In conjunction with its investigation report on the 2009 fatal explosion at NDK Crystal in Belvidere, IL, CSB has released a safety video that depicts the incident. CSB says the video, "Falling Through the Cracks," illustrates "the stress corrosion that accumulated over time in the walls of the vessel where synthetic quartz crystals were manufactured under extremely high pressures and temperatures."
CSB Chair Rafael Moure-Eraso says the video illustrates the agency's findings that despite the facility's pressure vessels not meeting code requirements, it was granted an exemption; that internal corrosion inspections were recommended but never performed; and that specific warning was made to the company by its insurer. "But at every level, the risk of catastrophic vessel failure was overlooked and public safety, literally and figuratively, fell through the cracks," he says.
The video details the agency's main discoveries, and recommendations to prevent future incidents and to improve pressure vessel codes and standards throughout the U.S. For more information and to view the video, visit the CSB website.
A Blog From the American Society of Safety Engineers