Severity
Incident
Was Hydrogen Released?
Yes
Was There Ignition?
Yes
Incident Date
Dec 31, 1969
Setting
Equipment
- Motive Power Systems
- Compressor
- Electrical Equipment
- Safety Systems
- Electrical Safety Interlocks
Damage and Injuries
Probable Cause
Contributing Factors
When Incident Was Discovered
Lessons Learned
This incident highlights the need to properly design safety interlocks. These safety interlocks need to be carefully incorporated into the initial building/plant designs and should consider all of the unexpected occurrences, such as the electrolysis cell bank losing power in this case, and the potential ramifications of such occurrences.