Because the bottle was located outside at the time of the event, and the hydrogen did not find a source of ignition while venting through the relief valve, nothing serious happened. The failed regulator was replaced and operations continued.…

As stated on the MSDS and also on the container labels, LiAlH4 should be handled under argon. LiAlH4 is advertised and sold as a powder. If the researcher had to scrape it out of the jar, then it was no longer a powder, which seems indicative of…

During charging, most batteries will offgas hydrogen, making adequate ventilation and the elimination of ignition sources critical attributes of the charging area. Data from the battery manufacturer should be consulted to determine appropriate…

Include the tanks in a regular inspection program. Evaluate their condition and replace if necessary.
Fill the tanks only half full with leach material.
Keep the material completely submerged in solution.
Install a fiberglass…

1. The trailer involved in the incident used a frangible burst disk based upon the proprietary metal compound designated as Inconel #600. Random sampling of similar pressure relief devices from the same trailer showed that all of them failed at…

LESSONS LEARNED:

Compressed gas cylinder caps can be very difficult to open as rust often occurs in the threads.
There are wrenches specifically designed to remove compressed gas cylinder caps. The lab had such a wrench and it was…

1. Increase physical protection, shielding, and securing of transported hydrogen tube valves, piping, and fittings from multi-directional forces that are likely to occur during accidents, including rollovers. Reference: 49 Code of Federal…

Upgrade the liquid hydrogen pump control system to shut down operation of the pump and protect the system when malfunctions like leaks, pump cavitation, or loss of purge gas occur.
Verify that maintenance procedures used for liquid…

It is important to understand the requirements and standards associated with safe equipment design (especially electrical equipment containing an internal ignition source with flammable gas) in potentially explosive atmosphere environments.…

1. Management must ensure that operating decisions are not based primarily on cost and production. Performance goals and operating risks must be effectively communicated to all employees. Facility management must set safe, achievable operating…

Incorporate external operating experience lessons learned into site program controls. Other nuclear plants had similar strand failures and back-of-core issues that were not evaluated for impact on procedures or system/component health plans.…

The following corrective actions have been taken:

The non-return valve was dismantled, cleaned, and tested. Following positive testing, the system was restarted and pressurized without any further malfunctioning.
The hydrogen…

• Unprotected hoses are susceptible to glass shards, abrasion, and burns during normal use. This leak was formed from a glass shard penetrating the tube wall.
• Flexible hoses require protective sheaves to avoid cuts, abrasions and…

This occurrence underscores the importance of appropriate design, equipment selection, and design review; the potential drawbacks of sharing utilities with other facilities; and the need to simplify [in this case, glove box atmosphere…

1. There should have been greater awareness during the design and installation of the burn box regarding the static pressure limitations of the exhaust fan in relation to the anticipated static pressure buildup across the HEPA filter.
…

This event illustrates the importance of adequately planning and communicating work. Procedures should cover all types of equipment that will be utilized. Work packages should clearly describe the equipment that will be used and the surrounding…

This occurrence underscores the importance of completing a hazard analysis for each different process. Non-safety-related systems or equipment may be used for purposes other than their primary purpose so long as potential hazards are identified…

The risk of a serious fire occurring inside the chemistry laboratory hood from use of hydrogen gas and/or presence of a small quantity of hydrazine-hydrate was underestimated. Additional control measures were required to reduce the risk of fire…

• Equipment that is designed to provide a safety barrier must be stringently tested upon installation.
• A procedure requiring annual testing of both excess flow valves, which includes proper seating for closure and proper flow, has…

All safety devices worked as designed thereby protecting the environment and laboratory personnel. Researchers involved in the experiment acted properly and with the parameters set forth in operational procedures.

Follow up: Stops have…