An explosion occurred in a Microbiological Anaerobic Chamber of approximately 2 m3 capacity that contained an explosive mixture of hydrogen and air. A fire followed the explosion, but was rapidly extinguished by staff using fire extinguishers prior to the arrival of fire service personnel. The pressure wave from the explosion blew windows out of the laboratory, with glass hitting a passerby on a path outside and glass shards landing up to 30 m away. Ceiling panels were dislodged in the laboratory and adjacent rooms, and a worker using the apparatus at the time was taken to the hospital by ambulance for burn treatment. The worker subsequently fully recovered. Another worker in the lab at the time required medical observation, but was otherwise unharmed.

Mixtures of inert gases and hydrogen are routinely used in the type of anaerobic chamber involved in the incident. The mixtures used in the chamber involved were produced locally in the laboratory using nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. The hydrogen in the mixture reacts with any oxygen present in the chamber, on a heated catalyst, to eliminate oxygen and keep the chamber anaerobic. The local operating procedures used in the lab allowed high concentrations of hydrogen to be introduced into the chamber. A worker inadvertently admitted air to the chamber while doing maintenance, allowing the hydrogen-enriched atmosphere in the chamber to mix with air and subsequently ignite, most likely on contact with the oxidation catalyst in the chamber, resulting in the explosion and fire.

Hydrogen gas has a very wide range of flammability when mixed with air (4–75%). Oxidation catalysts can ignite explosive gas mixes without heating, spark, or flame. Local operating procedures and practices varied from the manufacturer’s advice. An unknown concentration of hydrogen was present in the chamber, resulting in a significant fire and explosion risk.