Lessons Learned: Pyrophoric Metal Fire

Lessons Learned: Pyrophoric Metal Fire

Incident description

A researcher was transferring a flammable solvent from one vessel to a flask which also contained a pyrophoric metal. They attempted to secure the flask with clamps. When the researcher turned away briefly, the flask fell out of the clamp and broke inside the fume hood. The fume hood contained other chemicals containers, some of which contained flammable material.

Knowing that the pyrophoric metal inside the flask was going to catch fire and ignite the carrier solvent, as well as possibly other materials, the researcher quickly moved the flask away from other flammable solvents in the fume hood and placed it into the sink, where it subsequently ignited and set off the smoke alarm.

What went right?

The researcher removed the pyrophoric from nearby flammable material in the hood.

The smoke alarm was triggered and the researchers evacuated and waited for the Fire Department.

What could have been done differently?

Extraneous flammable materials should have been removed from the fume hood prior to the solvent transfer (work with one at a time instead of multiple).

Groups working with pyrophoric materials should implement and train on specific procedures to extinguish fires that might arise from a spill (e.g. A large bucket of sand is better than the sink).

Lab glassware needs to be task-appropriate and be properly secured.

How to prevent this in the future?

Group will implement and train on specific procedures for pyrophoric spill cleanup including obtaining large buckets of sand for the lab.

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