Biology Professor Electrocuted in Lab

Cleveland State University biology professor, Tarun Mal, was electrocuted in 2005 when he used a non-grounded electrical device that adapts a three-pronged plug for a two-pronged device to plug in a homemade grow lamp.

Mal, 42, was in a biology lab with two students when they decided to use a three-tiered metal rack with two fluorescent lights on the top tier to conduct an experiment. The three-pronged light plug was attached to an adapter called a “cheater plug,” which was then plugged into a two-prong electrical timer.

Mal held on to the metal rack and knelt down to plug the timer into a three-prong wall outlet when the grow lamp emitted a surge of electricity of nearly 400 volts. The associate professor was electrocuted.

It was later discovered that one of the fluorescent lights had a defective “ballast,” a small transformer used to regulate voltage.

Tips to Avoid the Risks

• Never use three prong plug adapters in laboratory settings.
• In wet areas in laboratories, make use of the ground fault interrupter (GFI) outlets.
• Inspect cords on laboratory equipment regularly and never use loose or frayed cords.
• Carefully locate cords so that they don’t come into contact with water or chemicals.
• Never use extension cords permanently.
• No more than two high current draw devices such as ovens and centrifuges should be plugged into the same outlet to prevent an overloaded circuit.