We have experienced two incidents involving plastic screw-cap containers
used to deliver frozen samples to this laboratory. In both cases dry ice
had been put directly into the container resulting in a massive pressure
build-up. In the first case the sides of the container were seen to be
bulging. This was dealt with by placing the container in a side room and
leaving it to explode, fortunately with no damage to staff or property. In
the second recent case, the container was of stronger construction and
appeared to be quite normal on receipt. The two MLAs concerned struggled to
remove the screw cap which came off with enormous force throwing one to the
floor and injuring the wrist of the other. Flying specimen tubes caused
minor cuts to other members of staff. It was fortunate that more serious
injuries did not result from this accident.
These incidents should serve as a warning to all departments to ensure that
staff who are involved in the transport of frozen samples are trained
appropriately. Our Trust Health and Safety Officer has been informed and we
are reviewing our procedures currently. The question arises as to how we
should deal with these containers in the future since it may not be
apparent from their outer appearance that there is a potential problem. The
new postal legislation concerning transport of pathological samples may
have solved one problem but appears to have caused another!
C'est la vie.
Tony Stott
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