Texas Tech Releases Statement Regarding Incident in Chemistry Building

This evening, Texas Tech released a statement regarding a small explosion that occurred in the chemistry building. In the statement, officials said there were no injuries reported and that the building was completely evacuated. Officials also said that Texas Tech will be conducting an investigation of the accident.

The full statement is as follows:

At approximately 5:30 this afternoon, there was small explosion in the chemistry building in a laboratory hood. There were no injuries and the building was immediately and completely evacuated. The lab was unattended at the time.  Lubbock Fire Department responded and the Lubbock Hazmat Team cleaned up small quantities of dilute waste acids. The building was reopened to faculty, staff and students at approximately 7:30 p.m. Texas Tech’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety will be conducting an investigation of the accident. The lab was recently inspected and found to be fully compliant to Texas Tech’s laboratory safety regulations. Researchers working in the laboratory were fully trained according to Texas Tech lab safety training protocol. Texas Tech continues to work to improve laboratory safety culture on campus relative to the accident that occurred in chemistry a year and half ago.