[Che-student-staff-list] Near miss in FRNY

[Nagy, Gabriela]

Hello Everyone,

I would like to share with you a recent near miss involving one of our graduate students using the Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) facility located on the western side of the physics building.

The near miss (incident) occurred on Friday, September 5, around 1 pm and involved a ChE graduate student and an empty LN2 tank/cart system. No injuries were reported.

To gain access to a previously filled LN2 tank, the researcher attempted to move the empty LN2 tank, left in upright position on a cart, near the LN2 refill station.  The system responsible with securing the LN2 tank to the cart relied on a spring mechanism that later proved to be defective. When the tank/cart system was tilted to be moved out of the way, the spring locking mechanism on the cart disengaged, causing  the empty tank to fall on the concrete platform. The damaged tank has been removed from service and the cart is being replaced with a newer and much safer design.

Lessons learned:

1.       Never try to remove a gas cylinder/LN2 tank before you check that the system is in good working order and it is safe to do so.

2.       Never use defective carts.

3.       Always follow the instructions on the side of the cart (if available) when moving/transporting gas cylinders (including LN2 tanks).

4.       It is recommended that in-house training on how to safely use the gas cylinder/LN2 tank carts is provided to every student using this type of equipment. The training should be provided by the PI or by his/her  designated safety officer (lead graduate student).

For additional information on how to safely transport gas cylinders  and procedures for FRNY, please visit the ChE safety page (https://engineering.purdue.edu/ChE/AboutUs/Safety.html ) and view the short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgHnKFqCru4
An updated "Gas Cylinder Handling Procedures" document will be soon posted on our website.

Thank you for your commitment to safety!

Sincerely,
Gabriela
On behalf of the ChE Safety Committee


________
Gabriela Nagy, PhD
Industrial Education Director
ChE Safety Committee Chair
School of Chemical Engineering
Room FRNY G051
Purdue University
Tel: (765)-496-1710
E-mail: nagyg at purdue.edu<mailto:nagyg at purdue.edu>


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