At least with respect to the PPE aspect of this case OSHA, and I'm sure Cal-OSHA, is quite clear on the need for a PPE assessment, what constitutes a PPE assessment, what constitutes training, and how training is to be documented. I also do not believe that having done a procedure constitutes either mastery of the subject or evidence of training -- even if you managed to do the procedure without injury in the past. Lots of tasks are done incorrectly, even recklessly, without injury -- for a time. It may very well be that neither the PI or the deceased knew how to perform the procedure properly -- I see this often. In today's world of instant communication, that is no excuse. This was not a newly developed procedure and the hazards are certainly well understood in the "biz".