2015年CRI China's Laboratory Safety Must be Highlighted, Improved

 

Tsinghua University released the initial investigation¹ results provided by Haidian Public Security Bureau a few days ago, which revealed that a hydrogen cylinder² exploded accidentally, and the whole lab then caught fire. Meng Xiangjian died as the result of severe injuries to his leg.

It is not clear whether the cylinder itself had quality problems or that it had been badly stored.

Professor Wang Xiaojun from South China University of Technology says staff must pay attention to the safety of gas cylinders³.

"Such high-pressure cylinders must go through security checks annually⁴. If a cylinder is due to expire or may have air leak, it should not be used anymore."

Laboratory accidents have become more common in recent years. Back in 2008, a doctor candidate in Yunnan University suffered severe disfigurement and lost his feet and in an explosion during a microbiological experiment. Six months ago this year, a laboratory explosion at China University of Mining and Technology left one student dead and five others injured.

Associate professor Li Zhihong from Public Security and Fire Fighting Forces Academy has carried out a survey into the causes of 100 typical laboratory accidents. The results show 58 percent of the accidents were caused by human error.

"Human error includes violation⁵ of operation rules, careless or wrong operation, improper⁶ handling of experiment waste, and the improper storage of chemical reagents."

Other laboratory accidents are caused by aging experiment equipment, equipment failings and short circuits.

Wu Yiqun, a researcher with the Chinese Center For Disease Control And Prevention, says that while many institutes have storage and distribution regulations on hazardous⁷ articles, the problem is that few of them strictly⁸ follow the rules.

"For example, potassium cyanide is very hazardous which can endanger a person's life easily. So the distribution of potassium cyanide must be strictly controlled. People who want to get potassium cyanide must deliver a report in advance, and the quantity must be checked by the keeper. We do have such rules. But does every unit abide⁹ by the rule? Or is there a supervision¹⁰ system? I think some units ignore those rules."

To ensure the safety of laboratories, some experts suggest installing probes to sound an alarm if a leak of flammable and explosive gas is detected.

It is also suggested that universities and colleges should hold regular safety checks and accident drills so that researchers can learn to exit timely from the spot.

The chemistry department of Tsinghua University designated December 18, the day the tragedy happened, as Safety Education Day. The university also promised to publish compensation details and the latest investigation results on their Weibo account.

For CRI, this is Qian Shanming.

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 cylinder   

n.圆筒，柱(面)，汽缸

参考例句：

• What's the volume of this cylinder?这个圆筒的体积有多少？
• The cylinder is getting too much gas and not enough air.汽缸里汽油太多而空气不足。

3 cylinders   

n.圆筒( cylinder的名词复数 )；圆柱；汽缸；（尤指用作容器的）圆筒状物

参考例句：

• They are working on all cylinders to get the job finished. 他们正在竭尽全力争取把这工作干完。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• That jeep has four cylinders. 那辆吉普车有4个汽缸。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

5 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

6 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

7 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。

8 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

9 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

10 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。