Environmental Health and Safety

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Lessons LearnedMacKay Hall Fire

Iowa State University

College and UniversityHazardous Waste Conference

2013

Nothing halts research like combustion!

Environmental Health and Safety

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Objectives Discuss laboratory fires

in the context of emergency response

Share experiences

Environmental Health and Safety

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Emergency Preparedness Pre-planning with responders

Capabilities City Rural

Inventories Persons of Knowledge Post-incident

Hazardous materials Water Mold

Opportunity for significant and vigorous EDUCATION!

Environmental Health and Safety

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MacKay Hall Fire (2nd Floor Lab)

Timeline (08/18/10) 7:36 PM Smoke Detector Activated 7:37 PM Fire Department Received Alarm 7:38 PM Sprinkler Head Activated 7:42 PM Fire Department Arrived

Drying oven Upper chamber set to 200o C Lower chamber set to 60o C Plastic containers intended for LC placed in UC Plastic rated for maximum 140o C Plastic melted and flowed to heating element Fire grew to include materials in vicinity of the

oven

Environmental Health and Safety

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Mackay Hall 08/18/10

Environmental Health and Safety

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University of XXXXXXX

Environmental Health and Safety

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University of YYYYYY

Environmental Health and Safety

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University of YYYYYYYYY

Environmental Health and Safety

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University of YYYYYYYYY

Environmental Health and Safety

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University of YYYYYYYYYY1. Lack of written procedures including safety for the operation.2. Inadequately designed facility.3. The researcher, having more than 12 years of experience with

lasers did not take the online laser safety training class, or the laboratory safety class, or any other course offered by EH&S.

4. The researcher apparently did not account for the severity of the hazard as evidenced by the unsafe behaviors exhibited.

5. The campus lacked a robust laser safety program with a dedicated laser safety officer.

Environmental Health and Safety

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ZZZZ University

Environmental Health and Safety

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University of VVVVVVV

Environmental Health and Safety

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Mackay Fire Emergency Three Phases

ResponseISU PoliceAmes Fire Department

EH&S advisory role only Recovery

Facilities, Planning and ManagementContractorsRisk ManagementCollege/Department

RepairFacilities, Planning and ManagementContractorsRisk ManagementCollege/Department

Environmental Health and Safety

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Fire Damage Fire

EquipmentLab Books/DataBuilding

StructuralMechanicalElectricalPlumbing

SmokeEquipmentFurniturePersonal Affects

Sprinkler WaterEquipmentLower levelsMold/Mildew

Environmental Health and Safety

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Hindsight

Environmental Health and Safety

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Lessons Learned Duty officer system Always expect a fire AFD entry without EH&S Chemical inventories Fire load Door signs Electrical cut-off Sprinkler shut-off Transition from Response to Recovery

EH&S to FP&M EH&S role in recovery