Lack of safeguards leads to Pressure Vessel failure (Sightglass Fails)

A pressure vessel at a food processing facility failed when a sight glass ruptured during an overpressure event, spraying hot liquid at 100 psi into the workspace. The vessel had been operating above its maximum allowable working pressure for weeks due to:

1. clogged filters,
2. bypassed safety interlocks, and
3. a lack of maintenance on pressure relief valves.

Contributing factors included

1. untrained staff,
2. missing regulatory permits, and
3. poor system design

which left parts of the vessel unprotected from overpressure. 

The industrial food processing facility uses a mechanical system for the processing of a liquid food product.