First Name
Andy
Last Name
Piatt
Severity
Incident
Was Hydrogen Released?
Yes
Was There Ignition?
No
Incident Date
Feb 11, 2008
Setting
Equipment
  • Laboratory Equipment
  • Glassware
Damage and Injuries
When Incident Was Discovered
Lessons Learned

1. All samples with potential for hydrogen buildup should be limited to ground shipment only. (This shipment was by ground and air. If this incident were to have happened in an airplane, the consequences may have been worse.)

2. All samples must be properly labeled before shipping. Hazard label warnings need to be located on the outside of the shipment package.

3. The following safety information should be included with the shipment: the material safety data sheet (MSDS), applicable standard operating procedures (SOPs), and detailed information for the safe handling of the materials.

4. Improper labeling can result in improper handling and storage. Lack of proper labels allowed the sample to be delivered to an office rather than a laboratory, where the material can be properly handled and stored in an approved location.

5. For hazardous material shipments, do not ship material in quantities beyond what is needed by the receiver. Lesser material quantities lead to reduced risks in the event of a failure. In this incident, the analysis only required 0.1-0.2 gram of material, but 5 grams of the material were shipped. The receiver suggests that future sample sizes for this analysis be limited to a maximum of 0.5 gram (10% of what was shipped in this incident).

6. Samples that have the potential for hydrogen generation should use a pressure-rated container with the following features:

    a.  Head space to contain the maximum possible gas release from the sample below the container's maximum safety pressure limit.

    b.  Pressure relief mechanism (such as a release valve) that can be slowly opened within a glove box to safely equalize any pressure build-up.

    c.  Outer shell capable of containing any flying debris. A secondary metal container outside the pressure-rated container is suggested as a possible solution for containing potential flying debris.

7. Sealed glass containers should not be used to store samples that could generate pressure over time. These types of glass containers are not rated for pressure. Capped glass vials, bottles, or metal cans are alternate options to consider.

8. Safe transport and handling procedures for these types of materials need to be followed. The receiver requested that all shipments from the shipper of this sample be stopped until safety concerns from this incident are addressed.

9. Store these types of materials in proper approved storage. MSDSs should be available either locally or at a central location.

10. If a sample shipment lacks proper documentation, treat it as potentially hazardous until proper documentation is obtained.

11. DO NOT become comfortable with handling these types of aluminum hydride materials. Routine handling of these samples without problems can lull users into shortcuts that could result in more damaging results than this incident. If this incident had happened with personnel present, there was a potential for personnel injury.

Additional discussion about working with reactive metal-hydride materials in the laboratory can be found in the Lessons Learned Corner on this website and in the Hydrogen Safety Best Practices Manual.

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