Severity
Incident
Was Hydrogen Released?
Yes
Was There Ignition?
Yes
Incident Date
Jun 19, 1996
Setting
Laboratory
Equipment
  • Heating Equipment
  • Oven
Damage and Injuries
Lost Time Injury
Minor Injury
Property Damage
Probable Cause
Design Flaw
Contributing Factors
Change in Procedures, Equipment, or Materials
Equipment Failure
Human Error
When Incident Was Discovered
During Operations
Lessons Learned

After this accident, a safety inspection team was organized. An investigation of this incident and an inspection of all other experimental equipment was conducted by the team. As a result of this inspection, the heaters are now hard-wired to the temperature controllers. Follow-ups on the remainder of the team's findings for all other experimental equipment have not yet been completed.

Post date
September, 2017

Key:

  • = No Ignition
  • = Explosion
  • = Fire
Hydrogen Incident Summaries by Equipment and Primary Cause/Issue
Equipment / Cause Equipment Design or Selection Component Failure Operational Error Installation or Maintenance Inadequate Gas or Flame Detection Emergency Shutdown Response Other or Unknown
Hydrogen Gas Metal Cylinder or Regulator   3/31/2012
4/30/1995
2/6/2013		 4/26/2010 12/31/1969     3/17/1999
11/1/2001
12/23/2003
Piping/Valves 4/4/2002
2/2/2008
5/11/1999		 4/20/1987
11/4/1997
12/31/1969
8/19/1986
7/27/1991
12/19/2004
2/6/2008
10/3/2008
4/5/2006
5/1/2007
9/19/2007
10/31/1980		 2/7/2009 1/24/1999
2/24/2006
6/8/1998
12/31/1969
2/7/2009

9/1/1992
10/31/1980

 10/3/2008  
Tubing/Fittings/Hose   9/23/1999
8/2/2004
8/6/2008
9/19/2007		 1/1/1982 9/30/2004
10/7/2005		   10/7/2005  
Compressor   10/5/2009
6/10/2007
8/21/2008
1/15/2019		     10/5/2009 8/21/2008  
Liquid Hydrogen Tank or Delivery Truck 4/27/1989 12/19/2004
1/19/2009		 8/6/2004 12/31/1969   1/1/1974 12/17/2004
Pressure Relief Device 7/25/2013
5/4/2012		 1/15/2002
1/08/2007		 12/31/1969        
Instrument 1/15/2019 3/17/1999
12/31/1969
2/6/2013		     11/13/73    
Hydrogen Generation Equipment 7/27/1999     10/23/2001      
Vehicle or Lift Truck   7/21/2011         2/8/2011
12/9/2010
Fuel Dispenser   8/2/2004
5/1/2007
6/11/2007
9/19/2007		   2/24/2006
1/22/2009		      
Fuel Cell Stack            

5/3/2004
12/9/2010
2/8/2011
Hydrogen Cooled Generator       12/31/1969
2/7/2009		      
Other (floor drain, lab
anaerobic chamber,
heated glassware,
test chamber,
gaseous hydrogen
composite cylinder,
delivery truck)		   11/14/1994
7/21/2011		 7/27/1999
6/28/2010
8/21/2008		 12/31/1969
3/22/2018		     6/10/2019
  • = No Ignition
  • = Explosion
  • = Fire