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EHS EMERGENCIES

How to get help in an emergency

Emergency

Environmental Health & Safety

37 Dewey Field Road
Suite 6216
Hanover, NH 03755-3529
Phone: (603) 646-1762
Fax: (603) 646-2622
Email: ehs@dartmouth.edu
 
 

Liquid Nitrogen or Systems under +/-Pressure

Please Print and Post Prominently in the Lab

An accident resulting in a serious injury occurred last week to a biomedical research scientist on campus. While “flash” freezing yeast samples in 50 ml conical polypropylene tubes, liquid nitrogen caused the tube to explode and resulted in a traumatic eye injury. The cause of the accident is being investigated. The scientist was not wearing eye protection.

The other occupants in the laboratory provided immediate assistance and called 911.

EHS urges each laboratory at Dartmouth College to carefully review any protocols that (1) involve the use of liquid nitrogen; (2) any system that may be under positive or negative pressure; or (3) may become pressurized unintentionally. The institutional requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) are found under “Essential Information” on the EHS Web Site.

Additionally, PPE requirements and approved safety glasses are provided by EHS at all our laboratory safety training programs. PPE is also readily available at all our scientific stockrooms. If you have any questions about PPE or eye protection in particular, please contact us.

Thank you for your help and please share this with everyone in your laboratory.

Environmental Health and Safety
November 10, 2003

Last Updated: 7/24/18