Lab Safety

[opabinia]

Aside from her habit of spilling chemicals all over the place, I hadn't noticed anything particularly hazardous about the Chinese post-doc's (let's call her "Linda") behavior lately.

Today I noticed a very strong gas smell. She had turned on the gas supply to a bunsen burner and walked away for a few minutes. I made a comment about how it wasn't a big deal, because at worst, she would have just blown up the lab and set us all on fire. I hope my message crossed the culture barrier.

Comments

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

That is the user icon from Hell.

Anyway, it was actually in a hood -- but a laminar flow hood, not a charcoal hood. So yes, it would have been messy.

Offended!

[bottleimp.livejournal.com]

You don't like my user icon? That really hurts. I can send you the original clipping if you like.

Laminar flow hood, eh? Got to love that flying glass!

Re: Offended!

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

I hadn't noticed the text along the bottom. I take it back.

Yeah, Linda has quite the reputation now. Whenever there's a mysterious spill, and whenever equipment or instruments are left in some strange state, we ask her first. If she doesn't know, then we go to the most clueless medical fellow, and so on.