Disclaimer: The Lessons Learned Database includes the incidents that were voluntarily submitted. The database is not a comprehensive source for all incidents that have occurred.
Designs for high-tech systems/components evolve based on operating experience. The design changes should resolve identified deficiencies and are part of a continuous improvement process to increase reliability and productivity.
Laboratory accidents can happen despite the best preparation and careful attention to procedures. However, the lesson to be learned here is that employees must always be sure they understand the hazards of the activities, and that they know how…
Diligence needs to be practiced when performing assigned work tasks. To guard against complacency, it is necessary to emphasize adherence to established procedures, including appropriate reviews of preventive maintenance instructions (PMI) and…
The lessons learned in this situation center around basic conduct of operations principles. Policies and procedures related to operations performance, safety performance, and management oversight were in place. They were not employed…
On-site personnel performing treatment of reactive metals/chemicals must continue to exercise caution. Although there is an inherent risk in treating reactive metals/chemicals, personnel must adhere to conduct of operations principles to include…
Thoroughly plan and schedule work such that the correct tools are at the job site. If activities take place that take the job supervisor away from the job location while critical steps are to be performed, the work should be temporarily stopped.…
Utilize a Six Sigma Black Belt to statistically evaluate LFL monitor reliability and determine the failure rate based on the existing technology.
Revise the tank uncertainty calculation and surveillance to include a wider "Required…
In the future, the laboratory will issue a memorandum about this incident to illustrate the need to wear safety glasses with side shields, store chemicals compatibly, take care when placing chemicals in the refrigerators for storage, and keep the…
Implementing and enforcing the laboratory's stop work and restart policy and procedures in conjunction with peer reviews for new processes and experiments should help prevent future accidents due to a lack of recognition of potential reactions…
Frequently inspect and maintain all elements of hydrogen-related systems.
A flammable gas explosion is an analyzed hazard and gas detection/shut off is a safety significant control system that requires a limiting condition for operation (LCO). The rigor of the evaluation of flammable gas systems was inadequate. There…
Recommended Actions:
In any event, the lesson that should be derived from this incident is the fact that the explosion could have been avoided either by using an inert gas instead of air across the diaphragm, or by monitoring the hydrogen concentration in the upper…
As demonstrated by the fire discussed above, lack of adequate maintenance, system monitoring and oversight of maintenance of these facilities can contribute to the ignition of a fire that is difficult to extinguish and poses an extreme danger to…
This incident illustrates how a hydrogen fire which appears to be 'quite small' can actually be only the visible portion of a much larger fire. Observation alone is not a reliable technique for detecting pure hydrogen fires and/or assessing their…
An important lesson to be derived from this incident is the need to carefully engineer and test all repairs and modifications to high-pressure process equipment.
This incident illustrates how difficult it is to completely purge hydrogen out of a large, complex piece of equipment. Uniform mixing and dilution is unlikely in all the partially enclosed spaces, crevices, etc. If a hazardous operation such as…
This incident illustrates the danger of hydrogen being inadvertently released through blown water seals. Similar incidents have occurred in non-nuclear industrial facilities, but offgas systems present a special hazard because of the…
The mechanisms and rates by which hydrogen gas is generated and subsequently accumulated in the holding tank need to be fully understood by vendors and employees alike. Active venting, warning signs, and local alarms designed to activate when…
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