January 10, 2008
Beaker explosion in Purdue laboratory causes injury
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue University postdoctoral research associate sustained injuries Thursday (Jan. 10) when a beaker containing chemicals that he was working with burst and cut him.Lei Zhang was treated at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lafayette following the incident in a lab on the fifth floor of the Brown Laboratory of Chemistry.
"He was working with organic materials, and the reaction between the materials caused the beaker to explode," said Purdue assistant fire chief Charles B. Flahive. "We don't know yet what chemicals he was using, but we do know they were not classified as hazardous materials."
Fire and police department personnel were called at 12:40 p.m. A Purdue Radiological and Environmental Management team was called to the scene to evaluate the spill and determined that there was no risk. No building evacuation was necessary, and classes went on as scheduled.
Writer: Jim Bush, (765) 496-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu
Sources: Charles B. Flahive, (765) 494-6919, cbflahive@purdue.edu
Kevin Ply, (765) 496-6919, kmply@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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