Note: that the contact for this report is a former chair of CHAS; thanks for sharing this, Joe!
I have seen similar dividends from good lab safety onboarding in real life…
- Ralph
April 14, 2023
Lessons Learned 2023-UTB-ORNL-0020
Thorough Lab Space Orientation Leads to Quick Action
Topics: Gas Cylinder Safety, Lab Space Operations
Originator: Ryan Burchfield, ORPS Reporting & Lessons Learned Program Manager Operations Exchange Document Number: 16480
Statement:
An important step when onboarding new employees is their orientation into the lab space(s) they will be working in. This responsibility is assigned to Lab Space Managers (LSMs) throughout ORNL who are responsible for engaging laboratory workers, maintaining awareness on the condition of the lab and the work being conducted in the space, communicating hazards and issues to lab space users, and coordinating lab space activities. In the event described below, the researcher’s situational awareness and quick response was attributed to the thorough orientation given by the LSM and the overall conduct of operations within the lab space.
Discussion:
In February 2023, a researcher was attempting to remove the protective cap from a gas cylinder of propylene when the cylinder suddenly began to leak. The researcher quickly removed a cylinder being stored in an adjacent cabinet and placed the leaking cylinder into the ventilated, gas cabinet and closed the door. This happened within approximately 30 seconds. The laboratory was confirmed to be vacant, and access was restricted. Management and the Environmental, Safety, Health & Quality coordinator were immediately notified. The Lab Shift Superintendent was made aware of the event. Safety and Fire Protection and Pressure System subject matter experts were quickly engaged to ensure that no additional hazards existed and to make a plan for returning to normal operations. The ORNL Hazardous Materials team was then engaged to safely remove the cylinder from the facility and confirm the cylinder was empty.
Analysis:
It was determined that the event did not meet Occurrence Reporting and Processing System (ORPS) thresholds, but a critique was conducted at management’s discretion. In the critique, it was noted that even though the involved researcher works at ORNL on a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) and is not a UT-Battelle employee, they were still trained to the same standard as UT-Battelle employees and received frequent communications from the LSM and Principal Investigator for this space. At the critique, the researcher’s high situational awareness and quick response was attributed to the thorough orientation the LSM gives employees and to the overall conduct of operations for the lab space.
People respond in a variety of ways when unexpected conditions or emergencies arise. Taking a minute to evaluate the hazards and potential mitigating responses prior to performing a task can make the difference between following trained response requirements and making a situation worse. Lab space orientations and communication from LSMs are a critical step in influencing worker responses to abnormal conditions.
Safe Conduct of Research (SCOR) Principles:
SCOR principle #2 Leaders value the safety legacy they create in their discipline.
SCOR principle #7, hazards are identified for every task, every time.
Contact: For more information about this event, please contact Joe Pickel.
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