There have been multiple incidents in the labs in TU/e ​​buildings Helix and Matrix over the past few weeks. Four of them are known to Cursor. For instance, on February 20 in Matrix, a person was exposed to a potassium hydroxide solution after opening a valve; the installation was under overpressure.

On February 24 in Helix, someone inhaled sulfuric acid fumes; the glass bottle (from 2004) in which the acid was stored, had a weakened bottom. On February 27, carbon monoxide leaked after the replacement of a pressure reducing valve in the same building. And on March 2, a highly toxic substance was unintentionally released: paraoxon. Again in Helix. 

Widespread awareness

The incidents have been investigated. “These investigations contain personal data and therefore cannot be shared,” says TU/e ​​spokesperson Ivo Jongsma. Because access is not possible, it cannot be determined whether the number of incidents has increased or not, or whether their severity has changed.

What is known, however, is that everyone working in a lab is required to follow safety instructions beforehand. Nevertheless, this does not rule out incidents, states chemist Ivo Filot, who, in addition to his scientific work, is also part of the emergency response team and the Departmental Council of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry (CE&C).

“There is a widely shared awareness among chemists that our work inherently entails risks and that incidents can never be completely ruled out. It is precisely this realistic awareness that forms the basis of a strong safety culture,” says Filot.

Control room

Every incident is followed by a debriefing with the emergency services: the CE&C emergency response team, the TU/e ​​fire department, and the security control room. Those involved in the incident are also spoken to. After the meetings, the department director sends an email to all staff to increase safety awareness.

The incidents mentioned in February and March were also discussed with the Omgevingsdienst (Environmental Service). This is a government agency commissioned by municipalities and provinces to ensure a safe and healthy living environment.

Reporting culture

In the world of chemistry, there are strict reporting procedures for incidents and ‘near incidents’ to make working with hazardous substances as safe as possible.

The idea is to learn as much as possible from incidents, but also from moments when things almost went wrong. Filot believes that the reports also attest to the fact that employees and students “are not afraid to admit mistakes and actively escalate incidents, rather than sweeping them under the rug.”

In addition to instructions on how to work safely, the accessibility of the labs is also part of safety. Gates, known as speed lanes, have been in place in Helix for over a year and a half. These were installed to regulate access to the labs, after Cursor discovered in February 2023 that this was inadequately arranged.

The gates were installed in the autumn of 2024, but are still not operational. This is due to technical problems, Jongsma explains.

On Thursday, March 26, during a test, TU/e ​​discovered that the card readers at the gates were not functioning due to an error in a software update. It is expected that this will not be resolved this week. The plan was to put the gates into operation in April as a pilot so that employees get used to the new system. Currently, the spokesperson cannot yet say exactly when this will happen.

Fire doors

The building is currently still largely freely accessible, but the fire doors providing access to the labs are locked. To gain access, you need a campus card with authorization or a visitor pass.

The fire doors have been closed since the discovery by Cursor, but are actually not suitable for continuously opening and closing. They are doors that normally remain open and only close automatically upon a fire alarm.

That is why speed lanes were chosen as sustainable alternative. As soon as these new gates are activated, the fire doors will stay open again. The access gates can be found both on the ground floor of Helix at the reception and in the corridors leading to the labs. Consequently, parts of the building downstairs, such as the canteen, will no longer be generally accessible as soon as the gates are in use.