Worker Fatality During Attempted Removal of Blind Flange on Cell 14 Magnet Cooling Water System
Summary
On October 21, 2015, two National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) mechanical technicians were involved in an incident while attempting to remove a Victaulic blind flange from supply piping on a Magnet Cooling Water (MCW) System. The mechanical technicians assisted a welder in obtaining final measurements to make final connections from the MCW system to a new Cell 14 cryostat as part of the Series Connected Hybrid magnet project. When loosening the nuts on the Victaulic flange collar, an explosion occurred. The flange, the water behind the flange, or some combination of both struck and propelled one mechanical technician backward and into the metal support structure for the cryostat, resulting in his death. A second technician, who was approximately 10 feet away at the time of the explosion, sustained minor injuries.