105,313Records 71,083Employers 85,290Hospitalizations 27,770Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-10-31
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14570204

HYDROGEN,FIRE,EXPLOSION,BEARING,ELEC UTILITY WORK,SEAL,ELECTRIC GENERATOR

Event
HYDROGEN,FIRE,EXPLOSION,BEARING,ELEC UTILITY WORK,SEAL,ELECTRIC GENERATOR
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14570204
Report ID
522500

Event description

EXPLOSION - HYDROGEN GAS LEAKED INTO GENERATOR EXCITER

Investigation abstract

THE DIRECT CURRENT SYSTEM IN A LARGE ELECTRIC POWER GENERATING PLANT FAILED. THE DIRECT CURRENT SYSTEM WAS USED TO SUPPLY POWER FOR SWITCHING AND TO SUPPLY POWE R TO THE EMERGENCY OIL PUMPS ON THE GENERATORS. AS ONE OF THE GENERATORS BEGAN T O LOSE OIL PRESSURE (WHICH LUBRICATES THE BEARINGS AND HYDROGEN SEALS ON THE UNI T), THE LARGE BABBIT BEARINGS OVERHEATED AND BEGAN TO MELT. THE OIL IGNITED AND FIRES STARTED AT EACH JOURNAL, AND HYDROGEN GAS ESCAPED PAST THE SEALS AND INTO AN EXCITER COVERING. THE HYDROGEN EXPLODED, INJURING 24 EMPLOYEES. THESE EMPLOYE ES WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR THEIR INJURIES.

Victims (24)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 35 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #10 Hospitalized Age 34 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #11 Hospitalized Age 32 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #12 Hospitalized Age 32 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #13 Hospitalized Age 41 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #14 Hospitalized Age 49 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  7. #15 Hospitalized Age 43 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  8. #16 Hospitalized Age 28 F

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  9. #17 Hospitalized Age 42 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  10. #18 Hospitalized Age 27 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  11. #19 Hospitalized Age 38 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  12. #2 Hospitalized Age 38 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  13. #20 Hospitalized Age 36 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  14. #21 Hospitalized Age 29 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  15. #22 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  16. #23 Hospitalized Age 42 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  17. #24 Hospitalized Age 54 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  18. #3 Hospitalized Age 38 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  19. #4 Hospitalized Age 57 M

    Nature of injury
    7
    Part of body
    20
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  20. #5 Hospitalized Age 52 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  21. #6 Hospitalized Age 30 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  22. #7 Hospitalized Age 39 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  23. #8 Hospitalized Age 37 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

  24. #9 Hospitalized Age 42 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    8
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Task assigned
    1

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