Y E A R NEWS REVIEW IN
Dec. 28, 2008 Sangji is burned in fire
SAFETY
Felony charges against the University of California and chemistry professor Patrick Harran dropped in exchange for safety program and community service
Sangji
In 2009, chemistry research assistant Sheharbano (Sheri) Sangji died of injuries sustained in a laboratory fire at the University of California, Los Angeles. The last of the criminal cases stemming from Sangji’s death was settled this year when UCLA chemistry professor Patrick G. Harran reached an agreement with the district atSafety & Health (Cal/OSHA) fined UCLA torney’s office. $31,875 in the wake of Sangji’s death. The On Dec. 28, 2008, Sangji was using a Los Angeles County District Attorney’s syringe to transfer tert-butyllithium, which Office subsequently filed felony charges of ignites spontaneously in air. The labor code violations against plunger came out of the syringe “We can only the UC system and Harran. The barrel, and the material and charges centered on not trainhope that Sangji’s clothing ignited. The ing, not requiring personal proother young fire severely burned her torso, tective equipment, and not corindividuals neck, arms, and thighs. She died recting unsafe work conditions. are better nearly three weeks later. UC settled its case with the protected in Sangji was 23 and had redistrict attorney in 2012. The ceived a bachelor’s degree the future.” agreement required UC to acin chemistry from Pomona cept responsibility for lab operTHE FAMILY OF College the previous spring. SHERI SANGJI ating conditions, establish a law Records obtained by C&EN and scholarship in Sangji’s name, court testimony indicate that she likely reand follow a specified lab safety program. If ceived minimal and poor training at UCLA UC meets the terms of the agreement, the for how to handle the pyrophoric chemical. charges will be dropped in 2016. She also did not wear appropriate personal Harran reached his own agreement with protective equipment. the district attorney in June. Harran must The California Division of Occupational also accept responsibility for lab condi-
COURTESY OF NAVEEN SANGJI
Lab Death Legal Cases Resolved
May 4, 2009 Cal/OSHA fines UCLA $31,875
Dec. 27, 2011 District attorney files felony charges against UC and Harran
Jan. 16, 2009 Sangji dies
July 27, 2012 UC settles
July 20, 2014 Harran settles
tions and adhere to state safety standards, in addition to paying $10,000 to the burn center that treated Sangji and completing multiple forms of community service. As of a Nov. 20 hearing, Harran had paid the fine and started the service. If Harran meets the terms of the agreement, the charges will be dropped in 2019. Overall, UC paid nearly $4.5 million to outside legal counsel to defend the cases, including $1.3 million to the firm that represented UC and $3.1 million to the firm that represented Harran. Sangji’s family members did not pursue a suit against the university or professor. They called both settlements “barely a slap on the wrist” in a statement released by Sangji’s sister, Naveen Sangji, after Harran’s agreement was announced. The family added, “We can only hope that other young individuals are better protected in the future.”—JYLLIAN KEMSLEY
N EWSCOM
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
Debate over labeling of food heated up Protesters marched in many U.S. cities this year demanding labels on foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Celebrity chefs joined the movement in support of mandatory labels, saying people have a right to know what they are eating. Meanwhile, food manufacturers poured tens of millions of dollars into campaigns to stop states from enacting GMO labeling requirements. To take stock of scientific evidence underlying concerns about GMO crops, a National Research Council committee began examining the crops’ risks and benefits. It noted that weeds are becoming resistant to glyphosate herbicides used on some crops and insects are becoming resistant to the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin produced by others.—BRITT ERICKSON CEN.ACS.ORG
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DECEMBER 22, 2014
