On June 27, 2006, a researcher was heating ether using a heating vessel outside the laboratory’s fume hood. The chemical ignited within the beaker. The researcher’s clothing, as well as the materials located on the top shelf in the area caught afire. The fire sprinkler system was activated and doused the fire in the lab. The researcher was assisted by other researchers in the adjacent laboratories. The researcher suffered second degree burns on the body from this incident.
The pictures below show the damage that occurred during this incident. It is important that one should always wear the proper PPE while working with chemicals. Always read your MSDS prior to working with a chemical. The MSDS provides information on the proper handling of the chemical being used. Experiments involving hazardous chemicals should be performed in the fume hood.
