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h ttp://www.kelowna.com/2009/08/27/update-ubco-student-to-hospital-with-acid -burns/ Update: UBCO student burned by acid wasn=92t following safety rules Thursday, August 27th, 2009 | 4:52 pm By Joe Fries A protective face shield sitting on a nearby shelf would have probably saved a UBCO student from the acid burns she suffered in a lab accident on Monday. The female graduate student, who also works as a research assistant, was handling sulphuric acid when it inexplicably splashed onto her face and chest. The woman, who is in her early 20s, was released from hospital Tuesday after being treated for minor burns. Another chemistry student who was eating lunch in a nearby office at the time of the accident told Kelowna.com she heard what sounded like laughter coming from the hallway, followed by the victim shouting, =93I can=92t see, I can=92t see.=94 She was told by someone else that the victim=92s eyes were grey as a result of the burns. But the student, who asked not to be named, said the burn victim violated a series of safety procedures, including not wearing safety glasses and working in a lab that is not equipped with the necessary equipment for handling chemicals, such as a fume hood and eye wash station. A university spokeswoman has confirmed as much. =93There=92s still some questions to be asked as to why that kind of work was being done in this lab,=94 said Bonnie Bates Gibbs, the school=92s director of alumni affairs and university relations. She said UBCO officials were =93surprised=94 to learn the student was handling sulphuric acid in that lab, housed in the $31.5-million Fipke Centre that opened late last year. What=92s more, a protective face shield, which was required under the circumstances, was sitting on a shelf just eight feet away from the student. Bates Gibbs said it=92s too early to say if there will be any sanctions against the student or any staff members as the investigation by the institution=92s health and safety team is still underway. The student to whom Kelowna.com spoke said the accident has thrown lab safety into sharper focus. =93For the most part, people are disappointed this happened, because it could have been prevented 10 times over,=94 she said. =93There wasn=92t one preventative measure that could have been taken, there were like six or seven, but just didn=92t.=94 While the school does all it can to prevent accidents, Bates Gibb said, the nature of what happens in the labs means trouble can happen. =93We=92re a research-intensive institution and research does take place here, and we do all that we can to ensure that people are operating in a safe way.=94 joe**At_Symbol_Here**kelowa.com/(250)575-4303 Posted 09/08/24
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