Explosion and Missouri Campus Concerns Safety Officials

An explosion in a science research laboratory at the University of Missouri Monday has prompted University of Arkansas facilities officials to again urge researchers to observe all safety precautions when working in volatile lab situations.

The explosion at Schweitzer Hall on the Columbia campus sent four people to the hospital, one of them with life-threatening injuries, and the Columbia Missourian reports fire officials saying, "The lab looks like a bomb went off."

The explosion reportedly occurred when flammable gases were accidentally ignited while at least one researcher was working with a hooded chamber. Investigators have not determined whether the explosion was the result of a human or technical error.

University of Arkansas officials said the incident points to the potential danger in many labs on this campus and other such research institutions, underscoring the importance of safe practices and a good maintenance program.

"This should be a reminder to all our researchers and students, both graduate and undergraduate," said Ron Edwards, director of facilities operations and the environmental health and safety office. "The way people use and maintain the hoods in our labs needs to be taken very seriously. This unfortunate accident at Columbia reminds us of the serious impacts when something goes wrong. The best way to prevent accidents is to be cautious and careful in the lab environment, and never undertake any laboratory projects without the proper training."

The full story of the Missouri mishap can be viewed at the Columbia Missourian website.