UCLA professor charged in student’s death
WESTWOOD, CA (BDCi) – Exactly three years ago 23-year-old Sheharbano “Sheri” Sangji was working as a research assistant when chemicals burst into flames during an experiment, severely burning almost half of her body.
Sangji was not wearing a protective lab coat and died 18 days later from her burns.
This Tuesday UC regents and professor Patrick Harran were charged with three counts of willfully violating occupational health and safety standards.
Harran was supervising the deadly experiment.
Harran and UCLA are being accused of having unsafe work conditions, not requiring appropriate clothing to be worn and not providing proper chemical safety training, even though lab safety inspectors found over a dozen problems just two months before the fire, including employees not wearing lab coats and improper storage of dangerous liquids and chemicals.
UCLA faces fines of up to $1.5 million and Harran could face up to four and a half years in prison.
Sangji planned to become a lawyer and was working in Harran’s lab while she applied to law schools.
By: Diego Díaz Source: KTLA Photo: LA Times 29 December 2011
11:15 a.m. P.D.T.