Explosion in Pharmaceutical Reactor During Hydrogenation Process
An explosion occurred in the glass components of a reactor at a pharmaceutical plant during a batch process. At the time of the accident, the reactor was being hydrogenated. As a result of the explosion, the upper part of the glass components broke, some of the suspended ceiling boards fell off and ceiling light cover glasses were splintered, and one of the inner windows of the explosion wall two metres from the site broke. The accident did not result in any personal injuries.
Event Date
December 15, 2001
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes
Cause Comments
Unknown cause
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
Reactor, glass, ceiling
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Operational Condition
Pre-event Summary
Action: Charge processWork stage: Normal operationPreceding incident: Leakage or release
Consequences
Number of Injured Persons
3
Number of Fatalities
1
Currency
Event Nature
Emergency Action
Unknown
Release Type
Release Substance
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
Source lost