and adequately trained the students. Their compliance will ultimately determine their liability and level of negligence in causing the death.
The incident highlights the need for individuals and their loved ones to have a legal advocate on their side when a mishap like this occurs. The Connecticut wrongful death lawyers at Stratton Faxon are one of the state’s top three trial law firms. For decades they have successfully represented plaintiffs who have experienced traumatic loss in complex cases. They are revered by clients, colleagues, and the judiciary for upholding their client’s rights.
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Alexandra Reed writes for Connecticut personal injury law firm, Stratton Faxon. Contact Stratton Faxon to speak with a Connecticut accident lawyer about your personal injury, wrongful death, or Connecticut malpractice case. To learn more, visit Strattonfaxon.com
