Yale Student Dies in Chemistry Lab, School to Investigate
Federal officials have confirmed that a Yale University student died after her hair was pulled into a piece of equipment in a chemistry lab machine shop last week. The University reported to the United States Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that Michele Dufault was operating a fast-spinning lathe when her hair became caught in the machine, causing her death. Dufault reportedly died from accidental asphyxia by neck compression.
OSHA is reviewing the matter and has opened an inspection that will look into factors surrounding the death and whether the lab complied with applicable safety standards. University President Richard Levin said that the school has also initiated a review of the safety policies and practices of the school’s laboratories, machine shops and other facilitates where students have access to power equipment. He indicated that access to such facilities will be limited until review is completed and that monitors will be present in the facilities.
On its website, the Yale Chemistry department states that it maintains “a state-of-the-art Machine Shop” where students, faculty and staff can build or modify research instruments. According to the site, access to the shop is limited to persons that have completed a shop course. While a staff member is present in the lab during the daytime hours, many students use the shop at night. Other students working in the building found Ms. Dufault’s body and called the police. The lab was closed following the incident.
College campuses, like any other work site, must have the necessary policies and procedures in place to prevent serious injuries and death, and ensure the safety of students, staff and faculty. The current investigations will assess which safety standards apply and whether the university complied with those standards.
About the Author: Annie Reynolds is a practicing attorney at Sheridan & Murray in Philadelphia, PA. Annie represents victims and their families in complex civil litigation involving personal injury, including school and workplace accidents, wrongful death, birth injury, brain injury and medical malpractice.
